Definition:
Police State, n
A state in which the government exercises rigid and
repressive controls over the social, economic, and political
life of the people, especially by means of a secret police
force.
While the
U.K. is
ensnared in a grid of electronic surveillance and
ever expanding police powers, the United States is following the
same trend towards authoritarianism. Before 9/11, the drug war
provided the excuse for militarized police and other measures.
Today, the attacks of September 11th, 2001 have provided the main
foundation upon which wars have been fought overseas, and the
exponential expansion of government domestically. Electronic
surveillance, expanded police powers, "Free Speech Zones", National Identification cards;
the list continues to grow.
The 4th U.S. president, James
Madison uttered a prophetic warning to America. Madison said, "If
Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of
fighting a foreign enemy."
As America has witnessed in the
past several years since the attacks of September 11th, Madison's
words hold painful, undying truth. This truth must be shouted from
the mountaintops and spread throughout the land in order to hold
back the rising tide of tyranny that threatens to engulf this
nation. We've heard the
cries from the Republicans while Clinton was in office, warning of
authoritarian anti-terrorism measures, only to go silent as one of
their own, George W. Bush moved into the white house. The Democrats,
who remained predominantly silent during Clinton's term, now softly warn of
threats to our freedom. Liberty mindedness has turned from being
the standard mindset of freedom loving Americans to a politically
expedient attribute. Both political parties have moved America
towards a police state, while supporters of each cheer on the
destruction of their freedom as they root for Red and Blue.
National ID
As with the United Kingdom, the
United States will adopt new regulations for a National
Identification card in 2009. The original date for the U.S. card was
set for May of 2008, but upon public outcry and
opposition to the Real ID act, the government was forced to give at
least a bit of leniency, moving the due date ahead a year. The new
date, however, does little to address the concerns of citizens.
Citizens of the U.K. who refuse the new card will have to "forgo
the ability" to have a travel document. Citizens of the United
States who do not follow the "voluntary" federal regulations will
not be able to fly on a plane, ride a train, or step foot inside a
federal building. Several states are also resisting Real ID because
of an exorbitant price tag associated with it.
2nd Amendment denied
One
of the tenets of a free society is its ability to defend itself.
Citizens of New Orleans found themselves bewildered, angry and
shocked to find themselves denied of this basic right in the
aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
"No one will be able to be armed...
We are going to take all the weapons,"
said Deputy Chief Warren Riley of New Orleans.
ABC news reported on the confiscations.
Watch the video here.
The NRA has released a video
showing interviews of individuals who had their guns stolen from
them. Featured in the video is an elderly woman who was shown being tackled and punched in the face by police
in her home after refusing to leave and hand over her handgun. "They
didn't care what you're rights were, they were gonna deny 'em," said
one man who had his two rifles taken from him at gunpoint. "It's not
America as we've known it before, it's changing."
Police State tactics
The role of police and their
demeanor towards citizens is changing dramatically in America. One
demonstration of this is the article featured in Popular Mechanics
titled "Meet
The New Supercops." The article praises the new
tactics of New York police in the war on terror.
"No one sees them coming. There
are no flashing lights, no sirens. The black Suburban simply glides
out of Fifth Avenue traffic and pulls into a no-parking zone in
front of the Empire State Building. Moments later, four men spill
out in combat helmets and heavy body armor: Two carry submachine
guns; the others, snub-nosed shotguns."
"The response we usually get is,
'Holy s---!'" Nieves says. "That's the reaction we want. We are in
the business of scaring people--we just want to scare the right
people."
Similar tactics are being used in Miami,
where police conduct random shows of force around public places.
Deputy Police Chief Frank Fernandez
commented on the new tactic, saying "people are definitely going to
notice it... We want that shock. We want that awe. But at the same
time, we don't want people to feel their rights are being
threatened. We need them to be our eyes and ears."
A Phoenix Federal Bureau of
Investigation terrorism training manual that was circulated during
Clinton's administration is shocking to behold. “frequent references
to the US constitution” are listed as possible terror suspects, as
well as “defenders of the US constitution”. (Front)
(Back)
During the August 2004 Republican
National Convention thousands of protesters gathered in New York to
voice their dissent. They were met with fenced in "Free Speech
Zones," as well as a makeshift detention facility at an old bus
housing building on Pier 57.
The following are chilling
photographs taken inside the building. (more
information here)
Protesters held in Pier 57
Razor wire inside the building atop
chain link fence
Caged in free speech zones, areas
where protesters were allowed to gather in an out of the way place
were yet another ominous sign of eroded liberty.
Caged in free speech zone, more razor
wire
Another shot
The long standing Posse Comitatus
Act, which places strict prohibitions on military engaging in
domestic law enforcement was undone in October of 2006. The "John
Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" (H.R.5122), allows the
President to seize control of state National Guardsmen to "suppress
public disorder" without the consent of governors.
Frank
Morales wrote
an excellent article detailing the Act,
"Section 1076 of the massive
Authorization Act, which grants the Pentagon another
$500-plus-billion for its ill-advised adventures, is entitled,
"Use of the Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies." Section
333, "Major public emergencies; interference with State and
Federal law" states that "the President may employ the armed
forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to
restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States
when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other
serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident,
or other condition in any State or possession of the United
States, the President determines that domestic violence has
occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of
the State or possession are incapable of ("refuse" or "fail" in)
maintaining public order, "in order to suppress, in any State,
any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or
conspiracy."
"The changes to the
Insurrection Act will allow the President to use the military,
including the National Guard, to carry out law enforcement
activities without the consent of a governor. When the
Insurrection Act is invoked posse comitatus does not apply.
Using the military for law enforcement goes against one of the
founding tenets of our democracy..."
"It.. should concern us all
that the Conference agreement includes language that subverts
solid, longstanding posse comitatus statutes that limit the
military’s involvement in law enforcement, thereby making it
easier for the President to declare martial law. There is good
reason for the constructive friction in existing law when it
comes to martial law declarations."
As information began to surface
regarding the legality of the Bush wiretapping plan, the new head of
the CIA, Michael Hayden flatly denied the probable cause measure of
the 4th amendment during an exchange with reporter
Jonathan Landay.
QUESTION: I'm no lawyer, but my
understanding is that the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution
specifies that you must have probable cause to be able to do a
search that does not violate an American's right against unlawful
searches and seizures. Do you use --
GEN. HAYDEN: No, actually -- the Fourth Amendment actually protects
all of us against unreasonable search and seizure.
QUESTION: But the --
GEN. HAYDEN: That's what it says.
QUESTION: But the measure is probable cause, I believe.
GEN. HAYDEN: The amendment says unreasonable search and seizure.
QUESTION: But does it not say probable --
GEN. HAYDEN: No.
Congressman Ron Paul, who is
running for President in 2008, was one of the few representatives to
speak out on the issue of erosion of liberty soon after 9/11.
Paul gave a powerful speech
to the House of Representatives in June of 2002 asking the question,
"Is America a Police State?" "If we are, what are we going to do
about it? If we are not, we need to know if there's any danger that
we're moving in that direction," Paul says. He also points out the
fact that tyrannical government often arises from popular support
after a crisis.
"Most police states,
surprisingly, come about through the democratic process with
majority support. During a crisis, the rights of individuals and
the minority are more easily trampled, which is more likely to
condition a nation to become a police state than a military
coup. Promised benefits initially seem to exceed the cost in
dollars or lost freedom. When people face terrorism or great
fear- from whatever source- the tendency to demand economic and
physical security over liberty and self-reliance proves
irresistible. The masses are easily led to believe that security
and liberty are mutually exclusive, and demand for security far
exceeds that for liberty."
