Ruppersberger Misunderstands American Way Of Life
When Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democratic U.S. Representative from Maryland, spoke in Congress about the recent renewal, without reforms, of the most abusive surveillance powers of the Patriot Act, he justified his vote by saying, “I believe there’s no place for politics when it comes to protecting our country and our very way of life. It must be U.S.A. first.”
What does it mean to be U.S.A. first? What does it mean to protect our way of life?
The document that defines the U.S.A. is the Constitution. The Constitution includes the Bill of Rights, and in the Bill of Rights is the Fourth Amendment, which reads, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” The Patriot Act, with its unreasonable searches and seizures, taking place without any naming of the places to be searched or things to be seized, is clearly unconstitutional.
If Dutch Ruppersberger truly wants to be U.S.A. first, he must first remember that the U.S.A. is nothing if it does not retain its constitutional freedoms. If Congressman Ruppersberger truly wants to protect our way of life, then he must place the protection of our liberty before all other considerations. If Ruppersberger will be true to his word, he must oppose the renewal of the Patriot Act’s affront to American liberty.
It isn’t too late for Ruppersberger to repair his mistake. In two and a half months, the renewal of the Patriot Act’s spy powers will come up for a vote again, and Ruppersberger will have the chance to vote no, as he should have done before.
On March 12 at Noon, Americans who remain faithful to the cause of freedom in the U.S.A. will gather on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Building. They will protest there in favor of the repeal of the Patriot Act. Dutch Ruppersberger would do well to listen to their request.
