The Constitution of Alaska is a masterpiece of careful thought and straightforward language. Among other things it enshrines the right of privacy. Not implied but declared, Article 1, section 22 declares, “The right of the people to privacy shall not be infringed.”
As I write this, in Washington D.C., unqualified, unvetted, uncredentialed, and unsupervised teenage and twentysomething computer hackers, are copying my personal and confidential information from numerus federal computer servers for reasons unknown. I realize that Washington, D.C., is a long way from Alaska, and I understand that the Alaska Constitution has no authority in Washington, D.C., but I don’t understand why the Alaska governments, state and local, aren’t saying anything about it.
As an Alaskan, I expect my state representatives in Washington to be outraged by this. I expect my state representative to be loudly advocating for my state right to privacy not to be infringed in Washinton. I expect my governor to be loudly advocating for my right to privacy. I expect my state legislature to be holding hearings and passing resolutions protesting this misappropriation of my privacy. I expect my city Assembly to be passing resolutions protesting this misappropriation of my private and confidential data. Where are my elected officials, elected and sworn to uphold our constitution?
Our Alaska founders also wisely declared, in Article 1, Section 19, we have the individual right to keep and bear arms. Not just a militia, but the individual right to bear arms. Will these young hackers be rifling through our federal firearms data to see who owns firearms in Alaska? Once the door is opened it is most difficult to close.
Article 1, Section 2 states: All political power is inherent in the people. All government originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the people as a whole.
For the good of the people as a whole, that means Alaskans, Republican, Democrat, independent or political atheist, Native and non-Native. These freedoms are for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. I am calling on all Alaskans to stand up for our rights. Call our representatives in Washington. Call our state legislators. Call our local elected officials. If they can take our right to privacy, they can take our right to bear arms.
Our constitution declares that “all persons are equal and entitled to equal rights, opportunities, and protection under the law; and that all persons have corresponding obligations to the people and to the State.”
All that is required for democracy to fail, is for good people to do nothing. My fellow Alaskans, do something.
• Rick Bierman is a Juneau resident.
