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An Astounding Remark
Future of Freedom Foundation ^ | Sheldon Richman

Posted on 02/06/2002 5:05:45 AM PST by francisandbeans

When Attorney General John Ashcroft told the nation, "To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists," he wasn't blazing any new trails. He was merely doing what despots and would-be despots always do: attempting to intimidate into silence those who dare to question him.

Ashcroft's statement is one of the most astounding things to be said by a U.S. official in many years. To read it carefully — letting its full message sink in — is to be overtaken by a sense of horror that is otherwise hard to imagine. Every American should be offended to hear the government's chief law enforcement officer equate public expressions of concern about the threats to liberty from drastic "anti-terrorism" measures with joining al-Qaeda. Does Ashcroft have such a low estimate of the American people's intelligence?

Perhaps he needs to become acquainted with Thomas Jefferson. It was Jefferson who said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." That's true in the best of times. It's doubly true during war — especially an Orwellian undeclared, open-ended crusade against an enemy as nebulous as "international terrorism." Ashcroft is a perfect Orwellian character. In 1984, Big Brother told his people that "freedom is slavery." It follows that slavery is freedom. Ashcroft refuses to concede that the Bush administration is seeking to curtail liberty in the least. Those who see diminished liberty must be hallucinating, seeing "phantoms of lost liberty."

So when the president unilaterally abolishes due process for noncitizens, we are only imaging an erosion of liberty. And when Congress passes, without even reading, the administration's alleged anti-terrorism bill, which expands the government's powers of surveillance, permits secret searches of homes, and weakens judicial oversight of law enforcement, again, we are deluded if we think freedom is evaporating. I write "alleged anti-terrorism bill" because the new law does not restrict the expanded powers to suspected terrorists, but applies them to any criminal activity. This is a classic power grab under the cover of an emergency. September 11 has given policymakers a chance to bring down from the shelf every new police power they have wanted for years. They assume no one will question the need for such broad powers, and if anyone does, they can shut him up by portraying him as an ally of the terrorists. The game is rigged in favor of power.

It is no comfort that the erosion of liberty in the name of fighting terrorism has a bipartisan cast to it. Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York has given his blessing to oppressive government with an op-ed in the Washington Post titled "Big Government Looks Better Now." As Schumer puts it, barely concealing his glee, "For the foreseeable future, the federal government will have to grow... The era of a shrinking federal government has come to a close." Of course, the senator was trying to enlarge it long before September 11.

Schumer insists that only the federal government "has the breadth, strength and resources" to keep us secure. Forgive me for asking, but did we not have a federal government on September 11? Was it not in charge of our security on that date? Then what is the senator talking about? And if it isn't impolite to ask, just where does the federal government get all those resources? Last time I checked, it didn't produce anything. It simply took resources from the people who did produce them.

Once we understand that all government possesses is the power of legal plunder our whole perspective changes. Schumer insists that "the notion of letting a thousand different ideas compete and flourish — which works so well to create goods and services — does not work at all in the face of a national security emergency. Unity of action and purpose is required, and only the federal government can provide it." But he’s got it wrong. Security is a service. Competition and innovation are valuable in the effort to keep ourselves safe. The last thing we need is central planning. That’s what we had on September 11.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial
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To: francisandbeans
It was Jefferson who said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." That's true in the best of times. It's doubly true during war — especially an Orwellian undeclared, open-ended crusade against an enemy as nebulous as "international terrorism."

Jefferson was correct. So is this author. Nice article and thanks for posting it you terrorist sympathizer you.

Regards

J.R.

81 posted on 02/06/2002 6:21:28 AM PST by NMC EXP
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To: francisandbeans
You last post makes absolutely no sense at all; but, of course, considering who you're hanging out with lately, I can see why you'd less lucid than usual.
82 posted on 02/06/2002 6:22:03 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Gumption
I agree with you statement, but ashcroft is using a very broad brush here to quash anyone who speaks of liberties.
83 posted on 02/06/2002 6:23:01 AM PST by francisandbeans
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To: francisandbeans
How come when the village assembles, the idiot is always last to get here?

Really, it looks like the ACLU idiot is the one who originally posted this thread.

