Given how corrupt and ineffectual the federal government has been lately, adding yet another government office hardly seems like the solution to our problems.
But this isn’t a bad idea. From Geoffrey R. Stone, in the NYT:
Presidents have a wide range of official advisers. There is a secretary of defense, a secretary of labor, a national security adviser, to name just a few. The next president should create a new executive branch position: a civil liberties adviser. Within the highest councils of every administration there should be a respected public official whose charge it is to defend our civil liberties against all comers.
Ideally, people like the members of congress, the attorney general, and the president should make it their business to protect our civil liberties. You know, because it is sort of their job. But in warrantless-wiretapping, Patriot-Act America, having an official solely dedicated to protecting our constitutional rights might help. After nearly 8 years of the Bush assault on civil liberties, we need all of the help we can get. And let’s just hope that if we do get an official civil liberties adviser position, the appointment will be made by this guy.
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“I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.”
-Simone de Beauvoir
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hello,
I am writing for the position you recently advertised on your website. As you can see from my attached CV, I have experience serving in government and have mucho knowledge about civil liberties.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Alberto Gonzales