The already enormous powers of our FBI have been greatly expanded

Fwd The already enormous powers of our FBI have been greatly expanded

The already enormous powers of our FBI have been greatly expanded by
adding to their arsenal a most a most elaborate apparatus known as
"CARNIVORE". This now enables the FBI to monitor and to interject
themselves into, and interfere with any personal activities in
progress on anyone's Internet at any time and anyplace in the world.
This most expensive and sophisticated equipment was granted to the
FBI on some expressed presumptions: One being that our FBI is an
honorable organization and that they are seriously in the business of
fighting crime. A second, and more accurate presumption was that
crimes such as drug trafficking or even espionage might well be
perpetrated via the Internet. A few of us have come to know quite
directly that there are other factors needing to be considered in
granting these added powers to the FBI, however. Must we not weigh
in the ever-present factors of Corporate & Government greed and
related corruptions? Are we not also forced to acknowledge the most
pervasive role of those special interests that we find contributing
so heavily to our elected bureaucrats, nd, what they just may be
expecting in return for these ongoing large contributions. Must we
not ask where our FBI fits into this quagmire of corporate/political
bureaucratic entanglements? (Remember Waco)

Over the years we have drawn a degree of comfort in knowing that
there are always some good folks who will take all the the risks
involved in blowing the whistle on some of the worst of these
Corporate/Gov- Rip-Off schemes and and the related special
arraignments. In today's world though will not our whistle blowers
turn, most likely to their Internet computers as there best means to
organize there thoughts and get their message out - and
there-in comes the big snag. They will, most likely, no longer find
themselves to be alone with their efforts on their computer. Their
message may now need to meet with the approval of those ever-present
FBI agents assigned to their Internet.

One of our wisest forefathers noted that "With Power Comes
Corruption" and it has also been observed that increasing those
powers will likely to little to diminish any of that corruption.
Indeed, in considering these powers now entrusted to our FBI, I find
myself being required to take another look at the role of our FBI
when they're Agents. For whatever reasons, do not approve of what any
Whistle Blower may want to say. It is now a clear fact that they,
the FBI, have been given the power to block, disrupt, alter otherwise
sabotage any Internet activities where crimes, in fact are in
progress. Might we be confident that our FBI would never be disposed
to knowingly misuse such powers? Might they interject there new
powers where they simply don't approve of what is being said? On
that point I have learned painfully and first hand that we have no
cause for optimism.

We have one obvious reality to be weighted. Top FBI officials are
political appointees, appointed most often by the same political
persons that are on the receiving end of the special interest monies
here noted. What is to be the role of the FBI when their very own
appointed directors and cronies are, themselves, about to be exposed
in criminal schemes?

On this subject I can speak first hand. My personal experience
involves the VIAD Corporation of Phoenix, Az. (d.b.a: Travelers
Express Inc.). I learned that they have been, for several years,
targeting and Ripping-off mostly the poor. They are the ones most
often needing to deal in their money orders. I would learn that they,
Travelers Express (VIAD), had been making large contributions to both
the Republican and Democratic Parties and they had been getting away
with their elaborate schemes - being held accountable by none of
those agencies in place to protect these same Citizens who were being
victimized. I learned about the VIAD Corporation's big contributions
to both parties (mostly to the Republicans for some reason). I set
out to Blow the Whistle on all of this after being personally ripped-
off for about $500 in one of these Travelers Express - VIAD schemes
and it was then that I would get to observe first hand the role of
our FBI and how they would be using there new "CARNIVORE" when it
comes to how they deal with whistle-blowers. While I got my story out
with some degree of success

early I have not been permitted to be alone on an Internet computer
since. For a message such as this I am relegated to a word processor
or a typewriter. This remains now a subject, which I am now, and will
remain willing to speak to directly for as long as I am able.

David Goggin