IT CAN HAPPEN HERE: 'Patriot' Act establishes socialist dictatorship

Antiwar.com ^ | November 26, 2001 | Justin Raimondo

[ouroboros]

[Paul C. Jesup]

Plus or minus a few nouns, pronouns and verbs, the Patriot Act is the same law that have been passed into law over and over again, in the past several years.

Where were you when Clinton was President?

Most of us here already knew that the laws back then could create a socialist dictatorship.

[Gracey]

Nothing New here! The $10K reporting has been a law for many, many years. Where you been? Most laws are written for NON citizens, I believe. You must be an AntiWAR nut, who joined up with the Socialist party? That's what some of my libertarian friends have done here in Austin. It unbelieveable - that they are marching with Socialists.

[abigkahuna]

$35 for the flag? You gotta be kidding. I can definetely sell them for 1/3 the price, cheaper for volume. jeesh. I don't want to advertise here so I won't...

[D-fendr]

If the U.S. really did become a socialist dictatorship we would know it by the favorable articles about us suddently appearing on antiwar.com.

[strela]

Justin Raimondo the kookburger screeds again. Here's hoping he can find a truly non-socialist country to emigrate to soon.

[ouroboros]

$35 for the flag? You gotta be kidding. I can definetely sell them for 1/3 the price, cheaper for volume. jeesh. I don't want to advertise here so I won't...

That was the link that came with the article. If you have a better one, feel free to post it.

[GeronL]

Raimondo, I haven't read the article... just the title and I think I'll hurl.

I don't agree with the law(s) therein but they do NOT create a socialist dictatorship by any stretch of the imagination.

[Roscoe]

Fertilizer.

[mxbluto]

and give the authorities carte blanche to read email, open snail-mail, and eavesdrop on phone conversations – all without a warrant, and without having to answer to anyone.

Hey, you guys are the doofus's he's referring to in the article that just never quite get's it. Wow, y'all were quick to respond, hit a nerve?

Anyway, this does not only apply to foreigners. This is known and available for public consumption. There's a good chance that you guys will never get it.

[ouroboros]

bump

[ladyinred]

Non Citizens should not have all of the protections that American citizens enjoy in the first place. That is one of the benefits of being a citizen.
If I were to visit a foreign country, would I have the same rights and privileges as the citizens there? I think not, and the difference is, I would not expect to.
Perhaps a lesson in manners is needed here, when polite company visits, they respect your home and all that is in it or they will not be welcome to stay.

[abigkahuna]

I am the link....and after I sell you the flag I must report you to the government...its for your own good you know

[arimus]

perhaps he'll stop railing against "ragheads" long enough to realize he's been had.

Had indeed. I think they will despite the dumbo's here.

[GeronL]

where in the bill does it cancel elections?? where in the ill does it abrogate the role of Congress to our President-for-Life??

[GeronL]

dumbo's?

[Gracey]

Just tell me who you voted for and I'll understand you better.

[dennisw]

More geeky trash America drek from Just-me and antiwar.com.

[x]

According to the text of the Act, "any person engaged in trade or business" must report all transactions over $10,000 to Washington bureaucrats: failure to do so could result in punishment far worse than a mere fine. Here is a perfect example of how the principle of incrementalism works in favor of the expansion of state power.

Before the passage of the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, this requirement previously applied only to pawnbrokers and car dealers, as a way to track down stolen goods. The Banking Secrecy Act, passed in the name of fighting the "war on drugs," extended the reporting system to banking institutions of one sort or another. The USA PATRIOT Act universalizes this surveillance, and, in the process, gives government officials a key weapon that may be utterly useless in fighting terrorism, but may prove invaluable in the government's perpetual battle to expropriate wealth and centralize power.

This is certainly something we should worry about. Government control over people's finances should not be increased or extended.

It does seem, though, from reading the article, that this has basically been going on for 30 years, since almost all transactions of that size would involve a bank somewhere along the line. I don't think we can call Bush a great infringer of the people's liberties on this basis alone.

Still, it is something to be concerned about, and something that won't go away when the crisis is over. We might give some thought to increasing freedom in a practical way, rather than to taking away freedom.

Someone told me that in Canada even using a large bill can attract attention and make a fuss, though I don't know how true this is.

Justin, like his friends at Rockwell.co isn't always wrong, though, like them, he often tries his best to be both wrong and offensive.

Persuasion of those who may not share all your ideas is more important in the end than just preaching to the choir.