Are you scared right now? Do you feel that at any minute a plane is gonna com crashing through your window? I DONT!! This is why i always cringe when i hear about small Acts in congress or some new rule allowing the president to declare war without the Congress. Have you heard of the Patriot Act?
What the Patriot Act says is that in order to secure the safety of American citizens, those same citizens must give up little by little their civil liberties to privacy, to the first amendment, and for some the suspension of Habeus corpus. This with the news that all americans will be required to have a NATIONAL ID CARD by 2009 is scary. I feel like we are falling into 1984. My biggest problem with the patriot act in particular is that it was enacted a few months after 911, which has been clearly blamed on a lack of communication within the ranks of the FBI, CIA, and the Safety Administration. Why do we have to suffer for the governments mistake. it makes me feels as if this whole thing was planned.
Lets start in the months leading up to 911. FBI and CIA analysts confirm that they had strong indications that there was some sort of plan in motion to attack the continental United States. There was even a call to the FBI from the flight instructor of the eventual hijackers. Who missed the signals? Then in the weeks leading up to 911 there were messages from Al-quieda members that were intercepted also indicating an attack coming. What about the bombing of that American ship in the sea of Yemen, or the bombing of an American embassy in Africa? Is the strongest nation in the world that stupid?
Lets move on. Post 911 patriotism was used against its own people. Of course politicians supported an act designed to give governmental agencies "wiggle room" around the constitution inorder to weed out terrorists living in our own backyard. Remember all of the Arab men being detained after 911. They are all in Guantanamo Bay right now being "water-boarded". Still the Patriot Act has been extended. WHY?
Think about THIS
I am currently living in the District of Columbia, and i can tell you that the Patriot Act has an entirely different meaning now. Since d.c. is not a state, then it is soley subject to federal law. That means, you guessed it, NO STATE RIGHTS. This is important to know. This is important to know because in the District, without states rights, The Patriot Act can be used to search citezens, property, and homes WITHOUT A WARRANT. Law makers say that it is only for those who pose a threat to NATIONAL SECURITY, but who makes that decision. Technically, if say a narcotics detective convinced his supervisors that a certain drug dealer presented a THREAT to the community, his home, his mothers home, his sisters home, etc. could all be raided by SWAT TEAMS without any SEARCH WARRANT. This is troubling. By no means am i supporting drug-dealers, but it makes a good arguement. Now, lets say that a district attorney or even a PRESIDENT is running for re-election, and he has stiff competition. IF he were able to, he could have the home of his competitor searched for any damning information. How would you like to live in a world where people not laws govern your society. Things would be much different. Legistlaters dont like Marilyn Manson, then throw him in jail. He is a threat to NATIONAL SERCURITY.
Also with new legistlation being drawn up to support the Patriot Act, its words are gaining foundation. (Remember how D.C has no STATES RIGHTS. That is important.) The National ID Act was just recently passed. It says that by the end of 2009 all states must issue a NATIONAL ID CARD to its citizens. This will replace your current STATE DRIVERS LISCENCE. Now i know that some people, my girlfriend included, see nothing wrong with a national ID. I see differently. When the NATIONAL ID's go into effect it will set a precedent in American history. The ideal of a state system governed by a federal system would be lost. STATES RIGHTS would be no-more. Consider the Narcotics Act, that makes it illegal to grow, use, possess, or sell narcortics including marijuana. Yet some states have laws in place that extends the medicinal use of marijuana, despite what the federal government has to say. This is because STATES RIGHTS were developed to trump those of the FEDS. A state must adhere to its own law first, then consider the federal law. So what will happen to those staes who decide not to mandate the NATIONAL ID CARD. Their citizens will not be able to fly out of state. To me it sounds like in the post 911 era, the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has done in 7 years what no other administration has dared to even attempt. They got rid of civil rights/liberties as well as States rights without so much as a NEWS STORY. I wonder what is next on the horizon.
if you like my views, check out Libertarian candidate Ron Paul (this is not an endorsement)
for a better look into the establishment post-911 check out my commentary on the two major news networks
NBC vs. FOX
