Is the United States slowly turning into a Police State?

Question

This is NOT a politically motivated question. Just an observation of whats been happening in the past 6 years with regard to more and more laws, rules, and regulations (Patriot Act, NSA phonetaps, undercover police at political events). More and more people are going to jail for thousands of new laws that never existed before.....won't we all end up being criminals at this current pace? How many laws can you actually have?

Answer 1

It's heading in that direction. Sucking up communications data indiscriminately, mining it, compiling it. Black hole prisons, people held for years without charges or trial. More power vested in executive branch, rubber stamp congress and judiciary. Labeling those who disagree as anti-American traitors.

Answer 2

Police State? Where were all these police guys when the illegals came across our border illegally?
Don't look now but either by intent or by accident, Americans are less free today then the were before 911.
They will be doing cavity searches in airport lines next. They want to protect us from terrorists but they don't care if we "expire" due to illegal immigration. Go figure.
I guarantee you we are facing a police state more and more into the future. We have lost many freedoms recently and I predict it will continue and get worse. They laws of our country are there to protect the interest of the wealthy and special interests. The rest of us are just so much chopped liver.

Answer 3

Slowly?

We're approaching 1% of the US population being in prison. And most of those are based on laws that have been on the books for a decade or more. So, the number of laws isn't to blame for that.

What the new laws are doing, especially in the past 5 years, is strip subtly away the rights and freedoms of the rest of the population who aren't in prison. Starting with the ones that most people won't realize they've lost, like privacy or religious freedom or due process. But there is no reason to think it will stop there.

In honor of Pastor Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the 6th Amendment, but I hadn't been accused of a crime, so I didn't object to denial of counsel.

Then they came for the 4th Amendment, but I wasn't talking to anyone overseas, so they wouldn't be monitoring me.

Then they came for the rest of the 4th Amendment, but I only called my mother, so there was nothing suspicious in my phone records.

Then they came for the 1st Amendment, but I never associated with criminals, so I didn't worry about being convicted purely based on what other people might do.

Then they came for the 14th Amendment, but I never really understood the rules for Due Process (and wasn't allowed an attorney), so I didn't object.

Then they came for the rest of the 1st Amendment, but I never told anyone about what the government was doing, so again I remained silent.

Then they came for the 5th Amendment, ...... and I no longer had the right to remain silent.

Answer 4

I believe the answer is yes. But really this country has always been a bit of police state. Our puritanical element has always been there condemning us for this or that behavior.

And look at how people have been treated in this country when they disagreed with authority. The '60's were something of an anomaly.

2006 looks strangley like 1956.

Answer 5

yes, though it has sped up fast recently

But it's not just conservatives, the Clinton Administration came after our 2nd amendent, and lost- Hitler succeeded in that in Germany

The Patriot Act is a hugh step stone towards taking away the very rights that founded our nation

Our streets have cameras to watch criminal activity(in the city that i use to live in anyways)

And watch out, currently the gov is after controlling the internet

Can they come into our homes with a warrent yet, if not they will be able here to soon

Hello big brother

Answer 6

Not slowly... Many new laws to "keep us safe" have been put in place in the last 6 years (see a link to something??).

Some make sense-- Parts of the partiot act make sense (e.g. law enforcement talking to each other) other parts don't make sense (e.g. they can look at your library records w/out telling anybody really). Some things don't -- bypassing FISA...

Change it by voting these guys out of office.... although problem is, many of the guys in DC (dems and reps alike) have gone along with this stuff... vote 'em all out.

Answer 7

If you have ever taken a history class, especially an american history class you would know there are some sacrifices we have to make during a time of war. So far we haven't seen anything like the things people did during the first two world wars.

Answer 8

Uh - - - slowly? What time zone are you tripping through. The reason that the Patriotic Act was so easy to draft was that they only needed to translate it from the original German. Sieg Heil - - - both Geo W and Adolf strengthened the Federal powers over state and cities. Civil Liberties are virtually dead in America. Rock On.

Answer 9

Are you just now figuring this out? Everytime conservatives are in power, it is a police state. They don't believe in giving anyone who doesn't share their views or values any rights so they won't think twice about sending the dogs to anyone who fights back.

Answer 10

People in America have many more rights than people in my country. Even than people in Europe. My brother lives in Europe, he must always carry his ID because the police can stop any person on the street any time and ak for ID. My brother say he is happy in Europe because people their have more rights than in our country and America has even more rights than Europe. In my country if your employer wants to hit you it is okay and you can't do nothing about it, if you complain to the police they will laugh and maybe put YOU in jail.