The Patriot Act, TIPS, and more .....

[anyb0dy (imported)]

First, read the article in the link below.

http://www.aclu.org/tips/

I assume most here know about the Patriot Act, which is more a betrayal of what the US stands for than a defense of it. But most here probably have not heard of TIPS, which is even scarier and more sinister in it's implications. The more we go down this road the worse it gets, and the people are still lining up to vote away more of their rights, even demanding the government do MORE. IT seems the US has made a mockery of Liberty.

What are your opinions on this?

Tom

[RavenWings (imported)]

FINNALLY!!!!

Well, anyb0dy, TIPS is undergoing a lot of modifications lately. Though, this whole Patriot Act reminds me of some of the legislation enacted after the burning of the Riechschtag in 1930.

I have come to the conclusion that the only way to truely combat Terrorism is through tolerance. It takes a lot of time, true, but it works eventually.

[Paolo]

I have one word,

"McCarthy".

Enough said.

[RavenWings (imported)]

And such a nice word it is too....

Now, does anyone remember G.W. Bush saying in the campaign 'there shall be no dictators in America unless I am that dictator."?

[A-1 (imported)]

Look, I took these positions regarding the danger posed to American democracy by the Patriot Act.

You can rant all you want about it but the threat is not immediate. I have written letters to Senators and I have recieved replies about my fears. The Patriot Act has a time limit on it but I am not at liberty to tell you what it is.

The faction within our country that is at work here will not be easily stopped. The Patriot Act might be likened to a "WAR POWERS ACT". In truth, we are at war, here. It is much, much nastier than anything we saw coming out of our government during Vietnam. There are still people being watched closely. Again, I am not at liberty to divulge.

In effect, the Patriot Act put us in a level of Martial Law. Rant all that you want about it but it passed both houses unanamously except for one Congressman from California who will never get re-elected. Senators and Congressmen have already been chastized for leaking intelligence on several occasions.

Don't look for the detainees list to be released soon. I would bet that before it happened an Executive Order will be released that will make that list Classified War intelligence material.

So, RavenWings and a few others, if you really believe this...

I have come to the conclusion that the only way to truely combat Terrorism is through tolerance. It takes a lot of time, true, but it works eventually

You need to think again.

If you really believe that this crap will fly in America you are having a PIPE DREAM. I don't know what you put in the bowl of your carburator, but it must be some pretty fuckin' potent shit!

Surely, RavenWings, as a historian you know Adolph Hitler. I tell you now, George W. Bush is no Adolph Hitler.

Wise up. George is a puppet.

Think about it!

A-1

[anyb0dy (imported)]

MANY laws still on the books were SUPPOSED to have been limited to a certain time period only. The income taxes we all pay to the feds were a TEMPORARY war act, to pay for war costs. I do not trust the government to give back such power once it is gained, at least not without a fight or some major resistance. And this gives them powers they have wished for since the McCarthy era. Now they have it, and if you believe it will be only for a short time then I have some beach front property in Arizona I can sell you too.

No offense, but this is only one sign of a bigger problem in America that has been growing since WWII, and I fear it is still going to get a lot worse before the rest of America wakes up, but by then it may be too late for all of us.

Tom

[A-1 (imported)]

here's your problem...

[A-1 (imported)]

...but seriously,

You guys are right about one thing.

If we elect the wrong person into office now there can be BIG trouble.

I do not think that there is a problem with "W", though.

But say if we had another Richard Nixon...

Just imagine what he could have done about Watergate if he had a "Patriot Law" to work with.

I believe "W" is a puppet to the big money interests. I hope that time proves me wrong...

A-1

[Paolo]

Yea, but I'll STILL shoot the mailman if he peeks in my window.

[luvpain (imported)]

Well it would be fairly difficult for the mailman to peek in my windows. Besides the only thing I have to sort of hide is my interests in Bodymods and BDSM. I'd like to see his reaction by peeking in my window and seeing me walk around nude with the modifications I have done so far, or even maybe multiple needles into my balls.

Seriously though, this isn't really that new of a concept. I know the garbage men from a nearby city report unusual activity to the police and City inspector. It wouldn't surprise me one bit that the mailmen, meter maids, garbage men, etc have been doing most of these things on a smaller scale before.