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March 3, 2008 at 11:13:42

Headlined on 3/3/08:
When Did We Become the Enemy?

by Marti Oakley     Page 1 of 2 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com

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After watching the avalanche of infringements on our civil liberties since 9/11, I can only conclude that it is American citizens who have become a threat to “national security”.  It is also apparent to me that what you or I think of as national security is not quite the same thing as the government’s perceptions.  When we think of national security, it usually means protecting not only our nation, but our way of life, our constitution and bill of rights.  How can dismantling the very things that have defined us be conducive to national security? 

  

So what does national security mean to the government?  It would seem that national security means protecting the government from the governed.  And, protecting the self anointed elite from silly things like taxes, prosecution for wrong-doing, accountability and from having to affirm their allegiance to the US. 

  

We have become the greatest threat to the status quo of those who believe they are more valuable than we are and therefore have superior rights and protections simply by virtue of who has the most money.  It would appear that national security means oppressing those who lack obscene amounts of wealth.  The laws we pass for some reason seem not to apply to these special citizens….these “nationals”.

Could it be these ultra wealthy individuals and their families that are referred to when the government speaks of “national security”?

  

Through the Military Commissions Act we lost the writ of habeas corpus…the right to due process and to know what we are charged with and the right to mount a defense.  Now, just voicing an opposition to government policies can get you labeled as a “domestic terrorist”. 

  

The John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 reinforced this loss of due process and gave the president the right to deem any one of us as domestic combatants, solely on his deciding that we are.  It also gave him the right to put our National Guards and Reserves under federal military control to use against us should he decide to.

  

These two pieces in particular gutted the Posse Commitatus Act that forbid the use of any standing army of the United States to be used against the citizens.  And just this last week, General Renaurt AF, signed the Civil Assistance Plan with Canada that will allow the Canadian Military to be used against us on our own soil.  We have similar agreements with Mexico and Germany among others.  This assistance is needed in case we have a forest fire, earthquake, terrorist attack…..or civil revolt. 

  

The “Protect America Act” S 1959 will make it an act of force and/or violence to rally, protest, or to gather in any way to try and change social, religious or political views.  To do so would mean that you are now a “radical”.  In the center of this unconstitutional bill is the groundwork for closing down entire sections of the internet.  Supposedly, we are so stupid and gullible that we are being exposed to extremist propaganda on the net every day and we need to be protected from that.

  

As a person who spends hours every day on the net researching legislation among other things, and have done so for years, I have never once seen or been exposed to any propaganda from any extremists other than those in our own government. 

  

Homeland Security now has the Infragard….a coalition of about 23,000 individuals from the business sector who have been deputized to “defend the infrastructure in their area”, and have the right to shoot to kill without fear of prosecution when (not if) martial law is declared.  Infragard works directly with the FBI and reports “suspicious” activities by employees, neighbors, and others.  And they are armed.  Infragard is the new incarnation of “special forces”.  So special in fact, that they are unaccountable even when taking a human life.    

  

The FBI is building a database that now includes about 60 million people, and intends to continue doing this with an end objective of about 20 billion individual files.  They also have a watch list data base with an estimated 300 thousand names on it of possible “suspects”.  The FBI also identifies dissident groups or individuals and sends that information to the DoJ with instructions to prosecute as they see fit.

  

Our MSM routinely disregards demands for a new investigation or any information countering the “official” version of what they want us to know and actively promotes the disinformation spewed out by our government.  Most egregious is the lack of truthful reporting on 9/11.  Instead, those who question this unbelievable tale by the government about what happened that day are quickly relegated to the category of the lunatic fringe, or conspiracy theorists.

  

Personally, I believe the greatest conspiracy theory ever foisted on the public is the official explanation of 9/11.  This conspiracy has laid the groundwork for the dismantling of our country.  Multiple “agreements” and secret plans have been implemented with the threat of another attack if we object to losing our civil liberties or facilitating the sale of our infrastructure to foreign investors.  The problem with this kind of acquiescence is that these “threats” seem to come only from our own government. 

  

In the midst of all that our own government has done to destroy us as a nation, is the interference from the United Nations in an attempt to access not only our money, but also to gain recognized control over the United States.  Recently, the UN voted to give itself the right to establish its own military…..conscripting many of our own soldiers against their will.  This military would be for use anywhere in the world at the direction of the UN……even against us.

