According to an article from the San Francisco Chronicle on July 20, 2013, both major political parties are finding cause to agree. In the article, "Right and Left Unite on Surveillance Issue," Stewart M. Powell discusses the rise in domestic intelligence gathering among U.S. government agencies since Sept. 11, 2001 to the scandal brought on by Edward Snowden leaking National Security Agency information.
Since the uprising of the anti-terrorism movement after the Sept. 11 tragedy, the government has continuously increased its power through the steady flow of data in this information revolution. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Intelligence Community during President George W. Bush's administration, the government has been able to collect data on possible foreign and domestic threats more efficiently
The Department of Homeland Security encompasses all federal agencies that focus on domestic safety, whereas the United States Intelligence Community encompasses all intelligence agencies to ensure the sharing of information among individual agencies in an effort to prevent terrorism. Though the implementation of these umbrella departments was ordered with the best intentions in order to offer the American people greater assurance of their safety; however, many feel that it has gone too far and resent that governmental capabilities have abused individual citizens' rights in the name of national security.
Powell expresses in his article that the emphasis on domestic security at all costs is faltering under continuous concerns "among Republicans about a 'Big Brother' federal government, and Democrats worried about protecting individuals' civil liberties."
A quote appears in the article from Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at h the Americna Enterprise Instutue, which explains the reasons for this adjacent stance. Ornstein highlights, " a real change in both parties on the war on terror, the role of the military and intelligence agencies, and a new common ground on distrust of government."
For more information and to read the frull article, please isit http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Right-and-left-unite-on-surveillance-issue-4677354.php
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