Billy G. Howard
Privacy: Constitutional right or misconstrued assumption?
Since the country was founded there has been, among most Americans, the assumption of indisputable rights we are guaranteed by the supreme law of the land: The United States Constitution, with the most debated being the express right to privacy. Taking another look at that issue, as there has been much debate regarding this “indelible right” as long as the country’s judicial system has been in place; I found however, nowhere in the Constitution is this right specifically mentioned but, at best, only inferred. Consideration of several Supreme Court decisions during recent years served to demonstrate the right to privacy is an inherent, basic human right guarded by the ideality of the 9th Amendment reading as follows: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
Complexities arise from the fact wording of the 9th Amendment is considered somewhat puzzling as it doesn’t specify the exact meaning of the term “certain rights.” It has, none-the-less, been instrumental in establishing certain fundamental liberties that aren’t directly addressed elsewhere in the Constitution. A group of early Americans known as Anti-Federalists argued the Constitution conferred too much power to the Federal government and subsequently sought ratification of the Bill of Rights, of which, the 9th Amendment founded a basis for the individual right to privacy.
Study of the Constitution, to include the Bill of Rights, brought about a seriously troubling conclusion with realization that the rights of people in this country are gradually being eroded. It isn’t even possible to make certain purchases without the assignment of an email address and internet capabilities. Every website requires disclosure of extremely personal information with any individual granted unlimited access to sites such as Google Earth, BeenVerified.com, People Finder, Skipease.com and a host of others that freely disclose what should be private facts. Such websites make it possible for an individual to access sensitive information including personal history, driving records, home addresses and actual details of ones home. It’s perplexing as to how the government can freely allow such dissention and actually have people “watching” other people but then pass legislation regarding the acts of stalking and harassing.
Ironically, the biggest culprit in this gross degradation of personal safety would be the government itself. As was discovered on relatively recent visits to such larger cities as New York, NY, Chicago, IL, and Miami, FL a leisurely stroll along any downtown city street will have you being watched by a number of surveillance cameras. We are convinced by our government that these “eyes in the sky” are for the optimum benefit and overall safety of the citizens of this country. Most every toll road in the U.S. is now outfitted with cameras or another type surveillance device and there are traffic cams at an overwhelming number of major intersections throughout the United States.
For the complete column, pick up your copy of The Baxley News-Banner on newsstands today or CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
Study of the Constitution, to include the Bill of Rights, brought about a seriously troubling conclusion with realization that the rights of people in this country are gradually being eroded. It isn’t even possible to make certain purchases without the assignment of an email address and internet capabilities. Every website requires disclosure of extremely personal information with any individual granted unlimited access to sites such as Google Earth, BeenVerified.com, People Finder, Skipease.com and a host of others that freely disclose what should be private facts. Such websites make it possible for an individual to access sensitive information including personal history, driving records, home addresses and actual details of ones home. It’s perplexing as to how the government can freely allow such dissention and actually have people “watching” other people but then pass legislation regarding the acts of stalking and harassing.
Ironically, the biggest culprit in this gross degradation of personal safety would be the government itself. As was discovered on relatively recent visits to such larger cities as New York, NY, Chicago, IL, and Miami, FL a leisurely stroll along any downtown city street will have you being watched by a number of surveillance cameras. We are convinced by our government that these “eyes in the sky” are for the optimum benefit and overall safety of the citizens of this country. Most every toll road in the U.S. is now outfitted with cameras or another type surveillance device and there are traffic cams at an overwhelming number of major intersections throughout the United States.
For the complete column, pick up your copy of The Baxley News-Banner on newsstands today or CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
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