In the House Government reform committee, Legislation is being circulated by Spencer Bachus(R-Al; so much for the republicans being better protectors of the constitution) which would give the customs service the authority to search mail without a warrant. According to Debra Wilhelm, VP, government relations, Us postal service, there does not even have to be reasonable suspician, the way the legislation is drafted.

I read this in a daily newsletter I get. The bill has not been introduced. I cannot imagine that it would pass, BUT can you even believe that a representative of the people is even considering this? And a republican at that. Imagine.

Please wrtie your congressperson and advise them of your feelings on this matter.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), October 11, 2000

Answers

CAUTION: Ignorance ahead

Doesn't the Customs Service already have the power to search packages and cargo coming into the country from foreign soil at will? Yes, no, maybe so?

Boy am I dense today. My 27 neurons refuse to fire off without submission of a written request. Kinda like a sitdown strike going on in me noggin'.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 11, 2000.

That may be, Bingo. My apologies. I should have stated that this legislation would cover OUTBOUND international mail

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), October 11, 2000.

FS-

Two sides to every story. What are the arguments in favor of this legislation? What is the reason behind the perceived need for this?

In order to "write your congressperson and advise them of your feelings on this matter", we need to learn the pro's as well as the con's.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), October 11, 2000.

Actually, this sounds like one of those internet hoaxes to me. But, if not, two comments. (1) since it's obviously unconstitutional, it won't go anywhere. (2) If I wrote my congressman everytime some other congressman proposed something stupid, I'd spend all my time writing my congressman. After all, intelligence or an understanding of constitutional law is not a requirement for public office.

-- E.H. Porter (Just Wondering@about.it), October 11, 2000.

Bingo, I'm ignorant on the subject too, but I'm thinking that even if the Customs have power to search packages and cargo, does that give them the right to open our regular mail from across borders? Email isn't cargo or packages. Electronic or snail, it's still mail.

-- (smarty@wannabe.one), October 11, 2000.

Nevermind, my fingers fired before my neurons. I just read again FS's post. "which would give the customs service the authority to search mail without a warrant."

Seems the bill is geared towards conventional mail. Too "1984" to be anything but a hoax.

-- (smarty@wannabe.one), October 11, 2000.

Folks

This is not a hoax. You have all come to know me as someone who sees through bullshit. I am much too skeptical to post something that is a hoax-I would have ferreted that out before posting. My friends call me the internet cop because I am always pointing out the hoaxes and urban legends they are passing around. My source is a public source, not some e-mail I got>

Anyway, EH is correct. We cannot rifle off letters everytime some idiot has a bad idea for legislation. If it gets submitted as a bill, I will revisit this. Just thought you all would like to know this is how some of our congressman think. Warrantless search? CD, there is nothing important enough, no consideration strong enough, that this would be appropriate. Again, EH is correct-purely unconstitutional- but again the people in Alabama voted for this guy. Flint, do you know this guy?

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), October 11, 2000.

The ECHELON Spy in the sky has been operating for a while now.Listens to almost all e-mail.Also listens for KEY words such as Drugs,cocain,marijuana,These are kept track of.And if they happen frequently enough,a human will be summoned.The last trace of privacy has almost gone,along with our civil rights.Every move we make,every step we take,they will be watching US.Who is that candidate for the Green Party ? He's looking better all the time!

-- Dan Newsome (BOONSTAR1@webtv.net), October 11, 2000.

OK somebody try it. Write 100 emails containing those words and see what happens. Ready, set, go!

-- cin (cin@=0.)), October 11, 2000.

I suspect "they" are already monitoring all international mail, at BOTH ends (U.S. and UK/France/Germany...) and opening and examining much of it. If not, why, in these days of intranational delivery of a day or two, and a day or less airplane time, does it take over a week for international mail?

-- A (A@AisA.com), October 12, 2000.

Dan Newsome, you said this:

The ECHELON Spy in the sky has been operating for a while now.Listens to almost all e-mail.Also listens for KEY words such as Drugs,cocain,marijuana,These are kept track of.And if they happen frequently enough,a human will be summoned

Is this true? How can it "listen?" I realize this must seem like a dense question, but it is sincere.

Mar.

-- Not now, not like this (AgentSmith0110@aol.com), October 12, 2000.

It's true Mar.Just hit Search and type in ECHELON

-- Dan Newsome (BOONSTAR1@webtv.net), October 12, 2000.

"He knows when you've been sleeping . . . he knows when you're awake . . . he knows if you've been bad or good, so you'd better be good for goodness sake."

So -- my conclusion is that Eschelon is really Santa Claus. I've always wondered what Santa did during the "off season."

-- E.H. Porter (Just Wondering@about.it), October 12, 2000.

EH: LMAO, Ho-Ho-Ho...!

Dan: Thanks, I do that ;-)

Mar.

-- Not now, not like this (AgentSmith0110@aol.com), October 13, 2000.

Hi cin,thats a good idea.Why dont you send a few hundred e-mails overseas,if your so eager to "Bell The Cat" ? LOL

-- Dan Newsome (BOONSTAR1@webtv.net), October 13, 2000.