Obama’s “Global Poverty Tax” bill is on the floor of the senate now.  It allows the United Nations to assess a tax of .07% on our GDP…amounting to billions and billions of dollars to be taken from US taxpayers supposedly to fight poverty in third world countries.  Hidden in this piece of work is the intention to ban small arms….including hunting rifles and shotguns.  It would also make US citizens subject to international law, rather than our own courts.

  

One of the most ardent intentions of the UN is to disarm the entire world’s population with the exception of the military and domestic law enforcement and has worked for several years to disarm the US in direct violation of our Constitutional rights.  Our government appears intent on cooperating in this disarmament.

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As we enter the last half of 2008, it is becoming increasingly clear that whatever this rogue administration and congress has planned for our final demise, is about to take place. I fully expect to see sites like OpEd either seriously compromised or gone altogether. We have little time left, if any at all. Stand up now or there will be no peace.

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Barbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Barbara PetersonBarbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Excellent article!

Marti,

You wrote: 

...does anyone see anything here that would have any affect on stopping terrorism?  Not one of these bills or agreements deals with anything other than stripping US citizens of their rights, and establishing a police state.  And how many terrorists do you think are out there who care what kind of laws we pass or don’t pass?  By their very nature, terrorists don’t abide by any laws…….which brings us to those who run our government.    

So who are these people that our government is so fearful of?  George Bush claimed at one time that he had looked the enemy in the eye……and apparently he was looking at us.

 

I watched a move courtesy of Netflix the other day. I cannot remember the title, but it was a rather odd movie about a middle class Jewish family celebrating the Passover.

 

 

The grandfather, who had survived a concentration camp in the holocaust, carried around a suitcase everywhere he went. This was a bone of contention between him and his son. The son didn't understand. The grandfather carried the suitcase because he knew what had happened to the Jews who were not prepared when the round-up began - the ones who denied the signs all around them. He carried the suitcase with a space blanket in it because he wanted to be prepared when "they" came.

 

If we ignore the signs around us, we will simply go along with the program in ignorant bliss. We will not be prepared, and unable to resist.

 

The grandfather won the arguments with his son with the following questions - "Feeling a little dirty? Want a shower? Take a towel...." His son knew immediately what he was referring to, and got the point. End of discussion.

 

"George Bush claimed at one time that he had looked the enemy in the eye……and apparently he was looking at us" (Marti).

by Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 12:08:33 PM
 


Erik Larson, Human Being and concerned Citizen. Member of 911Truth.org Advisory Board. Opinions expressed here are my own. I only advocate and practice non-violent methods of social and political activism & change.

Recommended links:
9/11 Family Steering Committee Review of the 9/11 Commission Report

http://www.911truth.org/downloads/Family%20Steering%20Cmte%20review%20of%20Report.pdf

JusticeFor911.org Complaint and Petition
http://justicefor91...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Better World OrderErik Larson, Human Being and concerned Citizen. Member of 911Truth.org Advisory Board. Opinions expressed here are my own. I only advocate and practice non-violent methods of social and political activism & change.

Recommended links:
9/11 Family Steering Committee Review of the 9/11 Commission Report

http://www.911truth.org/downloads/Family%20Steering%20Cmte%20review%20of%20Report.pdf

JusticeFor911.org Complaint and Petition
http://justicefor91...

to see more of bio, click on member name

S. 1959: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prev

I agree, the Republocrat Congress and White House have been acting as if the Constitution and the People's Rights are the enemy. 

However, "The Protect America Act" is the legislation currently being worked on to give Telcoms immunity for cooperating with the Bush Administration's illegal warrantless wiretapping program (it began well before 9/11, according to the head of Qwest, who refused to participate), and to make the program legal.

S. 1959 is the "Thought Crime" Bill, the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007", which passed the House and may be scheduled for debate in the Senate at any time 

www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1959 

This bill doesn't make anything illegal; it creates a commission to study "homegrown terrorism" and "violent radicalization" and recommend laws, etc. However, it does EQUATE force with violence, it blames the internet for circulating propaganda and finds exposure to it to be a threat, it does NOT define "extremist belief system" meaning it can be interpreted as anything out of the mainstream. The NLG, SALT, CCR and ACLU all oppose it for these and other reasons. We can expect that any proposed laws will follow and mirror the foundation laid by this bill. This bill is a threat to civil liberties, and a waste of $22 million- a lot of the proposed research has been done by the FBI and advocacy orgs 

 Google "Sibel Edmonds" to get an idea of the threats we face from elite-controlled government, and the threats they are interested in exposing us to, in using to monger fear

by Better World Order (4 articles, 295 quicklinks, 13 diaries, 748 comments) on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 9:46:19 AM
 


I’m an ex-Nun, and I became so after reading the writings of Karen Armstrong, who is also an ex-Nun. She wrote the best-selling books, The History of God, and The Battle for God, and she makes a lot of sense to me. However, more recently I’ve read the writings of a man who feels the same way about the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), but I think more comprehensively understands what is really needed in the world – a reformation of religion and a reformation of government, t...

