The Never Ending Assault on the Constitution

The Associated Press is reporting that the Justice Department is considering allowing the FBI to use profiling as a means to investigate possible terrorism. Profiling runs completely against at least two Constitutional Amendments. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure and the Fourteenth requires that equal treatment be extended to all. Profiling is a direct attack on these principles.

Is there no end to the assault on civil liberties by the Bush Administration? Once again, the fear of terrorism is being used as an excuse to disregard the Constitution. Profiling is an extremely slippery slope that can quickly be used to cast suspicion on anyone. Combine that with the already abysmal track record of a government that spys on the American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers) as a possible terrorist group and only took Nelson Mandela, the revered patriarch of South Africa, off the State Department list as a terrorist risk this week and it seems highly unlikely that this effort will not lead to abuse.

Does it really seem like a good idea to allow people who think Nelson Mandela and a pacifist organization are security risks to profile on the basis of what they think is questionable?

In addition to the concerns for civil liberties, profiling also serves as an institutionalization of poor police work. Any clever terrorist is going to try to avoid looking the part. In the end, profiling serves only as an excuse for pretextual stops and as a way to avoid Constitutional guarantees. Evidence ceases to matter and appearances take precedent.

Why does this administration seek this power at this point? Haven't they already shown us that they will spy on anyone at anytime? So why now? Why not six years ago? Since this effort will almost surely stop in either an Obama or McCain administration, why the urgency for this in the final 200 or so days of this administration?

Just because they are leaving office does not mean that we should relax as regards the Bush-Cheney regime. They have shown a blatant disregard for the people of this land and its principles. The trashing of the Constitution will be the infamy for which history will shame them.

George Bush and his entire administration need a lesson in civics. The Constitution is an ideal to uphold, not an obstacle to circumvent.