In the beginning, I was a GW fan, but a lot has changed since then. Reviewing the facts on what he can do to American Citizens not even necessarily suspected of terrorist activities: 1) Warrentless surveillance & wiretapping, looking into library records, internet searches, phone calls, etc. (Patriot Act) 2) They can put you in prison without charging you with anything, not giving you a lawyer, not telling your family where you are or even if your alive, forever if they wish. (Military Commissions Act) 3) Torture you, use anything you say under torture against you not even in a court of law, but in a military tribunal. (Military Commissions Act) 4) Use Federal troops as well as commandeering State troops within the continental US against citizens. Basically imposing martial law anywhere he wants for whatever reason. (John Warner Defense Authorization Act) 5) He belongs to a "secret society" called Skull and Bones who believe in a societal model of 1 percent of the population (the rich and powerful) ruling the rest and making all the decisions. I'm sorry, I don't think that we can continue to believe that he is benevolent. If he/they don't intend to "rule" then why do they keep passing laws that make them able to do so. Feel free to point out where I'm wrong.... I would truly like to be wrong about it. I don't believe that there has been an administration that has made such anti-american policies in the history of our country. It's very disturbing.
Not my place to tell you if you're wrong, everybody is entitled to their opinion. I noticed when The Patriot Act first came about folks on gunboards were screaming about it but for some reason it has been forgotten about. Not sure why, maybe since nothing has happened to anybody they know it's no big deal or maybe they believe it was about Terrorism and nothing else. I guess we'll have to wait and see if the lords in charge will abuse their powers or not.
I remember back in the 80's when the comedian Yakov Smirnoff first hit the scene. Most of his humor was based on how the Russian govt was so opressive, how they spied on you, and basically how you had no rights against them, Americans had a good laugh at it........... Doesn't seem so funny now.
Make no mistake, TPTB will abuse the power sooner or later. We can only hope that there are enough honest folks in place when it happens that the abuses will be recognized. Hopefully, there is sufficient wisdom left among the ignorant to see and take some action to correct things beforehand, but I'm not holding my breath. I truely think that these acts were made in ignorance, not with the intent to gut the Constitution. So far as the Patriot Act goes, the enabling legislation also conceals whatever it is that is being done under its umbrella. We can't see it, so we can't bitch about it. That troubles me. We know what can be done, but with no way to see if it is being done, it fades from our minds.
I saw a movie lately that was very chilling in how close it was to what is happening now. I am a big fan of the Warchowski brothers ( the Matrix creators). While the movie is based on a comic book and is kind of cheesy in some ways,(a guy who fights with only knives against guys with guns,yeah right), it is well worth watching. It is called "V for Vendetta". Its portayal of a government who uses its "War on Terror" to deprive its citizens of thier rights, and how the controled media propogates it, is so close to the mark that it is almost prophetic. When the masses start to stir the leader says " Let's remind them why they need us." Suddenly "terrorist" acts are on the rise and new laws are needed to combat it. I believe that this "War on Terror" is being used to scare people into accepting draconian legislation that they would never have otherwise accepted. Who can not support fighting terrorism? If you do you are not "Patriotic". If you dare to criticize the President or the administration you are not "Patriotic". We are in a war after all. You have to support your President when he is fighting to protect you. War on terrorists? Who are the terrorists? Today they are defined as "Muslim extremists". But what about tomorrow? Does anyone remember that only a few years ago the Attorney General of the United States (Janet Reno) defined a "Terrorist" as anyone who " Homeschooled thier children, believed in a return of Jesus Christ, protested high taxes, supported the second amendment." Hmmmm..., I think I might just know some "Terrorists" then. Are you one? All these laws are not being protested because they are for "them", not for us. But what if we become them? If you have done nothing wrong then you have nothing to fear. Right? What if what you do today is considered "Terrorist" activity tomorrow? OH My! All the sudden you are now one of "them". You actually wrote something on a website that was not "Patriotic" and is considered "subversive", you are a provacateur. You must be arrested and hauled off to some unknown holding camp, interrogated, and locked away for ever. For the good of the rest of "us" of course. My point is this, anything that can be used against "them" today, once established, can be used against us tomorrow. "Absolute power, corrupts absolutely" and no one, no matter thier politics, is immune to it. Oh, by the way, Blackjack, sorry my friend, but you are not wrong at all. The red pill kinda sucks huh?
Yeah Minuteman, the red pill sucks! I saw V for Vendetta, you're right. I'm sure you probably have, but if you've never read George Orwell's 1984, now is the time, it will blow you away. I should take a poll of who has actually read it.
Another movie I'm waiting to see is " Scanner Darkly" IIRC, the half live action, half animation, with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder. Another "Orwellian" big brother is watching flick. The reviews look interesting. I thought about starting a thread for peoples favorite BB (Big Brother) movies. Hmm, maybe I'll do that...