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RuthI’m an ex-Nun, and I became so after reading the writings of Karen Armstrong, who is also an ex-Nun. She wrote the best-selling books, The History of God, and The Battle for God, and she makes a lot of sense to me. However, more recently I’ve read the writings of a man who feels the same way about the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), but I think more comprehensively understands what is really needed in the world – a reformation of religion and a reformation of government, t...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Good job, Marti

Growing numbers of people are chiming in, and even most former Bush supporters are finally beginning to see who and what he is.

This is all well and good. But it is not enough.

It is not enough that we elect a good, conscienteous, Democrat as president, because it would only be a matter of time before the partisan pendulum would swing back to the right again.

If we perpetuate the present political-economic system, yet another right-wing demagogue would inevitably rise to power, as Reagan and Bush did, waving the flag, thumping the bible and rattling a sword, and appeal to egocentric nationalism once again.

There is a far better way. Just read this:

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com

by Ruth (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 153 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 12:57:02 PM
 


CasaZaza Sound Ideas - Music - Digital Arts


Chaos In The New World Order

by CasaZaza
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Essays on 9/11 truth and globalism. In January 2007 there was an awakening in my life. Having just discovered the truth about 9/11, an internal struggle had to be reconciled. How does a moral, rational individual deal with the harsh realities concerning our world, and what can they do to expose the truth and realize justice for the vi...

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CasaZazaCasaZaza Sound Ideas - Music - Digital Arts


Chaos In The New World Order

by CasaZaza
ebook pdf format

Essays on 9/11 truth and globalism. In January 2007 there was an awakening in my life. Having just discovered the truth about 9/11, an internal struggle had to be reconciled. How does a moral, rational individual deal with the harsh realities concerning our world, and what can they do to expose the truth and realize justice for the vi...

to see more of bio, click on member name

You Nailed It

If there's no real enemy don't worry - the Department of Homeland Criminals will make a bunch. And that's part of the technique that has been utilized throughout history. The human animal has a natural tendency to get trapped within the amity-enmity complex.

In order for this method to work there must be a constant threat, whether it's Communism or terrorism - any outside force to justify the mechanisms of war and population control. If there is no clear and present danger to our society from the outside then it's time to manufacture the enemy from within, one technique is to commit the unspeakable horror of murdering your own people - blame it on others and then take away citizen's rights and freedoms under the guise of protecting them from your manufactured enemy. Control of the media, the courts and the military all ensure that any opinion other than the official line is branded as dissent and sympathy with the identified out-group, in this case terrorists. End result is enslavement - fear - control. It works, but only on the ignorant.

 

Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear

- Albert Camus -



Fear and ignorance are the weapons and the means to accomplish these objectives. Make the people afraid of a perceived threat, keep them ignorant by control of the mainstream media.

This fight is really about individualism verses the collective. All the laws being put into place right now are to facilitate the next stage of the plan. Agreements, trade deals, Presidential directives, Kyoto protocols - all of these new laws will enable the globalist UN controllers the means and opportunity to exercise their power over everyone, superseding any local jurisdictions. Watch what happens next as they clamp down on supply and distribution of necessities like food and fuel - raising prices to absurd levels and provoking incredible hardship and civil unrest. Our role as the general public is largely reactive, we are trained to watch and interpret via the media - an event will occur and they will tell us what has happened, what to think about it, and what they are going to do to resolve it - we will follow along and then do whatever they say. We are getting good at this training stuff - taking our shoes off at the airport - waiting in absurd line-ups while they check for boogie-man terrorists among us - allowing ourselves to be questioned and detained. Now they have even made laws taking away the rights of people to voice their opinions - I guess that makes me a dissident because I'm against the war and criticize the government. I suppose we are at the point when a person does not have to actually break a law and aggress upon another individual or their property - it's enough to think the wrong way and get locked up for it, and don't you dare take pictures or videos because the last thing they really want is some incontrovertible evidence of their criminal behavior.

by CasaZaza (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 110 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 1:28:31 PM
 


I'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.
RogerI'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.

