Anonymous says:

Bullshit. Privacy is not inherently subversive at all. If you take the time to browse back through the Bill of Rights, you might recognize this paragraph -

ARTICLE IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I'll point out something about the history of that line most people forget. Our fine nation was founded by drug smugglers. The drug in question was Rum, admittedly, but none the less, the point remains -- the revolutionary war was financed by big time criminals like John Hancock who made their money in smuggling contraband and other similar acts. They made sure that the constitution they got was supportive of their particular business interests. History teachers don't like pointing this sort of thing out, but its none the less true. Our founders wanted a government that is very close in size to what minarchist libertarians think of as being the "right size" -- there was a scandal early on when the white house staff was expanded to four people -- so it shouldn't be suprising that a correct reading of the constitution leads to certain unpleasant conclusions for statists. Perry PS Thomas Jefferson once fretted heavily over whether a constitutional amendment was needed to make the Louisiana Purchase. Think of that image in your mind the next time you hear a congressman propose some new program that is plainly not authorized in the enumerated powers section of the constitution. (By the way, if your history teacher fed you the bull that the "escape clause" means congress can pass any law it likes, I suggest looking up the legal doctrine that the "exception proves the rule", and check out the history of FDRs administration, paying special attention to the early constutional battles like the so called Scheckter "Sick Chicken" case and to the phrase "Court Packing".)