No need to be fearful Yeah right

If people have done nothing wrong, they have nothing to fear.

How many times have we had that insulting platitude wheeled out when the already-powerful seek to extend their power in the area of law and order.

It has been dusted off again as the Key Government attempts to get its spy bill passed. If you are innocent, why worry that some faceless figures - who, incidentally, may have the authority to shoot you and imprison you - can be privy to your phone calls, emails, business meetings, heart-to-hearts with your bank manager and chats with your mates in the pub?

The corollary of this is that those who object to the expansion of the Government Communications Security Bureau's powers - who say: "Be afraid ... be very afraid" - must have something to hide. It is, of course, the oldest ploy in the book for those who rule to try to cast the shadow of guilt over those who oppose or protest their rule. Game Of Thrones, anyone?

Such tactics were used in the anti-terror raids in October 2007.

The people who had done nothing wrong then - animal-rights activists, peace protesters and Maori seeking self-determination - had plenty to fear. Wrongful arrest, trumped-up charges, illegal police surveillance and court proceedings dragged out over four years that left some of them penniless.

That raid was carried out in the spirit of the "War On Terror", launched in the wake of the 9-11 attacks on the US - and that same spirit pervades the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill.

The specious "War On Terror" has been discredited, as has its prime protagonist, George W Bush.

He also said: "If people have done nothing wrong, they have nothing to fear." At that time his administration was having innocent people (Bush called them "the bad guys") tortured at Guantanamo Bay, held for years without trial, with no access to a lawyer or contact with their families. Strangely, none of the "bad guys" has ever convicted of a crime.