America Needs Ron Paul Back

image
Created: 09 Mar, 2017
Updated: 21 Nov, 2022
1 min read

This week's explosive release of information from WikiLeaks regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) cavalier use of surveillance techniques are still being unraveled. The release, referred to as "Year Zero," has so far shown that the intelligence agency exploited vulnerabilities in consumer products without notifying the manufacturer, putting the privacy of millions of customers at risk.

In its release, WikiLeaks asserted:

"The CIA had created, in effect, its "own NSA" with even less accountability and without publicly answering the question as to whether such a massive budgetary spend on duplicating the capacities of a rival agency could be justified."

Now that the surveillance industrial complex has reared its ugly head, who could have had the clairvoyance to see this coming?

For one, Ron Paul did -- 30 years ago! That's right, nearly three decades ago then-U.S. Rep. Paul warned of the dangers of America's ever-widening surveillance practices:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G87jOx1VJ3o

Not to be outdone by his own prescience, Paul also remarked on the lack of congressional oversight exercised on the CIA, even going so far as to say the CIA should be abolished altogether:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyAjZrcUqRA&t=1m25s

Today we live in an era where the average consumer has little confidence that his/her right to privacy is being respected by an increasingly unaccountable surveillance apparatus. Maybe more people should have listened to Ron Paul.

Photo Credit: Stuart Whitmore / shutterstock.com

More Choice for San Diego

Latest articles

Symbols for both parties on elevated positions.
A Tale of Two Parties: Democrats Are from Mars, Republicans Are from Venus
As I think about Tuesday’s State of the Union address by President Donald Trump and the response of Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan—a former CIA analyst and a rising star in the Democratic Party—I am reminded of the book “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” by John Gray published in 1992....
06 Mar, 2025
-
5 min read
Symbols of both parties on a scale.
Research Shows Congress Is Getting Younger, But No Less Divided
Pew Research Center published 7 facts this week about the changing face of Congress in the 119th session. On top of an increase in diversity, the research center found Congress is also slightly younger....
05 Mar, 2025
-
3 min read
American flag in front of a government building with columns.
How An Unresponsive Government Is Affecting Public Support for Foreign Aid
The heated confrontation in the White House Friday between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, continues to spur debate across the nation as voters are split on the US's support of Ukraine in its war with Russia....
04 Mar, 2025
-
4 min read