http://news.com.com/2010-1071-956201.html?tag=politech What's the fall fashion in Washington? By Declan McCullagh September 3, 2002, 4:00 AM PT WASHINGTON--When the U.S. Congress reconvenes today after a month recess, let's remember what a New York judge said in 1866: "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session." Sure, Judge Gideon Tucker may have exaggerated a trifle. But it's still a good rule to keep in mind as politicos use the anti-terrorism campaign and the Sept. 11 anniversary to inflate budgets, widen deficits, and hand police more eavesdropping powers. The danger of Congress being unusually profligate in discarding both money and Americans' privacy is especially real right now. First, it's an election year. Second, the war on terror has eliminated most of the usual obstacles to fiscal extravagance. Third, the Bush administration seems determined to reduce Americans' protections against government snooping--all in the name of protecting America from terrorists. [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ Recent CNET News.com articles: http://news.search.com/search?q=declan CNET Radio 9:40 am ET weekdays: http://cnet.com/broadband/0-7227152.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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