Do You Feel Safer Knowing The Government Can Torture You If You Are A Suspect?

Question

Did the Constitution's promise of no cruel or unusual punishment ever matter? Was it all just a bunch of empty words? Were the soldiers and sailors who fought to protect the Bill of Rights fools wasting their time for a people who never even cared about their Constitution? Or has America simply outrown the Bill of Rights now?

Answer 1

No, of course I don't feel safer! I don't get these people who think its okay to torture people, under any circumstances. *sm*

Answer 2

This may sound selfish, but since I do not live my life in such a manner that would raise suspicion, I am not terribly worried about the NDAA. I also felt this way about the Patriot Act, so this has nothing to do with Democrat vs. Republican, Bush vs. Obama, or any other group. As I read summaries of the NDAA, there isn't a lot in there that wasn't already a part of what the President could do. It seems to be more of a matter of formalizing how we defend against the "new threat" of terrorism, and getting our laws squared away so we can combat it properly. (For example, where will terrorists in the United States be tried? In civilian courts or military courts). While I respect people who want to defend our rights, I do not feel that this piece of legislation is a serious compromise to the average American.

Answer 3

If the people that are supposed to defend the constitution don't even know what it says why should you be surprised. Schools no longer demand kids learn what is written in the constitution. If you don't know whats in it how can you defend it. It's a sign of the decline in our education system. A failure that's been decades in the making. Don't be surprised we give up rights we don't even know we have. Don't be surprised we who are old give up those rights for a little safety. Even if that safety is fleeting..

Answer 4

"Did the Constitution's promise of no cruel or unusual punishment ever matter?"

Not to this ship of fools. But I think it mattered to the people who wrote it and to most Americans up until lately.

Answer 5

http://hrw.org/backgrounder/usa/ct0607/ct0607web.pdf

This report done by human rights groups is truly frightening. The Bill of Rights was built around basic human rights - which should be yours no matter what, regardless of what country you're in. The U.S. used to recognize that and treat people better than they were treated by their own government (which is why may of Saddam's soldiers surrendered to the U.S. - 'cause they knew we'd treat them better that Saddam -- this is true for other wars as well). Now, I don't know what the hell we're thinking or who we're becoming.

Answer 6

America, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence have all been forsaken under the bush regime.

It's NOT Americans, it is only THIS criminal regime.

We will be back.

Answer 7

No i don't. In fact, I feel it's quite dangerous and we have NO IDEA just what we are in for! So far we are willing to hand over dictactorial powers to make us 'feel' safe. But according to history and Ben Franklin - "No loss of liberty is worth feeling safer" (paraphrase). Now here is the $1m question: Once these far-reaching powers are handed over to our govt. , what will then stop them from using torture on WE CITIZENS after we run out of enemies?! Think about that.
"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Answer 8

the constitution doesnt mean **** to the government. it means more to american citizens than it ever did to the government. how about howard stern and imus getting kicked off of the airwaves for saying things that were offensive? why do we bother protecting the free speech of the kkk? for the record we also have a big problem with separation of church and state.

Answer 9

they wouldn't be empty words if we had a president who actually respected the constitution.

VOTE RON PAUL

Edit:

You people have heard of the patriot act, right?

Answer 10

No. It hasn't been much of a deterrent so far.