Ooh, I've Got a Secret

Trey Smith

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit charging that the FBI violated civil liberties by sending an informant into several California mosques to spy on U.S. Muslims, ruling that allowing the case to proceed could risk disclosure of government secrets.

U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney wrote in a 36-page order that he was reluctant to toss out the case before it could be litigated but was forced to weigh national security against individual liberties and an open judicial process.
~ from Judge Tosses Lawsuit Over FBI Surveillance of California Mosques by Dan Whitcomb ~

In a theme I mention in this morning's post, OUR government is becoming so secretive that -- EVEN WHEN THEY VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS -- it can't be held accountable. No matter what transgressions the government commits, all the government's lawyers have to do is to convince a judge that a trial will reveal one of their secrets and this amounts to a "get out of jail free card."

Let's be honest. If you or I knew that, no matter how badly we acted in our lives, we wouldn't be held accountable for our actions, who among us would lead a virtuous life? We rightfully would feel that we were above the law and we would be slaves to our most craven desires.

When the people sworn to uphold the law aren't required to follow it themselves, it is a direct invitation for corruption and abuse of power.