A Dark Day in the US of A
Two hundred and twenty years ago yesterday, the United States Bill of Rights became law. Now Congress and President Obama are going to take away another Right and put us all one step closer to a totalitarian police state.
The latest defense spending bill (2012 National Defense Authorization Act) includes a rider that gives the military the right to hold detainees indefinitely. This has been the defacto standard since 9/11 but now this codifies and expands this draconian act. The language is quite clear, “without trial until the end of the hostilities.” Now, yes, this is supposed to be a power that only exists during war, but how long do you think this War on Terror is going to last? When will it be declared over? Never, of course.
And in case you think that the definition of who can be held is narrow, guess again:
"That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
How's that for a dictatorship? "...persons he determines... aided the terrorist attacks..., to prevent any future acts..."
Indefinite detention shouldn't be used by anyone, for any reason. This is just wrong.
What's happening to America? Fear and Greed.
When we drive from Phoenix to San Diego we have to go through THREE border patrol checks. Three! Last I checked Interstate 8 never crosses into Mexico or any other foreign land.
Half of Americans live in poverty or close to it. In my circle of friends I have several who are unemployed and are scraping by.
The Gulf was polluted, New Orleans was trashed, and the greed of Wall Street destroyed the lives of many average Americans while emasculated Federal Agencies did nothing.
Not to mention the billions of dollars and thousands of lives wasted on a war we didn't need against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.
Where did we go wrong? Fear and Greed.
The corporate lobby effort grows every year. Career politicians better pay attention if they want to have the treasure chest necessary for the next election. Corporate greed has whittled away at federal agencies that regulate industry. Corporate lobbying has gotten congress and the president to push aside and weaken the laws and policies that regulate commerce and corporate action. Pollution, labor, safety, transparency in money markets: all have been slashed away to allow for faster growth, faster profit, and bigger booms. But the booms turn into bubbles and then they burst.
The War on Terror has allowed the Congress and the President to take more US citizen rights away, and to spend more money on the Fear of Terror. Wiretapping, indefinite detention, surveillance drones: Welcome to the police state. Where are your papers?
The latest defense spending bill (2012 National Defense Authorization Act) includes a rider that gives the military the right to hold detainees indefinitely. This has been the defacto standard since 9/11 but now this codifies and expands this draconian act. The language is quite clear, “without trial until the end of the hostilities.” Now, yes, this is supposed to be a power that only exists during war, but how long do you think this War on Terror is going to last? When will it be declared over? Never, of course.
And in case you think that the definition of who can be held is narrow, guess again:
"That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
How's that for a dictatorship? "...persons he determines... aided the terrorist attacks..., to prevent any future acts..."
Indefinite detention shouldn't be used by anyone, for any reason. This is just wrong.
What's happening to America? Fear and Greed.
When we drive from Phoenix to San Diego we have to go through THREE border patrol checks. Three! Last I checked Interstate 8 never crosses into Mexico or any other foreign land.
Half of Americans live in poverty or close to it. In my circle of friends I have several who are unemployed and are scraping by.
The Gulf was polluted, New Orleans was trashed, and the greed of Wall Street destroyed the lives of many average Americans while emasculated Federal Agencies did nothing.
Not to mention the billions of dollars and thousands of lives wasted on a war we didn't need against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.
Where did we go wrong? Fear and Greed.
The corporate lobby effort grows every year. Career politicians better pay attention if they want to have the treasure chest necessary for the next election. Corporate greed has whittled away at federal agencies that regulate industry. Corporate lobbying has gotten congress and the president to push aside and weaken the laws and policies that regulate commerce and corporate action. Pollution, labor, safety, transparency in money markets: all have been slashed away to allow for faster growth, faster profit, and bigger booms. But the booms turn into bubbles and then they burst.
The War on Terror has allowed the Congress and the President to take more US citizen rights away, and to spend more money on the Fear of Terror. Wiretapping, indefinite detention, surveillance drones: Welcome to the police state. Where are your papers?