Posted on 06/02/2003 6:29:55 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
Trading A Constitutional Republic For Big Brother
The principle of limited federal authority is the bedrock principle upon which our government was created. America's founders envisioned a nation of strong, independent but united states, and a very limited and myopic central system.
However, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, the vision of the Founding Fathers was destroyed. The principle of limited federal authority was cast aside and a nation preoccupied with unlimited federal power and authority took its place.
As a result, we have lived under a European-style federal system for nearly a century and a half. America today has become the very kind of country that our forebears fought to break free from.
Conservatives would have us believe that President Bush and the Republican Party are working to reverse the rush toward bigger and bigger government. They aren't. In fact, Bush and Company are putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to promoting a bigger-than-ever federal system. In fact, Bush has used the events of 9/11 to strip Americans of more liberties than any President during the 20th Century, including Bill Clinton or Franklin Roosevelt.
For example, Bush has selectively suspended the right of habeas corpus, which means the right to know the charges one is being held under. Through his attorney general, Bush has also authorized using federal agencies to conduct searches and seizures without requiring them to first obtain proper warrants. This is blatantly illegal and unconstitutional!
Furthermore, the Bush government now even has the power to investigate American citizens with absolutely no probable cause. Under Bush's policies, a citizen could even have his or her citizenship revoked if they were found to violate these newly enacted and loosely defined anti-terrorism laws.
Obviously, you will not find these kinds of policies in the U.S. Constitution. They are right out of Orwell's "1984" and Hitler's Third Reich. But it doesn't stop there.
Now, President Bush wants to give the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency the authority to demand personal and financial records of individual citizens. Beyond that, sources are reporting that private pressure groups are currently being organized to collect taxes for the IRS. They will be paid by commission, of course.
Furthermore, bankers are already being told that beginning this fall all new customers will be subjected to a required background check which will be forwarded to the federal government. That's right! Your banker is soon to be a private snoop for the federal government.
In addition, have you noticed all the check-points going up everywhere? One can hardly travel more than a few miles without finding himself in a long line where various and sundry police agencies probe and even search his or her person and property. If you look closely, you will notice that federal agents are included in practically every one of these random check-points. The old Communist command, "Show me your papers," has become a routine American demand.
This administration is quickly turning what was once a constitutional republic into a federal police state. But what is worse is that the architect of this tyranny, President George W. Bush, seems to enjoy the support of the vast majority of Christian conservatives.
It is extremely difficult to imagine how willingly we forfeited the fundamental principle of limited government upon the altar of pseudo-conservatism and disarming Christian rhetoric. Yet, that is exactly what we seem to have done.
bankers are already being told that beginning this fall all new customers will be subjected to a required background check which will be forwarded to the federal government. That's right! Your banker is soon to be a private snoop for the federal government.
Yes, Bush is worse than Hitler, and everyone is being stopped and asked for the papers every few miles.
Chuck Baldwin is a kook, AT BEST.
I need to correct you :-), Chuck is a religous kook, AT BEST
But come to think of it, I understand why
Okay, I'm a christian conservative and Chuck Baldwin is a Nazi. Now who are you going to believe? I'm immune from criticism.
They are being stabbed in the front by Republican "friends" and still deny the truth. There is none so blind as him who will not see.
Would a conservative Republican expand government spending faster than Bill Clinton? Bush has. It is a fact: Non-defense, federal government spending has grown faster under the current president than the former. Is this why we elected this guy?
Yes. It's the "truth" according to TLB; it's a gift, you know.
If so you should already know what he is about, in a minute we will be deluged with countless cut-n-paste nonsense that has nothing to do with "Chucky's" unsubstantiated claims in this diatribe of paranoia he calls an editorial.
It sounds like it might be a return of the "know your customer" law which was pronounced killed and dead after the Clintigula Administration tried to sneak it past the radar.
Then, there is Admiral Poindexter, who wants to purchase the same kind of information currently available to private corporations- Credit checks, purchasing habits etc.
Most people don't realize, for example, the "Shopping Saver" card records issued by Grocery Stores can be subpeonaed in civil and criminal court cases. (Tell me Mrs. Smith why did you buy different size contraceptives on August 31? etc.)
I have held for some months the Bush Administration is Clintigula Lite without the sex, drugs and rock n roll.
The Bushbots remain in denial.
So be it.
Best regards,
"Really too bad that a conservative forum would bash christian conservatives and make liberal republicans God!"Are you accusing Jim Robinson and this forum of something?
And those who blame Lincoln know that if they make their real argument--that the adoption of the Constitution itself is where it all started--they will get even less support than they do now. Patrick Henry warned in 1789 that those who favored ratification were embarking on "Empire" and every citizen would be in danger of being hauled into Federal court on the slightest pretext
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.