The Death of Privacy In America
Privacy is foundational to civil rights and the basis for liberty in a free and open society
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
The right to privacy is fundamentally at the core of civil liberties in America. Liberty, otherwise known as personal autonomy, is central to our belief that as human beings, we have certain inalienable rights, that should not be abridged by the government. The Bill of Rights is basically a list of protections against government overreach into our personal lives. If privacy isn’t guaranteed, then you are not in control of your own destiny.
According to a leaked draft opinion, written by Justice Alito for the majority, the Supreme Court of the United States is preparing to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark case that codified a woman’s Constitutional right to an abortion. Some might think this is only about abortion, but you’d be sadly mistaken.
If a woman doesn’t even have governance over her own body, what is to stop the state from expressing its interest in everything we do in our private lives. What we read. What we watch. What we say. If the Fourth Amendment doesn’t matter, why would the First, the Thirteenth, or Fourteenth, or any of them?
The truth is, five Republican justices have decided that their personal motives are more important than Constitutional law, and have seen fit to overturn precedent, clearing the way to overturn other precedents concerning privacy and freedom of expression.
If a woman no longer has autonomy over her own body according to the state, then there is nothing to keep Republican-controlled legislatures from banning other activities they find favor with or not, based on moral or religious grounds. Gay marriage. Interracial marriage. Homosexuality. Contraception. Working on the Sabbath. You name it.
If you’re not bothered by what’s happening you’re either not paying attention or too far gone for anyone to care. If you think this doesn’t affect you, you’re in for a rude awakening.
