Decius wrote:
I think that if we didn't have the 4th amendment there is no way we could get it today. The people wouldn't have it. No one understands what it's purpose is, but everyone understands getting a pedophile off of the street. The only reason people believe the 4th amendment is important is because they were socialized to support the Constitution when they were children.

This idea sprung up in our conversation about the 2nd amendment and it's one that I've been thinking about tangentially for a bit. Even though the US is relatively young as a society and a system of government, what if it's grown too old and rigid for modern times?

Certainly, there is a mechanism by which to constantly adapt the fabric of rule and law, but I gotta think that the founding fathers couldn't have anticipated a world that runs at our clock speed today. The system of checks and balances has grown too slow (perhaps?) to accommodate the needs of our society, and I think that's one of the reasons why it's been circumvented by the Executive branch the last decade or so. That and the propensity of government to be run like a business, which I think isn't flawed in spirit, but is soooo missing the point.

I think these two things are tied together somehow. You say that you don't think our society would want the 4th amendment if they were voting for it now. I don't know if I agree with that. It's very American to view 'property' as one if its God given rights. I do agree that people don't really understand why those amendments are there. What they are really trying to do.

I also agree that I think this notion of the State being a panopticon is coming. Look at the UK. Despite our system being built on 'freedom and liberty', those values are falling way behind to 'security'. I do not see a way to have both WITHOUT also having educated people, and a vigorous discourse of ideas and critique. This is not our society today. And that's why it's failed. I fear that we'll give way to security, which will just make our laziness that much more acceptable.

RE: I Am Progress - Hands Off My Laptop