On personal liberties

[MoeFaux]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
September 23, 1950
Congress passes the McCarran Act, also known as The Internal Security Act of 1950, overriding Harry Truman's veto. The act provides for severe restrictions on civil liberties, suspension of free speech, and placing of undesirable Americans in concentration camps. The act has never been repealed.
Named after then Senator Pat McCarran, the Act is still screwing people over today.
And while traveling Nevada freethinkers voice their opinions on their freedoms being taken away when they fly, they're doing it all the while in the airport that was named after the d*ck who passed the Act.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

[B
And while traveling Nevada freethinkers voice their opinions on their freedoms being taken away when they fly, they're doing it all the while in the airport that was named after the d*ck who passed the Act.[/b] [/B]

Only if we fly in or out of Las Vegas. There IS an airport in Reno you know.

But I agree with the gist of your post. I pretty much see todays political climate as merely McCarthyism Part Deux.

 

[MoeFaux]

Re: Re: On personal liberties

Only if we fly in or out of Las Vegas. There IS an airport in Reno you know.

Oops. I had originally posted that on my blog (plus some choice swear words), which has mainly Vegas readers.
No offense meant to Reno folks.

 

[Cleopatra]

<The act has never been repealed.
Named after then Senator Pat McCarran, the Act is still screwing people over today.

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 23, 2003; Page A03


The Bush administration has decided to pursue a 16-year-old effort to deport two Palestinian activists who as students distributed magazines and raised funds for a group the government now considers a terrorist organization, despite several court rulings that the deportations are unconstitutional because the men were not involved in terrorist activity.

I hope that the American people realize that it's only a matter of time for the Police to knock on their door ...

You must RESIST.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: Re: Re: On personal liberties

Oops. I had originally posted that on my blog (plus some choice swear words), which has mainly Vegas readers.
No offense meant to Reno folks.

No offense taken, but then I'm not from Reno either.

But your post got me thinking, Nevada is one of the most schizophrenic states in the Union with regards to personal liberties. We were the first to legalize gambling (and the only one for many years), we are the only state with any form of legalized prostitution, yet we have the toughest drug laws in all 50 states and (though I couldn't swear to this because it is simply something I remember hearing on the radio once)overall the highest percentage of our populace incarcerated overall, higher than Iraq under Saddam Hussein. We are a weird weird state.

BTW, since you mentioned that your blog has a mostly Vegas readership, can I assume that you are from Vegas?

 

[bignickel]

I'll toss you some beads if you show us your blog.

 

[Chaos]

I hope that the American people realize that it's only a matter of time for the Police to knock on their door ...

You must RESIST.

Indeed. Beware the beginnings of such things.

We Germans had a certain period in our history (which I will not name because this would certainly inspire some "Chaos compared Bush to Hitler" rant) that also started out pretty harmlessly - at least, harmless compared to what happened later.
But then, so did many other dictatorships, I think. People prefer to close their eyes and ignore the writings on the wall. And in the end, when all is over, they say "We had no idea it would come to that."

So relax, Americans, yours will not be the first democracy that dies because its citizens are more interesting in their own comfort than in their rights and freedom.

 

[MoeFaux]

Re: Re: Re: Re: On personal liberties

yet we have the toughest drug laws in all 50 states and (though I couldn't swear to this because it is simply something I remember hearing on the radio once). We are a weird weird state.

BTW, since you mentioned that your blog has a mostly Vegas readership, can I assume that you are from Vegas?

I've lived in Vegas for several years now, but for the next few months I'm in Florida.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that NV has the toughest drug laws. It's a state that consists mainly of Mormans, and it was founded by Mormans.
In last years election, there were two very important personal liberty issues up. Question 2 and Question 9.
9 was to legalize up to 2 ounces of marajuana, and 2 was regarding gay unions. I voted for legalizing drugs, and for gay unions. However, it was no surprise that both of the issues lost.
The Mormans are bigots, and the people who are actually using drugs are too damn lazy to get out and vote. Yeah, it's a weird state.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: On personal liberties

I've lived in Vegas for several years now, but for the next few months I'm in Florida.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that NV has the toughest drug laws. It's a state that consists mainly of Mormans, and it was founded by Mormans.
In last years election, there were two very important personal liberty issues up. Question 2 and Question 9.
9 was to legalize up to 2 ounces of marajuana, and 2 was regarding gay unions. I voted for legalizing drugs, and for gay unions. However, it was no surprise that both of the issues lost.
The Mormans are bigots, and the people who are actually using drugs are too damn lazy to get out and vote. Yeah, it's a weird state.

