If the government or media sells enough fear to the US populace, how likely is legislation surrendering rights in the name of safety to happen in the future?
An attack happens at a Federal Building, resort, wherever, might be overseas, worse if on US soil, then the media or the government says to the populace they can keep John Q safe if they have more discretionary options to combat terror. In the future if more robust legislation like the Patriot act, but further reaching, who can reign it in or control it if it is ran secretly? If you can be whisked away secretly (to keep the public safe of course), not reported to anyone, not booked, no access to attorneys, etc. similar to what people said they experienced in Chicago, even if you were done dirty, how can you get any recourse because in essence they (the government branch having you in custody) might not even officially exist. With some of those who pay attention being fed a good dose of fear, how easy would it be for the government to strip citizens of rights as necessary to keep them safe if they can get the portion of the populace watching to buy it?
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Much more so now that Trump is going to be president.
What rights do you think you have now, exactly? Your government already legally spies on you, and can toss you into prison on the suspicion of any sort of terrorism (which means arbitrarily). If you’re black, they don’t even need that excuse. Protesters in North Dakota were fired on with an ice-cannon a few days ago. I honestly don’t know why you’re not in revolt yet.
See @dappled_leaves
It’s already happened to a degree.
From the Patriot Act to undeclared shooting wars, militarized cops and indifference to Amendment 10.
Next target is Amendment 1, and Amendment 2.
Just wait until George W. Bush gets elected.
#SnowdenIsAGlobalHeroAndAnyoneWhoDisagreesIsANazi
This horse has LONG run out of the barn door. Remember ‘The Patriot Act’? You want something STRONGER? Remember ‘The War on Terror’? Guantanamo? Homeland Security? Seems you haven’t been watching or bothering to monitor the barn door because a whole herd (you haven’t heard) left the barn.
@dappled_leaves What rights do you think you have now, exactly?
There are still many rights intact, even if they are not used in every situation. Even the Patriot Act has some guidelines. They might have squads of jackboots kicking in doors and hauling away people but with the proliferation of cellphone video and such, they are not likely to go completely under the radar. In most cases once arrested you are at the mercy of the DA, not all crimes and trials fall under some military or federal tribunal where you do not have to be released after 72 hours. The Miranda rights still apply in most cases, when the basic rights go south, and all law is filtered solely through the military or federal government, I think the changes would be more noticeable.
It’s going to keep happening unless people in the USA get off their assessment and learn more, pay more attention and give a shit about their politics and government. The media is corrupt. The politicians are corrupt. The system is set up with gerrymandering to favour the fascists so much now that an idiot with no sense of public service or constitutional law can become the leader of the nation.
It’s already happening. I agree with the people above it easily could get much worse under Trump. That whole Nationalist schtick and being terrified of terrorists and the “other” leads the way to the general public marching right along. The only hope is the libertarian wing of the republicans speaking up more. The republican base generally hates to listen to Democrats. If we gave warning they would just think we are being liberal idiots and don’t want to say “Muslim terrorists” or some ridiculousness. Maybe we should start saying Christian KKK?
It’s been happening since 9–11. Thomas Jefferson said that anyone willing to give up freedom for security deserved neither and would lose both. I agree with Tommy.
Thanks @cazzie. When I closed out I started wondering if I gave the quote to the wrong person. I had faith in Flutherers to catch it.
^ And it’s been happening since before 9/11/01; it’s just been more brazen in the name of security.
This makes it quite plausible that if the government via the media can hype something or blow it up, real or imagined, they will dupe us Yankees to give up even more, to the point they can run roughshod over everyone. For instance, if they can bill protesters as terrorist, dangerous, catalyst for anarchy, etc. and if they get John Q to buy it that suppressing them will keep his family safe, get enough John Qs to jump on the bandwagon, protesting will become illegal.
For instance, if they can bill protesters as terrorist, dangerous, catalyst for anarchy, etc.
This was being done during the anti-war and civil rights protests in the sixties and seventies.
It was done during the McCarthyist “Red scare” during the early fifties.
It was done during the labor organization movement from the late 1800’s all the way up to WWII.
Every progressive movement in the US has been called “socialist” or “Communist” (with capital “C” or small “c”), or even anarchist.
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