Free Republic

Discussion in 'Freedom and Liberty' started by Seacowboys, Mar 18, 2007.


  1. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    The Late, Great American Nation"

    "It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties." -- James Madison
    We live in a fundamentally different country since 9/11. Not only do many Americans view their government with suspicion, but how their government views them has drastically changed.
    A perfect example of this took place last fall. Prior to the elections that transformed the makeup of Congress, the Bush Administration pushed for the inclusion of two stealth provisions into a mammoth defense budget bill. The additions made it easier for the government to declare martial law and establish a dictatorship.
    Since the days of our Founding Fathers, when King George III used his armies to terrorize and tyrannize the colonies, the American people have understandably distrusted the use of a national military force to intervene in civilian affairs, except in instances of extreme emergency and limited duration.
    Hence, as a sign of the Founders' concern that the people not be under the power of a military government, control of the military was vested in a civilian government, with a civilian commander-in-chief. And the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 furthered those safeguards against military law, making it a crime for the government to use the military to carry out arrests, searches, seizure of evidence and other activities normally handled by a civilian police force.
    However, with the inclusion of a seemingly insignificant rider into the massive defense bill (the martial law section of the 591-page Defense Appropriations Act takes up just a few paragraphs), the Bush Administration has managed to weaken what the New York Times refers to as "two obscure but important bulwarks of liberty." One is posse comitatus. The other is the Insurrection Act of 1807, which limits a president's domestic use of the military to putting down lawlessness, insurrection and rebellion where a state is violating federal law or depriving the people of their constitutional rights.
    Under these new provisions, the president can now use the military as a domestic police force in response to a natural disaster, disease outbreak, terrorist attack or to any "other condition." According to the new law, Bush doesn't even have to notify Congress of his intent to use military force against the American people—he just has to notify them once he has done so. The defense budget provision's vague language leaves the doors wide open for rampant abuse.
    As writer Jane Smiley noted, "the introduction of these changes amounts, not to an attack on the Congress and the balance of power, but to a particular and concerted attack on the citizens of the nation. Bush is laying the legal groundwork to repeal even the appearance of democracy."
    The main reason we do not want the military patrolling our streets is that under martial law, the Bill of Rights becomes null and void. A standing army—something that propelled the early colonists into revolution—strips the American people of any vestige of freedom.
    Thus,if we were subject to martial law, there would be no rules, no protections, no judicial oversight and no elections. And unless these provisions are repealed, the president's new power will be set in stone for future administrations to use—and abuse.
    A fundamental principle of American government is to not trust public officials. But modern Americans, primed by television pablum and ignorant of their history, have a tendency to trust people in office simply because they appear to share a common faith, say the right things or come from a certain region of the country. But lest we forget, power has a tendency to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
    Furthermore, the way this was handled proves that we cannot trust government officials. By sneaking this provision in as a rider to a larger bill, public debate and media attention were avoided. Had the provision been openly discussed and debated, there would have been opposition and outcry. And it most likely would have been soundly rejected. Instead, it was rushed through the Republican-controlled Congress prior to the elections and enacted into law.
    The Founding Fathers would have literally been up in arms over Bush's actions. They understood the dangers inherent in vesting power in a single person, which is exactly what this legislation purports to do.
    There's no limit to what the president can now do: the "any condition" language opens the door for total power, a dictatorship. The people are left with no defense.
    Furthermore, this legislation erases the balance between the state and federal government. The state governors understood this, and that's why many vocally opposed the provisions. But it was to no avail.
    Who's to blame here? Congress has utterly failed to exercise its power to check the growing power of the Executive Branch. The media have also been woefully remiss. Although a handful of bloggers sounded the alarm, the major media outlets failed to report on it.
    If it weren't for a recent editorial in the New York Times, most people would still be in the dark. What's the point of a free press if you can't rely on the media to report the news?
    However, the larger blame rests with the Bush Administration, whose actions over the past six years suggest that the American people are the enemy. Think about some of the changes that have already moved us closer to a police state: the invasive USA Patriot Act; the increased domestic surveillance of citizens' emails and telephone calls; attempts to deny habeas corpus to prisoners; a national ID card; and now this alarming new law. In addition to opening the doors to a military state, the law also facilitates militarized police round-ups and detaining of protesters in detention camps that are already being built on American soil by the Halliburton corporation. Americans are incredibly naïve if they believe those camps being built are just for illegal aliens. A pattern is emerging, predicated on one horrific incident in 2001. The current administration is laying the groundwork for a military state, and this is our final wake-up call.
     
