My Rant On Surveillance

Today I sent the following note to my Representative and Senators:

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Dear Representative Johnson,

I am appalled by the revelations of the extent of NSA domestic surveillance.

I am not upset that Ed Snowden had the courage to out the NSA's anti-constitutional activities. I believe he should be heralded as a whistle-blower, not treated as a traitor.

I am upset that Congress - both House and Senate - have allowed a department of the government to so completely bypass the Constitutional protection against illegal search of citizens.

Please don't try to claim that NSA's activities are "legal" and under control. FISA has proven to be a joke, providing only a rubber-stamp pretense of oversight - since 1978 the FISA court has NEVER REJECTED a request, according to the Attorney General's reports.

Please don't assert that "honest citizens have nothing to fear". What we all have to fear is any government having too much personal information about individuals under its control, such that if it turns tyrannical it will have complete power over everyone.

Please, Mr. Johnson, take action to bring the NSA and other Federal agencies under control and put a real stop to government surveillance of citizens in the name of "terrorism".

I fear the US government more than I fear terrorists.

Thank you for your attention,
John Horn

PS: "Do you know what's worse than being soft on terrorism? Being soft on patriotism." - Robert X. Cringely
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I have no doubt that my name is now on some FBI watch list. It will be interesting to see if I can still board an airliner or buy a car.

Happy Independence Day!