Patriot Act Extension Scheme Sells Out the Constitution
US House and Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan backroom deal to push for approval of a four-year extension of the the most controversial components of the USA Patriot Act, in a move that rejects calls for responsible reform of the law by civil libertarians on the right and the left.
I predict that these extensions of the Patriot Act will be passed with a minimum of discussion and debate.
The reason I say this is that both Democrats and Republicans understand that that they have a very furious and frustrated electorate on their hands, because of lousy domestic and foreign policy decisions coming out of Congress and the White House, which have utterly ruined the lives of many of their constituents.
What are these lousy decisions?!? Oh, where can I start:
1. The extension of wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and now Libya, which have left this country's Federal government morally and fiscally bankrupt.
2. The continued offshoring of jobs which used to legitimately enable people to qualify for their mortgages.
3. The loss of homes and a huge downward slide in the quality of life here at home so corporations may profit by leaving the US and establishing their businesses abroad.
4. The banks' establishment of illegal mortgage-backed securities, where a mortgage would be sold and bundled over and over again to the point where no one knew precisely who owned the property.
5. Foreclosures (many times robo-signed and illegal) which put houses back on the balance sheets, when banks had to make good on paying back on those illegal mortgage backed securities.
6. The propping up of Wall Street corporations while homeless Vets sleep in our streets while our infrastructure crumbles.
At this point, Congress is so terrified of their own people that they will do anything (including reinstituting these most repressive provisions of the Patriot Act) which they feel may keep restive Americans quiet and cowed, even if it is for just a little while longer.
It is painfully clear, at this point in this country's history, that we are fast-tracking away from a Constitutional Republic to a pure "Code Napoleon" system of law in which any accused is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
We are coming close to that moment when even quiet,peaceful, excellently well-reasoned disagreement with the official Federal government position on any issue will be treated as a criminal offense.
The reason I say this is that both Democrats and Republicans understand that that they have a very furious and frustrated electorate on their hands, because of lousy domestic and foreign policy decisions coming out of Congress and the White House, which have utterly ruined the lives of many of their constituents.
What are these lousy decisions?!? Oh, where can I start:
1. The extension of wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and now Libya, which have left this country's Federal government morally and fiscally bankrupt.
2. The continued offshoring of jobs which used to legitimately enable people to qualify for their mortgages.
3. The loss of homes and a huge downward slide in the quality of life here at home so corporations may profit by leaving the US and establishing their businesses abroad.
4. The banks' establishment of illegal mortgage-backed securities, where a mortgage would be sold and bundled over and over again to the point where no one knew precisely who owned the property.
5. Foreclosures (many times robo-signed and illegal) which put houses back on the balance sheets, when banks had to make good on paying back on those illegal mortgage backed securities.
6. The propping up of Wall Street corporations while homeless Vets sleep in our streets while our infrastructure crumbles.
At this point, Congress is so terrified of their own people that they will do anything (including reinstituting these most repressive provisions of the Patriot Act) which they feel may keep restive Americans quiet and cowed, even if it is for just a little while longer.
It is painfully clear, at this point in this country's history, that we are fast-tracking away from a Constitutional Republic to a pure "Code Napoleon" system of law in which any accused is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
We are coming close to that moment when even quiet,peaceful, excellently well-reasoned disagreement with the official Federal government position on any issue will be treated as a criminal offense.
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