Have your liberties been affected by the laws as interpreted by the Bush administration?

Question

I just came across a question asking if your freedom had been affected by the patriot act. The asker and many answerers seemed to be of the opinion that because they had not been affected, everything was alright.
I remembered this German poem, I looked it up and here it is:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Answer 1

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.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nobody has had any civil liberties infringed by the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act itself doesn't do that. Other laws do.

And there are at least 4 US citizens who either had their citizenship revoked without legal proceedings, or have been held in prison for years without legal proceedings, under the US policies. The most famous is Jose Padilla, US citizen arrested in the US and held for 3 years without charges on US soil. Now on trial for unrelated crimes, which he was charged with days before the court ordered his release.

As far as personal experiences, because of the changes to federal laws, it took me 6 hours at the DMV to get my drivers license transferred from one state to another, and over 5 months to get my passport renewed because I (an attorney, and a US citizen since birth, whose father landed on Normandy in WW2) had moved too many times inside the US and thus fit a potential terrorist profile. Not in the same category as being thrown in prison for years without charge, but don't say it doesn't touch our lives.

Those are MY rights that are taken away every time the constitution is violated. And YOURS. Just because you or I haven't needed to use them recently doesn't make then any less our rights.

We only have those rights we can defend. If we refuse to defend them, we lose them forever.

Answer 2

you're nevertheless unfastened to spout out liberal ideology, so what's the subject? perhaps you will desire to look into a genuine fascist regime to understand the adaptation between passive surveillance of world communications with customary terrorist secure-havens and a genuine denial of liberties. in case you're finding for fascist regimes google "Communist international locations" and that i'm particular you will detect some. Venezuela? Cuba? China? of course, in case you're in a sort of international locations, better than probably you will not get the entire, uncensored effect. Do you even understand who McCarthy replaced into? Do you remember any White living house press conferences the place the President called contributors of Congress or different persons "Communists" or perhaps terrorists? McCarthy went overboard, in spite of the shown fact which you should to remember that he have been given some undesirable adult men too. the US protection stress can't take the lead on community regulation enforcement. they'd, at any time with the explicit consent of their commanders and on the request of community civilian government, help in implementing regulations or securing factors.

Answer 3

First, no one will know if their Constitutional rights have been violated because Bush has also attacked our Constitutional right to know if our Constitutional rights have been violated.

And, just because every citizen has not been thrown in prison and tortured, it does not mean than it has not happened to some (innocent American citizens) or that it will not happen in the future.

Even Republicans know that it is easier to lose your rights than it is to gain, or regain, them. Besides, they must know that eventually all of this unbridled power the Executive Branch has seized will fall into Democratic hands, and then... well, there is that saying about laughing best when you are the one who has the last laugh.

Answer 4

Oh yeah? So when the Nazi's came for the terrorists... oh wait.. Nobody wants to hurt anyone's feelings.

I didn't see THAT in the poem.

I guess you'd only be affected by the Patriot Act if you did something wrong. Funny, I've posted all sorts of political commentary, some critical of the President, some not... and have yet to receive a knock at my door.

And I'll bet $10.00 that none of you have had a knock on your door either.

So no. Not affected.

Answer 5

I am a Gay man with full-blown AIDS. I have been given a prescription for medical marijuana as prescribed by the laws of the State of California. Unfortunately, the DEA has been allowed, by the Bush administration, to run roughshod over the rights of states and the votes of The People when it comes to this issue. They say no matter what The People vote in their state, Medical Marijuana is still illegal to the Feds (ironic that Bush was such a spoiled drug and alcohol abuser a few years back) and they are arresting sick people and jailing them until they die behind bars just so they can say they're "winning the war on drugs."
Funny how the Republicans love to shout about "state's rights" when the state in question supports a right-wing concept, like denying the rights of Gays to marry or women to choose abortion, but they then deny the state's rights to pass laws based on voter referendum when those laws are in opposition to their right-wing agenda or their religious dogma.

So, yes, the Bush administration has had a direct, negative impact on my personal life.
Thanks for a great question and a thoughtful quote, by the way!

Answer 6

Personally, I don't mind at all if the Feds check at the local library to see who checked out Bomb Making for Dummies or Terrorist Operations 101. In honor of the poem.

The "Peaceful Islamics" who enslave by the sword

First they came for Saudi Arabia
but I didn't speak up;
I wasn't a Saudi

Then they came for the middle-east
and I didn't speak up;
I wasn't middle-eastern

Then they went for Africa
but I remained silent;
I wasn't African

Then they attacked Asia
but I said nothing;
I wasn't Asian

Then they went for Europe
and I didn't speak up;
I wasn't European

The they took Hijacked planes into
New York,
Virginia.
and Pennsylvania.
But I didn't speak up;
I'm from out west

Then they came for the rest of the world and their was no one left to speak up.

Answer 7

Fine. Can you name even 1 US Citizen whose liberties have been infringed unjustly by the Patriot Act?

It's not just me. It's pretty much everyone that is uneffected by it.

UPDATE - to coragryph, please note I deliberately include the word "unjustly" in my response. Your Padilla example by the way indicates the system is protecting our rights. The courts ruled properly that he could not be held indefinitely with no charges.

You had no rights taken away. You had a little extra red tape to deal with. This is no different than if the gov't changed tax law that made your returns longer to prepare, or even more complicated so you had to hire someone. The DMV and Passport stuff was no different.

Answer 8

No, because i don't participate in any activities that would place me in contrast to the patriot act. When they come after our constitutional rights then i will speak out, until then sit back and let them get rid of the scum of society.

Answer 9

Well here's the problem with your question, it is not the Bush administration's job to "interpret" the laws. Here's a quick civics lesson for you.

The Executive branch (The President, Vice President and Cabinet) of the Federal Government is responsible for enforcing the laws enacted by Congress.

The Legislative branch {Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)} of the Federal Government is responsible for creating the laws.

The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and Federal Courts) of the Federal Government is responsible for interpreting the laws enacted by Congress.

Now if you're upset as to how the laws of this great nation are interpreted, you need only look to the liberal courts. Your best bet is to vote Republican in 2008, for President, Representative, and Senator. This way the conservative President will be able to successfully appoint conservative judges to the various Federal Courts and the Republican Congress will confirm the President's appointees, because judges are appointed for life.

GET RID OF LIBERALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT: FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL!

Answer 10

Government intruded into the rights of the people just to solve terrorism which should not be the case.