There have been some negotiations in Congress regarding the FISA renewal.
FISA is the law put into place after 9/11 that gave US Government agencies extraordinary powers to investigate people. To me, the law is not only not necessary but also puts our government on a direct path to a police state. No, it’s not one with this law but once you enable the discardment of individual rights, you will start asking for more invasive and offensive rules.
The renewal is bad enough since we have a Democratically controlled congress. Democrat’s seem to be unable to distance themselves from the tactics of fear that we have seen from Bush’s administration. Yes, we need tools to investigate crimes, terrorism and such but those tools existed before and FISA, for the most part, just eliminated oversight.
Not only is FISA being renewed but they are adding immunity to the Telephone Companies for participating in an illegal activity. Our representatives in political office are finding it impossible to not to take the interests of Corporations over the citizens that elect them. Even candidates that start off talking the talk about citizens and their rights make too many compromises for Corporations.
The most disappointing person to do that recently has been the Democratic presumptive nominee, Barak Obama, who has come out in support of the current FISA Renewal bill which again is bad in what it enables but also includes immunity for the Teleco’s.
When will we get a politician that can be elected, stay elected, and have influence over other politicians and the electorate that will stand up for citizens rights including privacy, fair use, and the multitude of other issues that have been sacrificed to the Corporations?
UPDATE: Ok, here is at least one politician out there doing the right thing. Check out NM Sen. Tom Udall via Daily Kos and here is some of what he said:
The FISA bill we considered today would compromise the constitutionally guaranteed rights that make America a beacon of hope around the world.
UPDATE 2: I just saw that Barak Obama has issued a statement (perhaps to clarify) that he supports the FISA renewal bill but will work to remove the section granting immunity to the Telephone Companies. This is partially good news but again, he’s taking fear pressure and accepting that we need the FISA rules at all.