In a chilling analysis of the PATRIOT Act, the ACLU points out that the new definition of "domestic terrorist" redefines any US criminal as a terrorist, exempt from due process and an open trial. "Domestic terrorists" can have their assets seized without a hearing, have their educational records pulled, and a host of other nasties. "Terrorism" is now officially meaningless: as far as the PATRIOT Act is concerned, if you do anything the government doesn't like, you're a terrorist. When you put it that way, it seems even less likely that we'll win the "war on terrorism."
Section 802 does not create a new crime of domestic terrorism. However, it does expand the type of conduct that the government can investigate when it is investigating "terrorism." The USA PATRIOT Act expanded governmental powers to investigate terrorism, and some of these powers are applicable to domestic terrorism.
The definition of domestic terrorism is broad enough to encompass the activities of several prominent activist campaigns and organizations. Greenpeace, Operation Rescue, Vieques Island and WTO protesters and the Environmental Liberation Front have all recently engaged in activities that could subject them to being investigated as engaging in domestic terrorism.
Link
I have referred to this a few times in previous Posts, I call it a return to McCarthyism. It is frightening to me that all someone has to do is "suggest" that a person is this or that and a full blown Investigation into the life of that individual could be initiated. In My View of It, The Bush Administration is now structured so that they can break any and every Constitutional Amendment without consequence!
Mar 10, 2007
The Patriot Act Makes Us All Terrorists
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2 comments:
Carol,
I have read the Patriot Act, along with the Bank Secrecy Act and others.
There is nothing patriotic about the Patriot Act, as there is nothing to provide for your secrecy in the Bank Secrecy Act.
The government is very clever in naming things just the opposite of what it they really are.
Just wanted to point out that this all started way before the current administration. It goes all the way back to FDR and the New Deal with the Federal Reserve System and such. The truth is it is not a federal agency, and there are no reserves. Its all a private banking Ponzi scheme. Read "The Creature from Jekyll Island (way too much documented research, not to be a reality).
The Patriot Act was actually written several years prior to 9-11. This is well documented if you research it. It just could not get passed without a security crises.
It used to be when people spoke of such things, you were considered some kind of silly conspiracy theorist. The information is all out there through freedom of information act, etc.
I love my country, but not oppressive government. Maybe people are finally starting to wake up. America is full of sheeples, wanting to be led. It is pretty scary when you realize that we are having our liberties taken away little by little.
It smacks of WW II Germany, and I am one to believe that history does indeed repeat itself. Actually, about every 50-60 years if you analyze it.
I agree with much of what you have said here, if not all. Thanks for such a well thought out response to this very important post!
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