Been watching 24 on DVD. Just got done the first 4 seasons. Great show, obviously. Well written, entertaining, addictive. It's finction, of course, and tends to be repetative in its scare tactics, but it does raise some practical questions.
My official opinion is the Jack Bauer is pretty much the sort of guy we would need if this nation was faced with a catastrophy of genocidal proportions. Sure, he tortures people, but he gets results.
Anybody here think that his sort of tactics are less than acceptable in the real world? I'd like to hear your thoughts. Inevitably, this conversation (before it degrades to insults) will include many references to the 4th amendment. However, when viewed through the lens of national disaster, when, if ever, does 'doing what needs to be done' supercede the legislative intent of our main governing document?
No matter how committed you are to maintaining the integrity of the constitution, there has to be, and always is, a point where following our most sacred rules becomes absurdly impractical. Giving up a million lives just so that the civil rights of one almost certainly guilty man are not violated is the most basic example--but where is this point, and when, if ever, have we reached it?
