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Argumentative Essay: Big Brother Has Gone Too Far

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Argumentative Essay: Big Brother Has Gone Too Far
Big Brother Has Gone Too Far ?If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,? some people claim about the National Security Agency (NSA)(?Surveillance?). The Fourth Amendment protects United States citizens against ?unwarranted searches and seizures? (Jefferson). However, a short history of laws, including the Patriot Act, takes away many of these protections. The government has more freedom to spy on people than ever, even people that have no hard evidence linking them to crimes. The NSA admits to collecting two dozen types of data on ordinary citizens. United States surveillance of citizens is a problem that needs immediate legal solutions. Comment by Cristina M. Smith: Hook attention:- quote somebody-tell a story- make your …show more content…
In the 1900s, though, these rights began to disappear. In Olmstead v. United Sates, the government was found justified in tapping a phone line because they weren?t searching ?physical artifacts? (McNiff). Through the middle of this century different organizations were formed to help the government gather information. In 1952 President Truman started the National Security Agency (NSA) (McNiff). Through the ?60s and ?70s wiretapping met more resistance; even President Nixon was found guilty of this crime and was impeached (?National?). Then September 11 shook the nation. During the fear and frenzy following the Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks, Congress passed the Patriot Act, which eased restrictions (?USA?). Comment by Cristina M. Smith: Topic sentence for the history section Comment by Cristina M. Smith: Cite every source Comment by Cristina M. Smith: Cite every …show more content…
Those Who Sacrifice?Liberty For Security?Deserve Neither. He who would trade?liberty?for some temporary?security, deserves neither?liberty?nor security.? He was referring to a taxation conflict after the French and Indian War, and yet his quote applies so perfectly to our 2st Century slide into a surveillance state (Anderson). The problem of overzealous government spying can be seen in many ways. The biggest problem is perhaps the complacency of United States citizens. Why are people so fine with giving up freedoms? The more freedoms the people relinquish now, the more freedoms will be missing when we get a corrupt leader. Imagine a corrupt leader disagrees with a particular religion or way of life. If that leader has been allowed into our private homes and conversations via surveillance, this leader can use power for totalitarian crackdowns (Ritholtz). Comment by Cristina M. Smith: Cite every
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