Well Bill, the destruction of our liberties never seems that a big deal when they are chipped away in little, seemingly insignificant pieces. The problem is that each loss leads to the next loss, and to the next and next and next.
Each loss is small, and only comes after we have gotten used to the last one and taken it as a given. But, when you look at them all together, it isn't so small. If you took Terry v. Ohio and its progeny and told our Founding Fathers about it (or even told somebody 50 years ago), they wouldn't believe it IMO.
So, one day we're told we can be briefly stopped by the police just because the cops are "suspicious." Then we find we can be ordered out of the car. Then we're told we have to stand there while the cops rub their hands up and down our bodies, "for their safety." Again, we just look suspicious. At least we have our Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during this indignity. Whoops! Not anymore.
Okay, so maybe you think identifying yourself is no big deal, but it won't stop here. The next case will require you to say where you live, just one more little step, and no big deal. Then, where you work....then where you are coming from....where were you headed? What are you doing around here at this time of the night, and by the way have you been drinking? And do you mind if we have a look in your trunk? I'm just gonna put these handcuffs on you while I look around, but you're not under arrest.
As long as you're sitting there, do you mind if I take some DNA? |
