Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Civil Liberties
Dahlia Lithwik does what I think is a pretty good job of rounding up this years major civil liberties violations/issues on Slate.
It has been a bad year for civil liberties in the US...or rather a bad 6 years. From the very first time I heard it I disagreed with the statement that, "911 changed everything." It didn't change the US Constitution or Bill of Rights and we shouldn't let it change our freedoms. I'm of the opinion that the terrorists "win" a little with every bit of freedom we give up.
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The Truest
Perhaps the truest statement that has been written about the last six years "It didn't change the US Constitution or Bill of Rights and we shouldn't let it change our freedoms."
My thought, the current US administration looks at it like this: " They (the infamous "they") hate us for our freedoms => if we give up our freedoms => they will stop hating us, so let's give up our freedoms.
Perhaps the most ridiculous argument in history. What "they" hate is the US's so called "commitment to democracy", evidenced by the US's support of totalitarian governments as long as they tow the line.
Perhaps if the line changed to "Where freedom is not, there is my country", uh, well, international diplomacy would be easier.
And One Last Swipe......
One of the last pieces of legislation Bush passed before the changing of the guard was one I just read about. It is a Postal regulation that was pretty much administrative. However, bush issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open people's mail under emergency conditions, even though it contradicts postal regulations on the matter.
Bush has no interest in a bi-partisan government. He is trying to consolidate as much power as he can before the new Congress takes over. He sickens me.
I just saw that too
It makes me sad that not only can Bush do this without any challenge whatsoever. It also makes me sad that no one has tried to outlaw signing statements yet (I know, I know, Bush would make a signing statement that the above law doesn't apply to him).
Yup
Actually I think signing statements might be the biggest thing that's missing from the link I posted. Bush has abused them to the extreme and the last thing I'd seen on them he'd been challenged on their legitimacy. I hoping to see the results of that challenge soon.
Decider
Yeah, and guess who gets to decide what the definition of "emergency conditions" is...
Jim Downey
"Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering."
- R. Buckminster Fuller
thanks
That was an interesting read. Thanks for the tip.