Does anyone else think that a budget bill shouldn't include anything that isn't about the budget? I am looking at you, CISA.
For anyone seeking background, CISA was a surveillance and "cyber" information sharing act that passed the Senate but failed in the House of Representatives. However, the bill was then tagged onto the budget bill as an amendment. It got a free ride through our legislative process, as the budget bill was guaranteed to pass and be signed by President Obama, since a government shutdown would happen.
This bill has a lot of vague definitions and this vagueness can be used to undermine our system - breaching cyber privacy - in order to protect us from "terrorists". What is that, you say? If you have nothing to hide, why would you even care? Don't do anything bad and you won't be punished?
Sounds like a government that demands order and obedience, and a government that will recommend that fellow citizens and corporations to share information about you. We have a judicial system for a reason.
Our founding fathers would like to refer you to the very war that we fought in order to gain recognition as an independent nation. We fought for liberty and for every man's right, and to prevent the government from keeping tabs on every citizen, which restricts freedom and privacy. What prevents a government from knocking on your door, accusing you of something they know (that they shouldn't), and call you a traitor, was this war. This war brought forth a Constitution that fought for your right to be innocent until proven guilty. Colonial courts made you guilty until you were proven innocent.
I am not saying there is a conspiracy. I am sure this bill is backed by Congressmen and women who want to save the people from a threat, but breaking privacy for all to target the few is a bad, bad idea.
/rant