War

Well, since the Reagan days there have been openly stated wars against citizens of this country.  War on Poverty, drugs, crime, etc etc., none of which has done much except make the problems worse.  We now have a Prison Industry with 2-million citizens in jail or prison.  (the recent news of the 1 in 100 citizens in prison did not include the 700,000 who are in Jail serving less than one year sentences.  We pay over 41 billion to keep people in jail, who knows how much of that is profit to the corporations?  Yep, we are the enemy allright.

by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 303 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 1:48:01 PM
 


I live in the heart of America, and am haunted by the saying:
"Evil succeeds because good men do nothing." by Edmund Burke.

Albert Einstein had another way of saying it:
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

So I do what I can.

Edward Ulysses CateI live in the heart of America, and am haunted by the saying:
"Evil succeeds because good men do nothing." by Edmund Burke.

Albert Einstein had another way of saying it:
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

So I do what I can.

When did we become the enemy?

It's when THEY started seeing that the public was beginning to figure out that THEY were profiteering by lying, stealing and killing.   That's why they lied about 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.  In the meantime, to protect their backside, they started privatising social services.  That's why we have Corrections Corporation of America and Hospital Corporation of America.  That's why I wrote "Crime Pays-For Some" at http://GreatRedDragon.com ::

 

by Edward Ulysses Cate (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 214 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 2:52:14 PM
 


Avid reader, jazz musician, philosopher, chef, stone mason, carpenter, writer, painter, poet,humanist, teacher, holistic ethicist who believes consciousness and love pervade the universe, except among self-obsessed humans. I perceive the philosophical unified field to be consciousness and joy. The entire universe is composed of waves, which we surf by understanding.
martinweissAvid reader, jazz musician, philosopher, chef, stone mason, carpenter, writer, painter, poet,humanist, teacher, holistic ethicist who believes consciousness and love pervade the universe, except among self-obsessed humans. I perceive the philosophical unified field to be consciousness and joy. The entire universe is composed of waves, which we surf by understanding.

since invasion became profitable

The people create all wealth by adding value to raw materials.

Those who have lost viability in their own territory through drought or climate change or simple despoliation of the land, must invade others' turf for the necessities of life. The Mongols who invaded Eurasia are a good example.

There was no private property before someone took property and had to control what, until then, had been commons. Native Americans never owned land. They lived on it, and occupied it as any group or individual occupies the place where they sit or raise food. They fought to maintain it, but not at the cost of sustained campaigns of large-scale killing like the Europeans had done.

The control of property became the control of populations and the feudal system evolved-- kings, barons, Popes, etc. These centers of wealth vied for control by unleashing their armies of the poor on each other. It was also a good way to rid oneself of large numbers of young, unemployed males who constituted a threat to the status quo.

Out of these forces of wealth came corporations like the East India Co. and the Hudson's Bay Co. New York was founded by a corporation, and most large cattle ranches were owned by people who had established fortunes in Europe. These corporations literally killed for control of markets and resources. Our American Government was established, in part, to free the people from the economic slavery enforced by these corporations and wealthy individuals. The founders recognized that economic slavery is also political slavery.

But these forces of wealth, which is created by people, but controlled by corporations, will always try to control their environment as much as possible. They need to maintain control or the people will escape the economic penalties for being poor. Economies of scale will always penalize the poor and take profit from them. 

Like today, the insurance companies hold us hostage to our need for healthcare. No money? Not our problem, except to the extent your need raises the premium further on the costs and profits from medicine.

So in the US we have seen over time the waxing and waning of corporate control over the people and subsequent exploitation. So, to answer your rhetorical question, the people have always been the enemy of those who need to dominate them in order to maintain their control of wealth.

So Bush has done us a favor by making it so clear what the issues are and being so incompetent at it. The common denominator between Bush and the terrorists is: they kill people to maintain control.

But no murderer can have a good future. After all, people create wealth. People are what it's all about. Guns don't advance civilization, babies do. Mothers and Grandmothers do more for humanity than all the tyrants in history.

