“I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it’s the government.”

-Woody Allen

Sixty one years ago this week, The House Un-American Activities Committee began its now well-known Hollywood investigation. The search resulted in nine day hearings and the historic “blacklist” of ten, and later more than 300, Communist sympathizers or perceived Communist sympathizers in the industry. Its “witch hunt”-like nature led Arthur Miller to write The Crucible, a play that uses the Salem witch trials as an allegory for Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s actions.

HUAAC folded in on itself in 1975 (the same year the Vietnam War ended, Franco died and Mitchell, Haldeman and Ehrlichman were found guilty of covering up Watergate…seems like a year for being fed up).

Has the government, however, made “butting out” progress since then?

I guess, being the government, “butting out” isn’t really in its job description. Apart from its “regular” obligations, it’s responsible for checking those things menacing to national, and thus presumably each individual’s personal, security.

Cold War bound McCarthy wanted to eliminate the Communist threat. Bush and Congress passed the USA Patriot Act in 2001 to defend the country against terrorism. The perils both Communism and Terrorism presented to the country at each time were, in a way, legitimate. Turns out the Rosenbergs were spies after all. September 11th really did happen.

But where do we draw the line? (more…)