I believe part of the problem here is the myth of the modern. Before the House of UnAmerican Activities (HUAC), there was a commission which lost credibility for excesses. Then the worst of HUAC's excesses - McCarthizm lost credibility, then HUAC itself lost credibility, but now we believe, in our MODERN age, we can trust a government agency to oversee religion and politics in the US - to set the standard of Americanizm, using 9/11 as an excuss. In fact, the present laws, which provide for search, which provide for inflitration WITH PROBABLE CAUSE exist and are strong enough. This new plan is nothing more than a new HUAC. I don't think we are a better people than we were in the late fourties or fifties. I think we need checks on government power. Call that being a member of a hate group, I perfer to call it responcible citizenship.
I should point out, that I don't doupt the good intentions of folks like Lep and Doug, (in the manner they do of me on occation) I just believe in their idealism they think they live in times when better folks are in power. I think that is a dangerous thought.
Cheers Larry