So the effort at control is doomed from the start. It is an illusion. No one obeys laws with which they disagree, or which are not to the benefit of their own needs. That's the viability of a government by the consent of the governed that tyrannies lack. For every fence there's a ladder. The Great Wall of China didn't work. The Berlin Wall failed. Hadrian's Wall failed. In fact, all these walls were symptoms of incipient failure and collapse of the status quo. Even the rise of "police states" represents a last-grasp attempt at control. Look at the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Their depredations were foreshortened from the start. It will never work because human beings are way too clever to be effectively controlled and that's the genius of Democracy.

So don't be scared of Bush's attempts to abolish the Bill of Rights or surveillance, or threats. He can't control 300 million people. But he wants them to think so. So don't be scared of the man behind the curtain. We will overcome. Because the basic tenets of our government are viable and guns will always fall to butter. 

 

by martinweiss (9 articles, 3 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 186 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 3:22:09 PM
 


I was born in 1951. I had the benefit of experiencing the naïveté of the 50', The Ozzie and Harriet years, when Dad went to work in a suit and tie and Mom stayed home in
high heals and an apron. Yea, that was life for me. I lived in a predominantly Irish neighborhood in South Boston. My Grandmother and Grandfather came to America from Sicily in the early 1900's and finally settled in "Southie", opening one of the many corner markets, a grocery and butcher shop. They learned English and ma...

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PeterJI was born in 1951. I had the benefit of experiencing the naïveté of the 50', The Ozzie and Harriet years, when Dad went to work in a suit and tie and Mom stayed home in
high heals and an apron. Yea, that was life for me. I lived in a predominantly Irish neighborhood in South Boston. My Grandmother and Grandfather came to America from Sicily in the early 1900's and finally settled in "Southie", opening one of the many corner markets, a grocery and butcher shop. They learned English and ma...

to see more of bio, click on member name

As Long As We Allow It To Be Profitable It Will Be Used.

I think that's a very noble ideology but I believe that the actions of the people in our country point in an entirely other direction. Just look at this administration. There has never in my life, (well, we did kill a president and no one believed it) been such an out and out attempt to overtake our government as with the bush coup. Not only did it succeed from the start, it managed to pull it off through another election, made a hero out of a failed president (RR) and made his disastrous "trickle down economics" a mantra of an idotic, soon to be extinct middle class who still don't have a clue what's befallen them.

You are right about the workings of war and the demise of civilizations but you're being naieve in believing that democracy is going to save us like some magic religion. The problem is that you have to do more than say that you have democracy for it to work for you. The people in this country won't even get off of their collective asses and vote. 70% of the people believe that the government had some involvement in the 9/11 attacks and that the bush administration has lied to the people to justify an illegal war and on and on.... but the bush administration "prevails", to use one of his favorite verbs. No one has initiated an indictment for war crimes or impeachment procedures. We impeached his predecessor for getting oral sex. He performed anal sex on the nation and has gotten away with it clean.

Democracy may save some nation, some day, but it won't be us. You have to have balls and fight to the death for democracy, not just talk about it with a tear in your eye.  

by PeterJ (4 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 39 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 5:27:04 PM
 


I was born in 1951. I had the benefit of experiencing the naïveté of the 50', The Ozzie and Harriet years, when Dad went to work in a suit and tie and Mom stayed home in
high heals and an apron. Yea, that was life for me. I lived in a predominantly Irish neighborhood in South Boston. My Grandmother and Grandfather came to America from Sicily in the early 1900's and finally settled in "Southie", opening one of the many corner markets, a grocery and butcher shop. They learned English and ma...

to see more of bio, click on member name

PeterJI was born in 1951. I had the benefit of experiencing the naïveté of the 50', The Ozzie and Harriet years, when Dad went to work in a suit and tie and Mom stayed home in
high heals and an apron. Yea, that was life for me. I lived in a predominantly Irish neighborhood in South Boston. My Grandmother and Grandfather came to America from Sicily in the early 1900's and finally settled in "Southie", opening one of the many corner markets, a grocery and butcher shop. They learned English and ma...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Too Little Too Late?

