Justice Scalia calls individual privacy "farcical"

[Better with a Union Man]

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story...ID=1346462

1/19/2011

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that background checks of scientists and other government contract workers do not violate Constitutional privacy rights. The background checks were extended to companies and universities that play a roll in projects funded by the government after the attacks on September 11, 2001. The court overturned a previous ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that said the background checks of contractors were a violation of privacy. Justice Samuel Alito wrote on behalf of the court that the government has “wide latitude” when it deals “with employees” and that includes contract workers. However, Supreme Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas went on to write a concurring opinion suggesting informational privacy is a right that “does not exist.” He went on to challenge the concept of informational privacy rights calling the idea “farcical.” He wrote “the farcical nature of a contention that a right deeply rooted in our history and tradition bars the Government from ensuring that the Hubble Telescope is not used by recovering drug addicts”

The case before the Supreme Court was brought by 28 veteran scientists and researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.


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[JTFrog]

If anything is farcical it's "Justice" Scalia. There should be a special kind of hell for people like him.

[OptimistesMaddie]

Scalia will rule in a future case that "Corporations" because they are considered "persons" are entitled to individual privacy.

See how that works?

[sandnsea]

And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict? These people's entire belief system revolves around the assumption that they're perfect. Therefore, anybody who is not perfect is either defective or not praising God enough. Never mind the fact that the only reason they think they're perfect is because they're in denial of their own character flaws. Denial. It's what makes America go round.

[Willinois]

(01-21-2011 11:16 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict?

I wouldn't have a problem with it. Since the leading voice of the conservative movement is a recovering drug addict with a talk show I'm surprised to see Scalia bring it up.

[SeattleGirl]

(01-21-2011 11:16 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict? These people's entire belief system revolves around the assumption that they're perfect. Therefore, anybody who is not perfect is either defective or not praising God enough. Never mind the fact that the only reason they think they're perfect is because they're in denial of their own character flaws. Denial. It's what makes America go round.

Nailed it! That's exactly what they believe - that they have no flaws, and those who do are irreparably damaged and "dirty".

[Cha]

(01-22-2011 01:14 PM)Punky Wrote:  

(01-21-2011 11:16 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict? These people's entire belief system revolves around the assumption that they're perfect. Therefore, anybody who is not perfect is either defective or not praising God enough. Never mind the fact that the only reason they think they're perfect is because they're in denial of their own character flaws. Denial. It's what makes America go round.

Nailed it! That's exactly what they believe - that they have no flaws, and those who do are irreparably damaged and "dirty".

Except for rush screw his country over limbaugh and his ilk.

[PoliticalTiger]

(01-21-2011 11:16 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict? These people's entire belief system revolves around the assumption that they're perfect. Therefore, anybody who is not perfect is either defective or not praising God enough. Never mind the fact that the only reason they think they're perfect is because they're in denial of their own character flaws. Denial. It's what makes America go round.

I think Scalia & Thomas should be subjected to weekly, mandatory drug tests and the results made public since individual privacy is so "farcical!"

[RoyGBiv]

(01-23-2011 06:08 PM)PoliticalTiger Wrote:  I think Scalia & Thomas should be subjected to weekly, mandatory drug tests and the results made public since individual privacy is so "farcical!"

Require Thomas to take a breathalyser before he sits down on the bench.

[Treestar]

(01-23-2011 06:08 PM)PoliticalTiger Wrote:  

(01-21-2011 11:16 AM)sandnsea Wrote:  And why should the Hubble Telescope not be used by a recovering addict? These people's entire belief system revolves around the assumption that they're perfect. Therefore, anybody who is not perfect is either defective or not praising God enough. Never mind the fact that the only reason they think they're perfect is because they're in denial of their own character flaws. Denial. It's what makes America go round.

I think Scalia & Thomas should be subjected to weekly, mandatory drug tests and the results made public since individual privacy is so "farcical!"

That's for sure! And it is very unprofessional of him to add that sentence. He's there to decide the law, not put his personal opinions into decisions.

[Peadar O Suileabhain]

Which is why he is having a closed-door, no-media sit-down with the Tea Party Caucus...

[Cha]

(01-22-2011 09:58 AM)Peadar O Suileabhain Wrote:  Which is why he is having a closed-door, no-media sit-down with the Tea Party Caucus...

Scalia is one of those identities who should never be given power because they abuse it.

[RoyGBiv]

(01-21-2011 06:30 AM)Better with a Union Man Wrote:  He wrote “the farcical nature of a contention that a right deeply rooted in our history and tradition bars the Government from ensuring that the Hubble Telescope is not used by recovering drug addicts”

I'd rather have the Hubble used by a recovering drug addict than our justice system overseen by recovering alcoholics who turn angry.

[Hekate]

This statement about privacy also goes to the heart of women's access to contraception and abortion. IIRC, the original Connecticut case about a person's right to access contraceptive means hinged on the right to privacy. In turn, Roe vs. Wade hinged on the Connecticut case.

Scalia is a dangerous sonovabitch. But you already knew that.

Hekate