Don’t surrender freedom for security

Don’t surrender freedom for security

The story titled “Audit: NSA broke law, repeatedly” in the Daily Herald, Aug. 16 did not surprise or shock me. It was merely a further confirmation of my disagreement with portions of the Patriot Act.

Essentially, I believe we have forfeited our privacy for a false search for security. While some of the violations in the article were attributed to human error, others were presented as clearly intentional.

The limits on tracking must be made more stringent. Oversight by Congress must be on a more knowledgeable and hands on basis. I was greatly disappointed to know that key Congress persons stated they were unaware of the extent of the violations. The chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee was not even given a copy of the audit in question (from 2012) until approached by the media regarding it.

I am fully aware that Edward Snowden, the whistle blower, is viewed in different ways ranging from traitor to patriot. The larger question is where we would be in our awareness of these violations without his going to the media?

Benjamin Franklin said, “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” It seems to me that we are no longer listening to the wisdom of a Founding Father.

Royce M. Blackwell

Elgin