Great article Marti, although I'd have been a bit more impressed had you written it six years ago when it was most apparent that terrorism was a major cause for concern in our great nation. Terrorism. I've heard that word more in the past six years than in my entire fifty six years of life. Why, do you suppose that is?
Usually the constant use of a particular word or phrase is a form of indoctrination, mind bending, manipulation, brainwashing.  So, the question I pose is basically "should we really be afraid"? Well, yea! Of course. We have a self appointed president who tells us at every opportunity that we're in danger. Of course the dangers he's speaking of don't actually pose any real threat to us unless we break into a government lab and bury our heads into a pile of their anthrax or licin or travel to Iraq dressed in madras bermuda shorts with a palm tree shirt and an ak-47 on our shoulder. No, the terrorism we need to concern ourselves with will only affect us if we or someone we love joins the military, we lose a job, file bankruptcy or try to attain the American dream.
This should have all become apparent when "W" and his hand picked administration maneuvered that very slick coup in 2000 but we are a country of naïveté, even after observing the rest of the world try to rule the world and collapse under deranged dictators, gas, poison, napalm, nightly bombing raids and even actual annihilation with atomic weapons but we're still too pumped up on this false sense of patriotism to believe or even think that the same crap is being pulled on us by our own rulers. Everyone else failed to rule the world yet we are going to be the ones who succeed, even if it kills all of us. By all, of course, I mean the leftovers, the expendables, the population who probably won't amount to much or be all that useful to the elite class. Of course there will always be a need for sharp minds and strong backs, those who have a strong will to survive, but a good war or civil revolt will weed out most of the losers and the rest will fall in line eventually.
But, that can't happen here, this is America, we have a Constitution or, whatever's left of it after bush is finished rewriting it.
Now, though, I'm really pissed. I'm pissed that no one would pay any attention to this most apparent overthrow of our way of life several years ago. I'm more pissed that four years ago there were still people who were blind and stupid enough to actually vote him into a second term and I'm appalled that there are so many that still don't catch on and would chance on putting an extreme right wing republican back in office. No? He's not extreme? His idea of the greatest threat to the American people is extreme Islamic radicals and he's not extreme? He's living life on the good ship "We Have Prevailed" !
There is no greater threat to the American people than a Bush replacement and that is all the republican candidate is. That's all that the bush administration ever was.
There are only two things that a democrat seeking office needs to concentrate on. Only two things. The first is to get our asses out of everyone else's business. Right now! Worry about us, we are the ones who need fixing. Get out of Iraq, stay away from Iran, stop pissin every damned country in this world off and alienating ourselves from everyone who was once our allies. That's first!  Second. Concentrate on fixing us. That would mean taking our government back. Everyone get off our asses and vote and then make the government do what we want, not what they want. Then we fix our economy, give it back to the people it belongs to, the people who do all of the work that makes this country great. We need trade embargos, tariffs, we need to manufacture goods like we used to and export and put our country back to work at something other than making the obscenely rich more rich, because they deserve it, they worked hard for their money. Bullsh*t! Maybe that's how it used to be but we're all grown ups now, we should know better.
So it was a good article Marti, should've been written a long time ago but it's good to see people finally catching on. Maybe we stand a chance after all. I sure wish someone had given it a thought when we had an actual candidate, John Edwards, running instead of this two ring circus we have now. Ya think either of them really get it or do you think it's all about them?  I suppose we'll see but it's really all up to us, isn't it? 

by PeterJ (4 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 39 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 4:33:49 PM
 


JUST A CONCERN CITIZEN AND LOVE MY COUNTRY GREW UP IN A SMALL FISHING TOWN IN NJ,BUT THE DAY I GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE,SPENT MOST OF MY TIME EXPANSING MY MINE. LEARNED A LOT THE HARD WAY,BUT MOSTLY STREET SMART. AT 65 HAVE PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO THE SNAKES ARE.
RICHARD SHADEJUST A CONCERN CITIZEN AND LOVE MY COUNTRY GREW UP IN A SMALL FISHING TOWN IN NJ,BUT THE DAY I GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE,SPENT MOST OF MY TIME EXPANSING MY MINE. LEARNED A LOT THE HARD WAY,BUT MOSTLY STREET SMART. AT 65 HAVE PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO THE SNAKES ARE.

