The Homeland Security bill is not overriding our rights at all. Instead it is designed to make it easier for government agencies to communicate vital information that can prevent such atrocities as Sept. 11. It does not make it easier for the government to put a phone tap on somebody, or to check his or her Internet usage. The government is still required to show a reasonable justification for such acts. This is no different then it was before the Homeland Security bill.

If somebody wishes to prove me wrong, then go right ahead. But don’t just go quoting some liberal or the media in their knee-jerk reaction to this bill. Look at the bill itself and find where it says that it will be easier for “Big Brother” to trample our civil liberties. I’m betting that it won’t be found.

The reason that Democrats in Congress are opposed to this bill is that it puts limits on lawsuits on pharmaceuticals. Why is this? It is because trial lawyers are one of their biggest sources of political donations. Just another example of special interests overriding the well-being of the people of this great nation.

And why do the Republicans want to put limits on such lawsuits? Simply stated, it is to make it possible for pharmaceutical companies to research and make vaccines for biological threats. When a company has to worry about a small handful of people who may have an adverse reaction to a vaccine suing them out of business, then where is the incentive to do such important work?

Now I am not saying that legitimate lawsuits are wrong here. If a person has an extreme reaction to a medication that was not expected, then he or she has the right to sue. But not in the astronomical amounts that civil actions have taken in the last few years.

The good-samaritan laws are an excellent comparison in this case. When a company puts out a vaccine or medication of some type with the intention of curing a disease, or averting a biological disaster, then that company should not be put out of business if a few people have a bad reaction. It is virtually impossible to account for every person’s individual body chemistry when designing a drug, and people are going to react differently.

Of course this part of the Homeland Security bill was labeled by Democrats as the Republicans catering to special interests. I believe that it is essential legislation and should be applied to more situations where lawsuits have gotten out of hand.

So don’t go labeling this legislation as a civil rights violation without going to the source and finding out for yourself.

Eric Baack

Senior

Mechanical Engineering