Posted on 03/08/2003 9:29:27 AM PST by forest
[NOTE: This text was first published in the March 7, 1997 newsletter. It was an important message in 1997, but seems even more important today.]
Last week we gave Rep. Ron Paul's toll-free Legislative Update number (1-888-322-1414) and suggested that readers listen to his message "The Coming Police State." We were told by a lot of people that they missed it.
Originally, that message was part of a one hour speech Rep. Paul made on the floor of the House. And, thanks to Jeff in Michigan, we have the complete text. Below is the shortened version of Rep. Paul's speech recorded as the "Legislative Update:"
Centralizing power and consistently expanding the role of the Government requires an army of bureaucrats and a taxing authority upon which a police state thrives. There are over 100 laws on the books permitting private property seizure without due process of law. We have made it easy to seize any property by absurdly claiming the property itself committed the crime. The RICO mentality relating to law enforcement permits even the casual bystander to suffer severely from the police state mentality.
The drug war hysteria and the war on gun ownership started by Roosevelt in 1934 have expanded Federal police power to the point that more than 10 percent of all of our police are Federal. The Constitution names but three Federal crimes, so where is the justification? Talk about swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. We have hovering over us daily the Federal police from the EPA, OSHA, FBI, CIA, DEA, EEOC, ADA, F&WL, INS, BATF, and worst of all, the IRS. Even criticizing the IRS makes me cringe that it might precipitate an audit. It seems that all administrations, to some degree, used the power of the agencies to reward or punish financial backers or political enemies.
So much [of] that had its origin in the 1930's, it was then that the FBI's role changed from friendly investigator helping local authorities to that of national police force.
We live in an age where the fear of an IRS registered letter bearing news of an audit surpasses the fear of a street mugging. The police are supposed to be our friend and the Federal Government the guarantor of our liberties. Ask the blacks in the inner city of Los Angeles if they trust the police and revere the FBI and the CIA. We should not have to cringe when a Federal agent appears at the door of our business. We should not even see them there.
A Congress sworn to uphold the Constitution ought to be protecting our right to our property, not confiscating it. Congress ought to protect our right to own a weapon of self-defense, not systematically and viciously attacking that right.
Congress ought to guarantee all voluntary association, not regulate and dictate every economic transaction. We should not allow Congress to give credence to inane politically correct rules generated by egalitarian misfits. Setting quotas ought to insult each of us.
We need no more centralized police efforts. We need no more wiretaps that have become epidemic in this last decade. We have had enough Wacos and Ruby Ridges.
**********************
Which principles? FR's libertarians pick and choose like it's a Chinese menu.
Give me an example of one of those malleable principles, Roscoe.
Hey hold on a second Kevin. I'm not a Libertarian, but I wouldn't mind having my own personal nuke. Everyone would finally leave me the hell alone already.
That's how Ron Paul could do some good--drafting and submitting legislation to pare it back--not barking like a highly-paid circus seal the spurious libertarian argument "if I don't like it, it must be unconstitutional."
**********************
Administrative and regulatory searches and inspections occur constantly without search warrants. Plain sight searches require no search warrants. Police normally search arrestees without search warrants.
Administrative and regulatory searches? Plain sight searches?
In those instances, searches are illegal without a warrant, Roscoe.
So what are these "libertarian principles"? The Party platform? Channeling the ghost of Ayn Rand? Coin tosses?
**********************
I never defended the Patriot Act. Some of it is sensible, other parts are not. The unwise and unsensible parts should be excised and rescinded.
All of the Patriot Act is illegal. It should all be rescinded.
Our new Homeland Security Department was created to fulfill the provisions of the Patriot Act. It should be abolished, too.
What astounding nonsense! Willful ignorance and fanaticism are natural allies.
How can I dispute your unfounded accusation in general terms? You say "They are!", so I'm supposed to say, "They aren't!?"
I don't know what you're talking about.
But I am against it all as bad law. The existing laws should be enforced, rather than new ones made. And the government agencies which failed in their duty, thus being shown to be careless on Sept 11, should be disciplined and if necessary mass sackings of those that failed. That is what happens in private enterprise. If you fail, then you are out. You can give your excuses to the open air on the street.
You had better arrest a bunch of people then. Show them your libertarian's tin badge, invoke the sacred name of your favorite founder, round them up, and put them in the hoosgow.
Just remember: you're not allowed to frisk any of the arrestees for weapons unless you first obtain a warrant.
BTW, where does a libertarian purist get a warrant ( with the courts all being illegal and such)?
You couldn't even back up your first talking point regarding warrants.
And what does that mean? Do you invent your own "principles" as you go along? Do you adhere to the party planks? Do you channel Rand's ghost? Do you use a Magic 8-Ball?
**********************
exodus - Plain sight searches? In those instances, searches are illegal without a warrant, Roscoe.
What astounding nonsense! Willful ignorance and fanaticism are natural allies.
I mentioned that Administrative and regulatory searches are illegal without a warrant too, Roscoe.
I base that comment, and the comment on "plain sight searches" being illegal, on libertarian principles.
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.