Summit County Progressive Democrats PAC
Working for Progressive Values and Supporting Progressive Candidates in Summit County, Ohio

Civil Liberties and National Security

 

Statue of LIberty

Since 9/11, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights have been eroded by all branches of government at both the federal and state levels in the name of protecting us from terrorism, continuing to this day. SCPD PAC believes that a choice between our fundamental civil liberties and our security is a false choice. We believe we can be both safe and free. We therefore urge the restoration and on-going protection of these fundamental liberties by supporting federal and state executive, legislative and judicial actions and decisions consistent with several SCPD PAC guiding principles that uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Specifically, we support revisions or elimination of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the USA PATRIOT Act, use of National Security Letters by the FBI, warrantless sneak and peak searches, warrantless wiretapping and surveillance, the use of torture, indefinite detention of terrorist suspects without charge, unjustified use of the states secrets privilege, inappropriate use of racial profiling, data mining, and other related items, such that they are brought into compliance with the established traditions of our civil liberties. We support judicial and Congressional oversight of domestic surveillance and domestic spying programs. We believe that within these parameters our government can function effectively to protect us and we support government actions that do so.

These proposals reflect five of the SCPD guiding principles:

  • We believe in the immutability of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the freedoms, rights and protections they convey to the American people.
  • We believe in social justice for all individuals regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • We believe in an open and transparent government that truly informs its citizens and supports discussion and consideration of opposing viewpoints.
  • We believe in the concept that a people’s right to dissent and to oppose policies they deem harmful to the common good is an essential ingredient of democracy.
  • We believe that true patriotism requires three elements: a deep love of one’s country, a willingness to praise and defend its virtues, and the courage to recognize and correct its deficiencies.