Two new developments in the Big Brother nature of the U.S. government:

  • The Department of Homeland Security is now screening letters it deems “suspicious” by opening them and reading them. So if you’re writing to Aunt Myrna about the family’s top-secret apple dumpling pie recipe that’s “been seen by nobody else,” the cat’s out of the bag. Sorry.
  • If you plan on harassing anybody via the internet (e.g. via email, blogs), be sure to use your real name or you can be sent to prison. A rider buried deep within a Department of Justice appropriations bill gives the feds the power to fine and/or imprison people who use the internet “with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass.” The bill was signed into law by the president last Thursday. I think this is just a case of the theocons not being able to come up with snappy, witty replies to all the criticism they’ve rightfully earned.

Isn’t it fun to see our civil liberties eroding in front of our eyes every day? Gee, what a freedom-loving country I live in!

:::roll eyes:::