Here come the THOUGHT POLICE

[Echo In Light]

Here come the thought police
By Ralph E. Shaffer and R. William Robinson
November 19, 2007

With overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Jane Harman's "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" passed the House 404-6 late last month and now rests in Sen. Joe Lieberman's Homeland Security Committee. Swift Senate passage appears certain.

Not since the "Patriot Act" of 2001 has any bill so threatened our constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The historian Henry Steele Commager, denouncing President John Adams' suppression of free speech in the 1790s, argued that the Bill of Rights was not written to protect government from dissenters but to provide a legal means for citizens to oppose a government they didn't trust. Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence not only proclaimed the right to dissent but declared it a people's duty, under certain conditions, to alter or abolish their government.

In that vein, diverse groups vigorously oppose Ms. Harman's effort to stifle dissent. Unfortunately, the mainstream press and leading presidential candidates remain silent.
More:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.thoughtpolice19nov19,0,2384977.story

[izzie]

1. One would think the GOP did not trust the people.

We really must be scary to these people in the WH and Congress.

[Echo In Light]

3. Damn straight. Why else are they illegally spying on everyone?

As Noam Chomsky points out, the govt here has much to fear from the pressures its populace can bring to bear, hence the staggering enormity of the media propaganda effort to control prevailing thoughts. The "war" on terror is a phony war, okay. It doesn't actually exist in the packaged form its been sold as; it's only meant to exist in thought as a vehicle for expansion of empire, and to frighten people into submission to authority - so let's not afford them that.

The powers that be understand that if the social landscape becomes impoverished to the degree that various pockets of protest arise from different segments of society, such types will need to be sufficiently scapegoated {made example of} to dissuade the rest from insurrection. Those genuine patriots will of course be deemed "terrorists." That's what a lot of this type of legislation is really about.

[izzie]

5. I am with you on this.

We always have the people who believe they are the elite and should rule. Trouble in the general pop. does such a better job at it. Isn't their a study on how the numbers voting usually get it right? That is not just the right way to put it but I am sure there is some law usually used in quotes on this.

[piedmont]

8. Huh? It was introduced by a Dem, and passed overwhelmingly by Dems. nt

[xchrom]

2. ''thought police'' -- that what people who support hate crimes legislation get called. nt

[mrfixit]

4. H.R.1955 - VOTE FOR KUCINICH!!!

H.R. 1955: Rep. Dennis Kucinich - Nay

Kucinich was one of ONLY SIX DEMOCRATS in the House to vote against this eggregious violation of the Bill of Rights. I can't wait to see what happens when this POS gets to the Senate...we all continually hear how the OTHER candidates regret their vote on the Enabling...er....Patriot Act of 2001 and their rolling over on the re-establishment of the Act in 2004. Oh...the hand-wringing...fatuous, whining, contemptible ENABLERS...AND THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN!

Watch closely. See who the ENEMY really is...

Kucinich has addressed Congress NO LESS THAN 140 times regarding the Patriot Act and TIA...how many times has YOUR nominee brought it up?

Awesome speech by Dennis Kucinich on the Patriot Act - 2004:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDyE-_Aba8A

The set-up:
"It was passed in an atmosphere of fear..."

The excuse:
"Most members hadn't even read it..."

Their rationale:
"OK. I'm a Patriot, I guess we'll vote for it..."

Dennis Kucinich:
"What are we doing to ourselves? Weare creating enemies...out of all our people..."
"They're promotoing fear...it's an atmosphere of fear...fear is like a poison..."
"71 years ago, a President Of The United States faced a nation that was fearful...And He rallied the country! We need to challenge this fear ...and call forth courage in this time of uncertainty..."

Why should the DEMOCRATIC Party have to COMPROMISE??? There isn't another candidate with ONE HUNDREDTH PART of the courage of this man...

Support Kucinich. Or blame YOURSELVES for another four years of BIG BROTHER.

[magellan]

6. Hear, hear!

Kucinich is just about the only Dem acting like a Dem at this point. He surely is the only Dem worthy of MY vote.

[Blashyrkh]

7. Already here, literally and figuratively.