84 posted on 02/06/2002 6:23:10 AM PST by Dane
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To: Howlin
I just wish ONE WEEK you armchair warriors and know-it-alls had to put your money where you mouth was; maybe if you ever had to be in charge, things wouldn't be quiet as easy as they appear to you from that computer chair.
There's no need to embarrass our leaders by pointing out the flaws in our society that they're aware of and dealing with in their own way. Some people just enjoy finding fault with our leaders! They're anarchists, they're trouble makers or they're simply just unpatriotic. None of which describes you. Now, do you want people thinking otherwise? These are the areas that I want to help you with. I want to feel like I'm needed. That I'm doing my part to help bring the EarthGov back into the hands of the decent, hard-working people that created it. I am here to protect you.
  --Julie Musante (Babylon 5, "Voices of Authority")

85 posted on 02/06/2002 6:23:11 AM PST by steve-b
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To: Dane
I often wonder how many laws these people are actually breaking considering the absolute fear they have of authority.
86 posted on 02/06/2002 6:23:37 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin
Is it that hard to admit that ashcroft stepped over the line with this silly comment (and the statue thing...oh and that squeaky clean statement by his underling)?

I am sorry if that post made no sense to you, but I will allow you more time to think about it.

87 posted on 02/06/2002 6:25:03 AM PST by francisandbeans
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Comment #88 Removed by Moderator

To: Dane
LOL

Youre killing me Dane.

When you gonna perfom at Zanies?

89 posted on 02/06/2002 6:26:06 AM PST by francisandbeans
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To: francisandbeans
It doesn't make sense because it doesn't make sense; how do you connect supporting people who fight terrorism with supporting Bill Clinton. First you'd have to prove he FOUGHT terrorism.

I don't know what you're on my case today, but it's VERY unattractive. Keep it up.

90 posted on 02/06/2002 6:26:44 AM PST by Howlin
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To: francisandbeans
The real problem with the statue thing is that no serious man could possibly waste an iota of attention on such a thing during these times.
91 posted on 02/06/2002 6:27:54 AM PST by steve-b
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To: francisandbeans
When you gonna perfom at Zanies?

Sorry I don't perform open mike nights at piddly comedy clubs like you do.

You can have the whole Zanies stage to yourself.

92 posted on 02/06/2002 6:27:58 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
Not a dime's worth of difference between the ACLU and Libertarians on FR.

Would anybody like to guess how many times Dane has made this exact statement on FR?

Dane I have never seen a brain more fried from drugs then yours.

93 posted on 02/06/2002 6:28:16 AM PST by NC_Libertarian
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To: francisandbeans
bttt, for a later defense of Ashcroft and the 'full' context of the words he spoke.

Just like with Jefferson's words regarding the 'natural progress of things' to less liberty and more government, I don't make 'leaps of faith' on a few words taken in the context of an 'AGENDA', i.e., the false promotion of 'separation of church and state' based on a Jefferson letter answering a 'specific' question.

After all, Marx said, 'religion is the opiate of the masses'. (If 'ritalin' is good to settle the kids down; then, religion ought to be good for keeping order amongst the people.)

Of course, religion is not a good thing to those who are hoping to stir up a 'great change' in government.

Look beyond the 'words of men' to the 'hearts of men', francisandbeans. I would 'choose' 1 Ashcroft over 10 Renos every day of the week, not because we agree, but because his 'walk' matches his 'talk'.

94 posted on 02/06/2002 6:28:28 AM PST by d14truth
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To: Loopy
I know better. Many in here are the same as the knee pad wearing, kool aid drinkin crew over at DU. As long as it's our guy trashing the Constitution, we don't care. Sorry lot
95 posted on 02/06/2002 6:29:23 AM PST by steve50
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To: D Joyce
You mean because I don't post all that stuff like you did, you think I don't have much to say for myself?

And judging from your remarks to me, I can see why you need to come online; I don't imagine living with you is all that much fun.

We aren't at "WAR" with anybody and the only thing the government is doing is creating the illusion of safety

Tell it to the people at WTC.

96 posted on 02/06/2002 6:29:40 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin
Here, let me lay it out for you. John Ashcroft says he fights terrorism. Bill Clinton says he works hard. People SAY alot of things. It doesnt make them true. John Ashcroft has said more things that seem to be anti-freedom than things he has said that are pro-freedom. This statement shows that. The statement of his underling shows that. The fact that he consumes himself with petty worries about a statue with exposed breasts being in a picture with him speaks volumes about his insecurity.
97 posted on 02/06/2002 6:29:58 AM PST by francisandbeans
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To: steve50
The Democrats and the Republicans seem to find the constitution when the other party is in power.
98 posted on 02/06/2002 6:33:02 AM PST by NC_Libertarian
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To: francisandbeans
Oh, I get it now; Ashcroft's statement doesn't bother you; you hate Ashcroft. There's probably not much he could do that would please you, since you're bringing up the statute.

Very attractive, but excuse me if I don't play your pathetic little game.

99 posted on 02/06/2002 6:33:07 AM PST by Howlin
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To: d14truth
I used to be able to see his heart, but no longer.

He has covered it up with $8000 blue curtains.

100 posted on 02/06/2002 6:33:57 AM PST by francisandbeans
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