Posted on 11/27/2001 4:08:35 AM PST by from occupied ga
Many conservatives, liberals and libertarians are protesting the numerous invasions of your liberty that Congress and the Bush administration have imposed during the past two months.
But without realizing it, many of the protestors brought these invasions on themselves.
This is America?
I do share their concerns, however.
First, Congress rammed through an "anti-terrorism" bill that violates the civil liberties of all Americans, not just terrorists.
The new law allows federal officials to search your home when you're not present and not even tell you your home has been searched. You could come home one day and find your computer, file cabinets and legal papers have disappeared. You'd naturally think it was a burglary, but the burglars would be government employees (shades of Watergate).
Warrants can be issued in secret, and you may not be allowed to see a warrant – or contest it – covering a search of your property.
This is America?
Government officials can go into any company anywhere and search records of your purchases and credit history, discover the websites you've visited, or monitor your e-mail – without evidence of a crime and without telling you, and they can order the companies not to tell you about the search.
Then the Bush administration, apparently invoking the divine right of kings, decided that people can be tried and executed by secret courts (using secret evidence not available for you to refute), that government agents can eavesdrop on attorney-client conversations, and that federal agents can conduct searches without judicial oversight.
This is America?
And understand that the so-called "War on Terrorism" is only two months old. This is just the beginning. What's still to come?
In previous wars, citizens were imprisoned for speaking out against the government, newspapers were closed for protesting the war, private publications were censored, and people of foreign ancestry were put in concentration camps. We have a lot to look forward to.
Don't be deceived!
The press implies that the new civil-liberties invasions will apply only to terrorists.
Not true.
They apply to you, because anyone can be suspected of being a terrorist – including you. In fact, the new definition of "suspected terrorist" includes people speaking out against government policies.
And if law-enforcement officials are to decide whose civil liberties will be denied, one of them may become convinced you're connected to the terrorists in some way, try you in a secret court, sentence you, imprison you and even execute you – with no opportunity for you to appeal the verdict or your sentence.
This is America?
An administration official told The Washington Post "The U.S. Constitution doesn't protect anyone hiding and planning acts of violence." But what he meant was, "The U.S. Constitution doesn't protect anyone we suspect of hiding and planning acts of violence." They don't know who's actually guilty until after a civil, public trial – conducted with all the traditional rules of evidence. What they have arrogated to themselves is the power to decide whether or not you will be protected by the Constitution.
This is America?
If you're not frightened by this, you're simply not paying attention.
Won't be limited to a few people
Have you been told that some of these invasions apply only to aliens – or some other small group of people?
Don't be reassured. When has any invasion of liberty not been expanded to cover all people eventually?
The clearly unconstitutional RICO laws were supposed to apply only to organized crime – but hardly a single Mafia kingpin has been prosecuted using RICO, while abortion protestors and stockbrokers have been jailed by these laws. The clearly unconstitutional asset-forfeiture laws were only to nab big-time drug dealers, but all across America the property of innocent people has been seized.
It's only a matter of time until every new oppression applies to all Americans.
Why this happened
I said that many of those protesting these invasions brought this on themselves. How?
It's very simple.
Attorney General John Ashcroft justified the unconstitutional police-state tactics by saying, "I think it's important to understand that we are at war now."
And there you have it. As Randolph Bourne said, "War is the health of the state." Once you grant the government war-making powers, you grant the politicians the power to do anything they want. After all, you can't put your own personal liberty ahead of the good of the Fatherland, can you?
Congress didn't declare war. There were none of the usual pre-war negotiations to try to avoid going to war. We're not even at war with any specific nation. But just utter the magic word "war" and all your rights can be stolen from you.
So if you hollered for war, you hollered to have your rights taken away from you.
Who gave your rights away? You did – if you supported the idea that the politicians should be free to do anything they want to satisfy a national lust for revenge.
Isn't it time to start taking back your liberty?
I agree. Under the circumstances, laws like these are necessary. We're being attacked from within.
BUT.....I think there should be a time limit on these laws. There isn't, yet. Without a time limit, the future could be grimm.
Thanks for your comment hillary.
You apparently don't realize that in our Nation there is no
difference between someone "suspected" and someone
"assumed innocent until proven guilty".
Our freedoms, and rights to due process must be maintained for
all, lest they are maintained for none.
Are you sure you've identified the correct ones?
By the way, you sound very scared. Perhaps if you enjoy perfect safety at the expense of your freedom China may be a good choice. I really do believe some need security over freedom and all the best. It's just not for everyone.
Nope. Clinton sucked "big time." BUT...
The majority of American don't pay much attention to politics. They either like what the canidate does on the surface, or they don't. They vote. Bush has 87% of them. That's my point.
And then the individual signs as a "DCPatriot"
I find that quite amusing.
So very true.
Tony
Well then you are the type of subject that the government loves. If you are willing to have any restraints put upon you for the promise of security then you are one of those that Sam Adams was talking about.
How would you suggest the government infultrate the sleeping terrorist cells then?
While I don't love the U.S. government- I don't take a Chicken Little approach to life either! The sky is NOT falling!! Our nation is at war. That means that extra measures must be taken to secure the general population, and make it easier for Law Enforcement to apprehend the Terrorist operatives within our country. This is not unusual. We had similar measures in place during World War II. I think some of you have your tinfoil hats on a little too tight!!!
This is a non-sequitor. What sleeping terrorist cells would these be? Would these be the tyrany respose teams? Would these be JPFO? Would these be any organizations that are openly critical of government? According to the new legislation, the answer is yes.
Ah, but of course, freedom to you is having the ability choose paper or plastic, isn't it?
I think you got yer gun belt stapped across yer johnson a little too tight!!!
You may recognize this:
Section. 8.
Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
....
Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Last I heard Kongress had not declared war; hence we are NOT at war.
Sorry, Harry seems to be part of the Blame America First crowd.
where does it say they are doing that?
If we let the president decide when it is appropriate to circumvent the constitution and the judicial system, we are setting a dangerous precedence for the future.
The president has stated that these latest attacks are on "freedom" and "our way of life", it follows that if we abandon either then we are losing.
Now is the time to demonstrate to the world that we have confidence in our constitution and our judicial system, even in times of war.
If non-citizens, we already have the authority to deport these people. If citizens, we have to go through the normal civil proceedings. In this Act every citizen is placed under further financial scrutiny. This section of the Act is not being bragged about by our government officials. This Act is an attempt by government to show they are doing something by taking liberty away from us.
Our largest breach of security is our borders which are leaking like a sieve. Any terrorist can get through under present conditions.
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.