Rush Limbaugh and Reagan.com E-Mail Address: Security from the Government Scanning Your E-Mails

Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh are two names that have had a huge influence onme. Granted I don't get to listen to El Rushbo very often anymore, but recently, when I have, I have hard a misleading advertisement promoting the Reagan.com e-mail addresses.

My first thought when I listen to it is Rush is actually attacking the free market. Let me explain.

Rush sells the Reagan.com e-mail address as a symbol of freedom. He leads listeners down the slippery slope  their e-mail isn't secure and is being constantly scanned. He then explains a Reagan.com e-mail address is protected from these scans. Rush uses words like freedom and liberty, and as you listen you might mistake that he is implying the federal government of scanning your e-mails, even though he never actually says it.

What Rush is really talking about is pure American capitalism at play, and Rush actually attacks that practice with this ad. What Limbaugh is really getting at is free e-mail address, like Gmail, Yahoo!, or Hotmail, aren't exactly free. They are paid for by advertising, which you agree to when you sign up for the e-mail. Yes, it is true these free services scan your e-mail for keywords so they can place advertisements on their Web site geared towards your interests--just like the advertising you see in the movie Minority Report.

This is all legal based on you accepting the terms of the e-mail service. You have the freedom to get an e-mail address somewhere else if you have a problem with it. It seems a bit strange to me that someone who supports capitalism on the level Limbaugh does, would mislead you into a Reagan.com e-mail address which isn't free from government scans based on laws like the Patriot Act, which was passed by the same politicians Limbaugh praises day in and day out. The Patriot Act gives the federal government unconstitutional powers to track you without a warrant, and this includes e-mail. Reagan.com e-mail addresses are subject to these Fourth Amendment violating scans by the federal government(federal invasions of your privacy).

While I think having a Reagan.com e-mail address would be very cool, I just could not let another commercial air without pointing out the obvious. Of course, Reagan.com is another great example of capitalism at work. I just think Rush Limbaugh's commercial is a bit misleading.