Do you think there is danger of our surrendering to a police state?

Question

As I look around at the freedoms Americans have given up without much thought in the last few years, I have to wonder: are we poised, willing and ready to become a police state?

If arbitrary decisions by individuals in the law enforcement community can lead to your being spied upon, denied the right to travel, perhaps even being black-listed from gainful employment, and we are left with no meaningful appeal in the process... doesn't this strike you as an odd response to 9/11, which was conducted, it has been said by those very agencies who are eroding our rights, because 'they hate our freedom'...

This is a serious question, and I would ask you not to dismiss it, or respond with rancor.

Answer 1

I understand your fears after 9/11 phones tapped, photo radar etc I do not believe we are in a Police State yet the best thing you can do personally is study the candidates & VOTE!

Answer 2

You need to stop trying to identify US with some out-dated 1984 reference . Its not cost effective for the US to become one and frankly you won't find enough hard-working and loyal people who would enforce it. As a comparison look at shoplifting at your local mall or department store. Cameras everwhere and yet people still get away. The US was more of a police state during WW2 and we recovered.

Answer 3

I have to question as to where we are giving up ANY rights!

You mentioned the law enforcement community "spying" upon the people and the denial of travel etc. I've yet to see any instance where Americans have been denied the right to move about freely or have been spied upon.

When you address the issues of government "tapping" into telephone calls etc., you refer to an issue that is so stretched out of proportion that one has to almost laugh at the ridiculous banter one hears from those who spread rumors and innuendos.

The government has made it very clear as to whom is being monitored and under what specific circumstances. The average home is NOT being monitored for those calls made to some "fling on the side" or while "ordering up an ounce of weed." The specific calls being monitored are from areas that are KNOWN for their terrorist connections. Why...in order to prevent another attack upon our homeland!

People soon forget that we lost over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children by terrorists who flew commercial, NOT combat, aircraft into the Twin Towers, NYC. Our country took THEIR fight to THEIR soil to keep our own land safe.

Also, lets not forget that these terrorists declared war...yes war...against us, not us against them.

A comment about "photo radar!" How is this system a violation of ones privacy? Again, one can only justify being against such a system by being concerned that they'll get caught doing something that is illegal. Running redlights injures or kills over 250,000 people a year yet we're worried about getting caught dead to rights! My suggestion....if you don't want your photograph taken while breaking the law....don't run the red light!

We admonish our government for fighting for the freedom of speech and liberty...yet some complain about a camera that catches law breakers running red lights. It makes no sense!

I don't see where we're losing sight of what our consitution states! To be a free nation...one must fight those who wish to inhibit our ideologies. When the masses of a country scream for our help because one man and his inner circle of thugs kills hundreds of thousands who voice their freedom of speech...I'd say it's time to be responsible and help those who need AND ask for our help!

Ask any veteran of WWII about the atrocities committed by Hitler and how millions of innocent men, women, and children were murdered and tell me how people (thugs) like Saddam are any different.

Tell me a better way to bring justice to the murdering types of people such as these terrorists we fight! Develope a better way this issue should be dealt with and I'll vote for you next Presidential election!

Sorry I vented....but I feel better!

Best wishes!