ALL THESE COMMENTS

AND EVERYBODY FINELY SEE,S THE TRUTH, NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, ITS GOING TO BE LIKE GERMANY, BUT WITH BUSH AND THE NEOCONS USING HITLER'S PLAY BOOK, AND PASSING ALL THESE NEW LAWS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD AND UNDER GROUND MOVEMENT, ALL I CAN SAY IS GET PREPARED. ITS A HARD RAIN THAT GOING TO FALL.

by RICHARD SHADE (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 5:17:54 PM
 


Just a person that knows he matters and placing more on acceptance than expectation... And while this explanation is viewed apparently by some as limited, here's some more personal information that those same some believe I "need" to testify that I can post here at OpEdNews.com:
I have an undergraduate degree (BA even - not a foppish BS) in biology/environmental science with an emphasis on environmental/ecological systems (they are, like, um, so complex), a master's degree in public he...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Tom MurphyJust a person that knows he matters and placing more on acceptance than expectation... And while this explanation is viewed apparently by some as limited, here's some more personal information that those same some believe I "need" to testify that I can post here at OpEdNews.com:
I have an undergraduate degree (BA even - not a foppish BS) in biology/environmental science with an emphasis on environmental/ecological systems (they are, like, um, so complex), a master's degree in public he...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Name three direct infringements to you

"After watching the avalanche of infringements on our civil liberties since 9/11, I can only conclude that it is American citizens who have become a threat to 'national security'."

Ms. Oakley, please name three infringements that have impacted you directly.  Surely, there must be at least three where you've been adversely affected given the "avalanche".  Three... just... three.

by Tom Murphy (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1352 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6:50:00 PM
 


As we enter the last half of 2008, it is becoming increasingly clear that whatever this rogue administration and congress has planned for our final demise, is about to take place. I fully expect to see sites like OpEd either seriously compromised or gone altogether.

We have little time left, if any at all. Stand up now or there will be no peace.

Marti OakleyAs we enter the last half of 2008, it is becoming increasingly clear that whatever this rogue administration and congress has planned for our final demise, is about to take place. I fully expect to see sites like OpEd either seriously compromised or gone altogether.

We have little time left, if any at all. Stand up now or there will be no peace.

You name three....

Why don't you name three ways in which having those rights fo habeas corpus, due process, and a prohibition against using our own military against us directly affected you?

Its  easy to sit back and hold the attitude that since the "effects" haven't just yet reached my doorstep that this is not an infringenment.

 Of the rights I mentioned, I never had need to invoke any of them directly, nor were soldiers routinely used against Citizens......but I knew those limitations and rights were there as a silent warning of my right to be free of government oppression.

So please tell me....... What direct benefit did you incur by those rights remaining in place? 

People who take this attitude that just because they haven't YET been victimized by these losses of freedom and the loss of the right to be treated fairly and justly,  that somehow losing these rights has no affect, are the same people who are willingly lead to slaughter.

Acquiesence originating from fear is no less a threat to our nation than those who actively seek to dismantle our Republic.  

I am not a person who will be quelled by a false sense of security especially when it is based on  accepting those things which have historically been unaceptable.  

Why not ask yourself why you are so willing to give up on what has been the greatest society ever on the face of the earth....... Maybe for you, rolling over is easier.  

by Marti Oakley (18 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 56 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 9:55:13 PM
 


Born in 1929 in Sheffield Yorkshire England. Left school at age 14 and worked as a painter & decorator until I was called up for National service in the British Army. Served in the army untill 1973, then worked as an electronics/radio engineer untill 1984 when i retired. Built a boat and sailed around the Med. for 11 years then sold it in Tunisia, returned to the U.K. then to Florida where I've lived ever since.
douglas kayBorn in 1929 in Sheffield Yorkshire England. Left school at age 14 and worked as a painter & decorator until I was called up for National service in the British Army. Served in the army untill 1973, then worked as an electronics/radio engineer untill 1984 when i retired. Built a boat and sailed around the Med. for 11 years then sold it in Tunisia, returned to the U.K. then to Florida where I've lived ever since.

The great deceived.

In 2001 after the false flag of 9/11 I was horrified at the reaction of so many Americans, the Bush gang knew exactly how they would react and they were correct. Flags, two or more flying from vehicles, bumper stickers and all the stuff people get up to when they've been preconditioned through years of lies and propaganda. The people had been told how the USA was the only superpower so naturally being a superpower an invasion had to be planned, the invasion having already been planned is of little consequence , let's kick butts was the cry.

 The big mistake Bush and Co. made was that butts were not kicked, the US military is hiding in barracks for the most part, where's the glorious victory, where's the big parade, where are the medals. The USA is the joke of the century with its bragging and its empty threats and to cap it all each man woman and child owes an enormous amount of money as a result of their mis-adventure so there may be justice in the world after all.

by douglas kay (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 83 comments) on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 7:48:00 PM