Billmon discusses the debate about polling the NSA issue. It looks like the country is pretty evenly divided on whether the government has gone too far or not. One poll shows they favor wire taps, another that they do not. It appears that the polling outcome may have to do with how the issue is worded given how closely divided folks are.

But as usual, Billmon makes the most salient point. In terms of civil liberties, the majority opinion is not the key. The Bill of Rights which are the bedrock of civil liberties in the United States, by definition, were designed to protect the minority against the tyranny of the majority. Our founders recognized the potential for the majority to, shall we say, not always act in their long term best interests. Thus the court system is endowed with the power to go against majority opinion in protecting the constitutional rights of citizens.

So to hell with the polls on the illegal wire taps. When worded properly, I don't think Americans really approve of an authoritarian government, particularly when it comes to pushing them around individually. But whether there is a hue and cry for a big daddy dictator to keep us safe, or not, tough. The constitution to which we all agree is the law of the land, says that civil liberties are important and should be preserved. Let those who desire dictatorship repeal the Bill of Rights first.