  2. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

    :sick: This is getting to be concerning and nauseating.

    We look back to pre-Nazi Germany days and wonder how a people can be so naive to follow a terrible leader. History does repeat itself.
     
    oldawg likes this.
  3. ozarkgoatman

    ozarkgoatman Resident goat herder

    If people don't stand up and say no soon there will be nothing to stand up for. [sinking]

    OGM
     
  4. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I'm getting ready to jump ship myself. I'll send word of my progress later.
    3 yrs ago, I was ready to fight for what I believe in. now, I realize it's too far gone.
     
    tedrow42 likes this.
  5. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

    [ditto]
     
  6. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    I just don't understand why I only read this stuff here or hear it on alex jones podcasts?? Guess people won't care about the principles of theconstitution until loved ones are dragged off with black bags over their heads by generic "cops" in black fatigues and combat boots.
     
  7. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Jones is an optimist. He is also a die-hard Christian. I appreciate all he does and says, but he doesn't get into the aspects of what is happening to the constitution because he feels that we must attack the problem at the source instead of fighting the effects.

    I am with Melbo. We are a day late and a dollar short.
     
  8. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Brokor is Alive! [winkthumb]
     
    Brokor likes this.
  9. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

  10. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    He's too optimistic. :)

    I just keep seeing the world burning and the human race being exterminated like rodents. It's those damned Georgia guidestones weighing on my mind.
     
  11. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    "Georgia guidestones"? HMMMMM? New one on me...
    http://www.radioliberty.com/stones.htm


    THE MESSAGE OF THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES
    1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
    2. Guide reproduction wisely - improving fitness and diversity.
    3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
    4. Rule passion - faith - tradition - and all things with tempered reason.
    5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
    6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
    7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
    8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
    9. Prize truth - beauty - love - seeking harmony with the infinite.
    10.Be not a cancer on the earth - Leave room for nature - Leave room for nature.
     
  12. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Georgia Guidestones updated

    The top right corner of the stone in English has a corner stone with the numbers "20" etched into it, and on the inside of the corner, the number "14", to be read as a date: 2014. Either this is the date of the start of this plan, or the end, we will find out eventually.

    Is it all just a joke? Well, the history and origins of the Guidestones is quite interesting. I would'nt take it too lightly, but then again, we don't exactly know what (or who) we are dealing with. We do have some suspicions, and we definitely have some theories. In my opinion, it's not enough to worry over, but this is still very interesting.



    Looking at previous pictures, the slot for the "update" was always there, and my guess is it was commissioned with the original stones to be added now. There is some speculation, of course. One report I read says the block was always there, but mysteriously disappeared in 2009. I haven't verified this yet. Interesting. Nope, I found an Alex Jones video (I remember him covering it way back in the early 2000's) and it was uploaded in 2008, so it's not on there. Looks like the claims that the block went missing may be untrue unless it was taken off much earlier. I will stick with my original hypothesis until proven otherwise. It was commissioned to be added this year.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2014
  13. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    This just in, on the Guidestones update...

    From a random Youtube video on the subject:
    "The new addition to the Georgia guidestones has a 20 & a 14, 2 numbers, so I divided both numbers by 2 an ended with 10 and 7, an the year is indicated by the marker. Its just suspicious this would come out this late in the year, an that date which is yet to happen. Uber simple, probably wrong, I'm just a random guy freaked out on YouTube."

    "10/7 is also a total eclipse of the Blood moon.
    So you may not be that far off dude. Nice catch ."

    _________________________________

    Now, does this mean anything? As far as I see it, nope. Even with everything happening, Ebola to Syria and possible war with Russia and China, and the economy and tyrannical government. All of it may have nothing to do with the Guidestones. They could just be a means to record what is happening. We may not understand. But, for those who find an interest in conspiracies and doom-and-gloom, I guess this latest edition to the Guidestones proves to be worth the time.

    So, when October 7th, 2014 rolls around and nothing happens, we will just have to hang tight for another theory to emerge.
     
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