I don't think that we are as Mormon Controlled as Utah, but ther is a definate Mormon Presence here. THat could account for the loss on the Marijuana initiative but I chalk the loss on question 2 up to the fact that the proponents of it were much better organized. I don't know how it was in Vegas but up here, you couldn't without seeing a commercial or drive down the street without seeing a billboard that stated that gay marriages were a threat to families. I saw nary a commercial and very few billboards that presented the opposite view. It is sad that people are so influenced by advertising, but they are. I think the Marijuana initiative sufferedf romt he saem problem to alesser extent.

 

[Cleopatra]

Sorry for interrupting but don't you have anything to say about those two people ?

 

[Tony]

Re: Re: On personal liberties

I hope that the American people realize that it's only a matter of time for the Police to knock on their door ...

You must RESIST.

 

[Tony]

So relax, Americans, yours will not be the first democracy that dies because its citizens are more interesting in their own comfort than in their rights and freedom.

Im one American very interested in freedom and my rights, and I can assure you, there are millions like me.

 

[Sundog]

Re: Re: Re: On personal liberties

You'll have to explain the irony to me.

Have you ever been harassed by an overzealous cop? Maybe you're too young to have had that happen to you. I have. I'm not in favor of giving them any more power over my life.

Wait and see, they'll be knocking our doors down to carry us away for enjoying a quiet toke if this kind of thing goes on. They consider us the enemy.

 

[Cleopatra]

Im one American very interested in freedom and my rights, and I can assure you, there are millions like me.

Also, don't forget that you have a gun and you can shoot whoever tries to take away your personal liberties...

 

[Tony]

Re: Re: Re: Re: On personal liberties

You'll have to explain the irony to me.

The irony is, Cleopatra is anti-gun and favors the control and/or complete ban of guns, but here she is saying we need to RESIST police state policies and stand up for our rights. Let me guess Cleo, we need to RESIST and stand up for our rights (but only the ones you agree with). Sorry if I am skeptical.

Have you ever been harassed by an overzealous cop? Maybe you're too young to have had that happen to you. I have. I'm not in favor of giving them any more power over my life.

I have MANY ideas regarding police power and what should be done about it, but I dont want to hyjack this thread. To make it simple, lets just say I agree with you.

Wait and see, they'll be knocking our doors down to carry us away for enjoying a quiet toke if this kind of thing goes on. They consider us the enemy.

Why do you think I am such a staunch supporter of the 2nd amendment?

 

[Tony]

Also, don't forget that you have a gun and you can shoot whoever tries to take away your personal liberties...

Perhap you're bullet proof, however, I am not, how do propose we "resist" when we have guns to our heads?

 

[Cleopatra]

Perhap you're bullet proof, however, I am not, how do propose we "resist" when we have guns to our heads?

Are YOU asking ME after the endless lectures you have given us that you need your guns to protect you from those that will try to deprive you from your personal liberties????

Give me a break.

Your constitution has given you the right and the means to protect your freedom, shoot the policeman, shoot those that they enforce the Patriot Act.

 

[Tony]

Are YOU asking ME after the endless lectures you have given us that you need your guns to protect you from those that will try to deprive you from your personal liberties????

Yes I am asking you, How do you propose we "resist" tyrannical police state policies?

 

[Sundog]

Yes I am asking you, How do you propose we "resist" tyrannical police state policies?

Ummmm....vote the b*stards out of office?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Sorry for interrupting but don't you have anything to say about those two people ?

Sorry, I just so rarely meet a fellow Nevadan with political views that I even somewhat agree with that I got carried away.


But I will agree that a lot of the laws that got pushed through in the wake of 9/11, and many of our countries policies since then are, shall I say, overzealous. I don't know anything more about the two activists or their organization so I can't, honestly, form any real opinion beyond that. But I do agree that many of the new laws that are designed to go after terrorists now, have the potential to bite us in the butt and allow unscrupoulous elements among our governemnt to go after any one they darn well please later. It's a real probelm.