Wiretapping rules win House Approval

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill setting new electronic rules that effectively shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits arising from the government's warrantless eavesdropping on phone and computer lines.
The bill is supposed to balance privacy rights with the government's responsibility to protect the country against attack.

Representative Jane Harman, D-California, a stern supporter of the bill, felt that the bill "protects both", referring to privacy rights and the government's responsibility.

It is my opinion that this bill is really an undercover act by the Bush administration to invade the privacy rights of individuals such as myself.

I have expressed differences of opinions against Republican administrations for years, such as the time I sued the federal government during the Reagan - H.W. Bush years.

The Reagan and Bush administrations have covertly tapped my phone for years. In what I would call illegal wiretapping.

The current Bush administration wanted this bill passed in order to be able to wiretap anyone's phone, even if someone simply disagrees with the administration. If an individual disagrees with the Republican administration, the administration may covertly cause that individual to suffer repercussions. Those repercussions may include covert pay discrimination, job discrimination, or job loss.

This bill is a disgrace to innocent individuals. This bill is a disgrace to the first amendment.

I understand that members of Congress can not help it if they have been deceived by the Bush administration. It is not the first time, and it probably won't be the last time.

This bill effectively makes what would otherwise be an illegal wiretap, a legal wiretap which should still be an illegal wiretap.

Frederick Bryant
July 8, 2008

politics