Winners And Losers

<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0622/p01s01-usju.html>"Court: If police ask, you must give your name</a><br />n<br />nWinners:<br />n<br />n<i>In what may become a major boost to US law enforcement and antiterrorism efforts, the US Supreme Court Monday upheld a Nevada law that makes it a criminal offense for anyone suspected of wrongdoing to refuse to identify himself to police</i><br />n<br />nLosers:<br />n<br />n<i>Civil libertarians see the decision as a significant setback. And it remains unclear to what extent it may open the door to the issuing of national identification cards or widespread identity operations keyed to terrorist profiling at bus terminals, train stations, sports stadiums, and on city streets.<br />n<br />n "It's a green light to explore the bounds of how much personal information can be demanded on pain of arrest," says Timothy Lynch of the Cato Institute in Washington. "It also gives a green light to perhaps the Congress to move with a national law."</i><br />n<!–more–><br />nIf I was strolling down the street and minding my own buisness what need would a law enforcement official have for my name. None. But with this ruling if I didn't give it up I could be arrested and thrown in the lockup. I understan the police have a <a href="http://www.bigskydave.com/archives/000181.shtml#000181">difficult job to do</a>, but I don't feel they need to harass lawful citizens that are doing nothing wrong. Dave says we should "entrust them." I can't. I have seen too many abuses and too many power hungry police officers to trust them. I see this as another step by the government to make the police state we live under a stronger entity.<br />n<br />n<b>They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin</b>