They would, of course, only use this power for Good

WASHINGTON, May 20 - The F.B.I. would gain broad authority to track the mail of people in terror investigations under a Bush administration proposal, officials said Friday, but the Postal Service is already raising privacy concerns about the plan.

The proposal, to be considered next week in a closed-door meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee, would allow the bureau to direct postal inspectors to turn over the names, addresses and all other material appearing on the outside of letters sent to or from people connected to foreign intelligence investigations.

The plan would effectively eliminate the postal inspectors' discretion in deciding when so-called mail covers are needed and give sole authority to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, if it determines that the material is "relevant to an authorized investigation to obtain foreign intelligence," according to a draft of the bill.

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So, some strangers come into your house uninvited...

...and start messing around with things. You're alone, so you pick up your axe and walk outside to talk to them about the situation.

What happens?

Well, if you've been living there for 16 years, never caused any trouble, the cops and the town and most of the people in the town (including me) knew you and even liked you -- you will go to jail for "criminal threatening", your animals will be confiscated, your property such as it is will be condemned, and the people who know all about what's Good for You will talk about getting you Help.

Thanks for going to Nam for us, Peter. Really appreciate your trouble.

Goddammit.

WATERVILLE -- A familiar figure about town who has squatted on land off College Avenue for 16 years with a variety of animals has been arrested and charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

Peter Michaud, 59, is scheduled to remain in the Kennebec County jail in Augusta at least until Monday, when he is to appear before a Waterville District Court judge to have his bail amount reviewed. Bail was set Friday at $1,000 cash.

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