June 24, 2003
Patriot Act II: American Totalitarianism
Some of you may remember the first PATRIOT Act, and if you’re a constitutionally-aware citizen, you probably realized that it was an overt power-grab by the Executive Branch in a time of national crisis. Well, you may not be surprised to hear that PATRIOT II is making it’s way stealthily into reality. Of course it’s not called PATRIOT II, because that would be far too obvious, instead it’s called the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003. Alternet has a story on it and so does InfoWars. You can download the entire draft from the Public Integrity website (PDF). If this kind of power-grab sounds un-American and un-Constitutional, it’s because it is, but don’t say you weren’t warned when you get a knock on your door (or have it kicked down) in a search for unregistered guns or to get a DNA sample for the security database.
As an American, I am disturbed that we have slid so far into the darkness of totalitarianism and away from a constitutional democracy. And I fear it will only get worse.
Posted by Stephen VanDyke at June 24, 2003 05:02 PMStephen,
I think it’s interesting that no one is responding to this post. I think the reason is that ignorance is bliss. People (Dems and GOP’s) believe that “this will never happen to them. What happens when it does? It’s TOO LATE! I’ve already made it quite clear that I’m leaving the country if this law gets passed.
My question is why aren’t people taking note of this? Why isn’t everyone standing up to say “Wait a minute!”
—Joe
Posted by: joestump at June 25, 2003 09:54 AMI work in an Oil refinery that has somewhat heightened security… but nothing that would stop a determined terrorist. Some freedoms and Incoveniences I would put up with…but it needs to be watched closely…they’ll never take my guns…personal freedom is why we live in America..hopefully politicians will realize that..
Posted by: Ken at June 25, 2003 10:35 AMAs an American, I am disturbed that we have slid so far into the darkness of totalitarianism
Stop them with the only political party dedicated to minimize the scope of governmental intrusion—- http://www.lp.org
At this point the national Republican Party has simply become the party of fascism.
* *aggressively* anti-civil-liberties
* repeated shameless election stealing
* deeply pro-corporate even in the most extreme
cases of corporate crime
* deeply anti-labor, to the point of supporting
retaliation and even violence against union organizers
* party ‘purges’ of anyone who doesn’t toe the line
* “dissent is unpatriotic” jingoism
* “dissent helps the terrorists” — suppression
of all opposition, however peaceful
* court-packing with corrupt, unprincipled judges
* Routine, huge lies, a la Goebbels
* Imperialist, expansionist military policy
While many Democrats are not that great, and I understand if you don’t want to vote for them, none of them are fascists. Although many Republicans are not fascists, a vote for the national Republican Party is now a vote for fascism. God, I *hope* people realize that.
