• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

The End Of Privacy And Personal Freedom In The United States

Live And Invest Overseas by Live And Invest Overseas
Aug 20, 2013
in Mailbag
0
Is big brother too big?
209
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

“Kathleen, your guy Lee Harrison wrote recently that he ‘had to wonder…if we Americans come from the land of liberty, then why do I feel like I have less freedom in the United States than anywhere else I’ve lived in the Americas?‘

“Really? He had to wonder about that? And you had to publish his confusion?

“Maybe you’ve already forgotten about 9/11. Maybe you didn’t lose any friends or relatives. Or maybe you just don’t have even the slightest bit of empathy with people who did. Lucky you, I guess, though I’m quite certain I would not want to trade places with you.

“You’re right about Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, and this is not just true for the Americas. It’s true for a lot of places that aren’t the United States because (now pay attention) because those places aren’t targets of terrorism. Could it really be so simple? Well, yes, it could.

“Could the United States do this more effectively and less intrusively, say like the Israelis have been doing for many long years. Well, no, not really, we have this sticky problem with our own Constitution (maybe you’ve heard of it, it’s a document that kinda directs the way laws are supposed to work, though we do seem to be somewhat selective about how and when we apply it). But you see, the Israelis use a tool known as ‘profiling’ and that nasty old Constitution pretty much makes that tool against the law. So, we’re kind stuck with the blunt-edged tools of treating everyone equally instead of screening people out of the process.

“Let’s see how things go for Brazil when they host the Olympics. You might just see them break ranks with the lax security precautions of their South and Central American neighbors. The might have some concerns with becoming a target. I don’t know how the laws work in Brazil. Maybe they can profile, maybe they can use other sharper tools than we do.

“But that’s not really so much the point. Really the point was to put your tiny little mind to rest so you could stop wondering about these all too obvious things.”

–Peter G., United States

Our guy Lee Harrison responds:

“Thanks for writing. Oddly, I agree with a couple of your points; although I have a different perspective.

“The attacks of 9/11 had two negative impacts. One had to do with the individuals who lost their lives, their families, and the effect on the entire population who grieved on their behalf.

“The second impact was on American society, though not due to the attacks themselves but rather our government’s reaction to them. The loss of freedom we’ve experienced since 9/11 is the terrorists’ long-term victory. We now deprive ourselves of rights that we’ve had for more than 200 years. Bin Laden may have foreseen the loss of life…but I doubt that he foresaw the implosion of freedom that we’d bring on ourselves.

“And, yes, the United States is indeed a terror target, while places like Uruguay and Brazil are not. But this makes sense when you look at the actions of those countries abroad. There’s no reason for anyone to want to strike back at Uruguay, for example. They’re neither aggressors nor targets of aggression. Their self-chosen role in the world is different.

“It’s odd that you’d bring up the U.S. Constitution in this way. Yes, I’m familiar with what it is. The Fourth Amendment is a particular favorite of mine (along with the Second). If the U.S. government chose to abide by the Fourth Amendment as written–and upheld by 20th-century case law–I’d probably be happy with the levels of privacy that Americans would enjoy. Try having a look at it for yourself.

“Unbelievably, there are those who believe that real terrorists are still exchanging bomb designs via e-mail and planning terrorist attacks over their cell phones. Yet, as implausible as this is, this paradigm is being used to justify today’s citizen-spying.

“I’ve finally matured enough to realize that what I think, or write, will make no difference with respect to conditions in the United States. And I won’t attempt to pass judgment on U.S. policy. The actions taken by the government have causes and effects that are far beyond my understanding.

“But what each of us can do is decide whether or not we find the intrusion on our privacy acceptable. We can decide to remain at the center of the world’s conflict, or not. We can live with traced phone calls, scanned e-mails, tracked internet usage…or not.

“If you’re happy with the levels of freedom and privacy that remain in the United States today, then by all means, sit back and enjoy. More intrusions and restrictions are coming your way soon.

“But the people who want to enjoy the freedom and privacy of yesteryear need to know that those options are available, too. That’s a word I can help to spread.”

Continue Reading: Nuances Of India

Comments

Tags: mailbag
Share84Tweet52
Previous Post

Nuances Of India

Next Post

Why Uruguay May Be Right For You

Live And Invest Overseas

Live And Invest Overseas

Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Established in 2008, the Live and Invest Overseas' editors and correspondents have more experience researching and reporting on top opportunities for living well, investing for profit, doing business, and owning real estate around the world than anyone else you'll find.

Related Posts

Nazaré beach resort, Estremadura, Portugal
Mailbag

Retire To The Silver Coast Of Portugal

by Live And Invest Overseas
February 18, 2021
0

Portugal’s Silver Coast, or Costa da Prata in Portuguese, is best known for its ancient towns with cobblestone streets, breathtaking...

Read more
Man bookkeeper working with bills pay taxes online using laptop

How To Do A 1031 Like-Kind Exchange Of Foreign Real Estate

February 15, 2021
Aerial view of Fortress Vila Vella and Badia de Tossa bay at summer in Tossa de Mar on Costa Brava, Catalunya, Spain

Low-Humidity Retire Overseas Options

January 2, 2021
Assisted Living

Assisted Living In Panama

December 11, 2020
Boa constrictor imperator

Malaria, Dengue, Bugs, Spiders, And Snakes In Panama

December 9, 2020
Establishing Retirement Residency In Portugal - Lagos

Establishing Retirement Residency In Portugal

July 6, 2016
The Tax Advantages of Operating A Business Offshore can be plenty in a country like Panama.

How To Live Tax Free In Panama

June 1, 2016
Next Post
Uruguay is a prime location to retire in all aspects.

Why Uruguay May Be Right For You

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.