The whole back and forth on immunity for the telecoms rests on Bush's weird claim that getting court orders for domestic spying is too much "red tape." Apparently, to protect Americans, we must potentially violate their rights. The dichotomy got me thinking about the implications of a government that, for my supposed sake, they must know where I work, live and play, who I talk to and what we talk about, what I'm looking for on the Internet and what I'm reading in the library, all to "protect" me. I am continually amazed at the fact that I can't go walking down my own street without the threat of being mugged but apparently am forever safe from the vague threats of fanatics that despise the idea of me more than me, a person they've never actually met.

9/11 was a tragedy, an indelible blow to our collective psyche. But the reality is that the temporary exchange of our freedoms were supposed to net us the man responsible. But anyone seen Osama lately? No? Me niether. So I want my freedoms back, like NOW.

Dear U.S. Government, stop protecting me. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.