No American ever wants to feel forced to make a choice between the right to privacy granted by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution – or the desire to remain safe and enjoy the “domestic tranquility” highlighted in the Preamble of that same Constitution.
But that is precisely what has happened in the days since details were leaked around PRISM - a wide-ranging U.S. Government classified global surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA). As more details have emerged about the breadth of the program and its reach into the very technology that powers our everyday communications, Americans from every corner of the country have questioned and debated where they fall on the privacy-safety continuum.
However, what is most troubling about this case is the overly broad approach used by the NSA and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA court), as well as their lack of transparency. As this debate continues, these matters should be thoughtfully discussed as well – as the issue isn’t just one of privacy vs. safety. As Americans, we can have both.
Marc Morial discusses this more in his MSNBC, 'Up with Steve Kornacki' interview.
