Congress not above the rest of us

I read Mike Riopell’s political column today with mixed emotions. Riopell discussed local politicians’ reactions to news that the NSA has been conducting surveillance of phone calls made across the U.S. by citizens. Rather than placing concern about the invasion of our privacy in the forefront, Rep. Peter Roskam used this issue as an political opportunity to bash the Obama administration, using the invasion of privacy issue as an excuse. Of course he made no mention that this practice started under the Bush administration. No surprise there. Roskam is about as partisan as they come, and I would have been shocked if he had done otherwise.

What really disgusts me is Sen. Mark Kirk’s reaction. He seemed to be concerned only about whether or not members of Congress were included in the NSA surveillance. I guess in Kirk’s eyes the NSA can be as invasive as they like to the average citizen, but watch out if they treat members of Congress like the rest of us.

There is a proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution appearing on the Internet that reads: “Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.” Perhaps it is not so tongue-in-cheek as first thought and should be given serious consideration by U.S. voters.

Bill Pohnan Jr.

Streamwood