Before we can truly make a decision as to what constitutes going too far let me define entrapment for you.  According to the web site www.m-w.com entrapment is as follows;

Main Entry: en·trap·ment
Pronunciation: -m&nt
Function: noun
1 a : the action or process of entrapping b : the condition of being entrapped
2 : the action of luring an individual into committing a crime in order to prosecute the person for it

Please pay special attention to number two above as this most closely conveys what I mean by going too far.

Examples-

A few years back the local sheriff for Broward County in Florida had his own crack cocaine lab where he made crack cocaine to sell in the open market.  He and his detectives dressed as lay persons went to the people in neighborhoods that were most needy and sold them their drug wares.  Whomever they sold this crack to, which was poor unsuspecting people, they always arrested. Their plan in this game of entrapment was that they would eventually close down the seedy drug industry.  Thus cleaning up the city he was elected to serve and protect.  It was either that, or he (the sheriff) hoped to become the kingpin of this industry and thus make all the drug money for himself.  Until the press got wind of this little business venture he enjoyed total and complete anonymity and amnesty from the laws he was breaking.  What twisted, demented person thinks that by breaking the law yourself you can then arrest those that you have entrapped to buy from you?  Whatever happened to codes of honor and conduct?  To setting examples for those that you hope to help or protect?  I do not tolerate the use of drugs for myself or those I choose to surround myself with, but I cannot choose what is right or wrong for another nor would I go so far as to break the law to arrest them.  Many of the people who use drugs have rather hopeless lives.  Why don’t we try to give them hope instead of deepening their plight? 

Let us move forward some years to the present time.  Last week in Miami, Florida, there was a big bust or roundup of some suspected terrorists.  Supposedly they had been plotting to bomb the Sears Tower in Chicago or the FBI Headquarters in Miami.  These five men were from Liberty City. Many of the people who reside there are economically and academically disadvantaged.  According to CNN News (Friday, June 23, 2006; Wolf Blitzer segment) these men were approached by US FBI Government officials posing as recruiters for Al Qaeda.  They did not disclose the details of what they promised these men in order to entice them to join forces with them.  However, I am sure that the lure of money and the ability to live and do anything they please was part of it.  These men were no more terrorists than either you or me.  They just happened to be desperate enough for money and desperate enough to be filled with hope that they their lives would be changed.  They completely and totally believed what the FBI Government officials told and promised them.  As soon as they agreed to this venture they were arrested and labeled as terrorists.  How fair is that?  How can the FBI prey on the poor and uneducated?  These men were not plotting anything except maybe where to find their next meal until the FBI officials approached and promised untold amounts of money.  Maybe they promised them all kinds of things.  Wouldn’t you agree that this is and was entrapment?

I say that our government is going way too far with the obstruction of our human rights.  They listen in on our phone calls.  They monitor our use of the Internet and have hopes of censoring it all together.  They created the Patriot Act which gives carte blanche search and seizure rights to pretty much everyone from the local dog catcher to the National Guard.  Where will they stop?  What other rights will be taken away in the name of  fighting terror here at home?  How much more do we have to endure?  If you agree with me please call of write your local or state representatives or congress people and tell them that you feel they are taking things too far.

Instead of creating more problems why don’t we seek solutions to the problems that we already have?  We need to have plans to get these people jobs and not just any job, but jobs that pay them a living wage and give them a reason to have hope.  With the money we have spent on this folly in Iraq we could have all people that were on welfare back to work.  We could have medical care for all people in the United States.  We could have prescription plans for all people and not just this screwball plan for the elderly or indigent.  Why doesn’t our government begin to take care of those that elected them to office in the first place instead of pandering to the special rights or jockeying for leadership between parties.  If America ever wants to get back to being number one we need to take care of matters at home before asserting any effort abroad.  

Sources;

www.m-w.com

CNN News, Friday, June 23, 2006, Wolf Blitzer segment

	Web useless-knowledge.com