Friday, February 10, 2006

"PATRIOT" Forever and Ever, Amen

So, Dubya is very likely getting his "PATRIOT" Act re-upped; this time they're admitting it's permanent. It's a commonplace that there's nothing so permanent as a temporary tax. But I'd suggest that a temporary setting-aside of our civil liberties -- for wartime purposes only, you understand! -- is at least as permanent as any tax. It's just a question of how long it takes our supervisors to admit it.

As the news story notes, Senator Feingold is upset, or at least is simulating being upset. If he or any other of our legislators is actually unhappy in any serious way, then where, I ask, is the impeachment? As a practical matter, though, Senator Feingold might as well relax. What difference does it make whether or not there's actually a PATRIOT Act on the books? El Chickenhawk Supremo has already made it abundantly clear -- has he not? -- that he's going to do whatever he wants anyway, given the godlike powers that presidents in undeclared pseudo-wars apparently have. So what's the difference?

Well, I see one difference. It's a small one, but maybe worth thinking about. If the PATRIOT Act were totally repealed, root and branch, it would maybe become clear to a few more people that Bush is running open-loop, completely out of control. Maybe another person or two would wake up. Every little bit helps -- I hope.

3 comments:

lemming said...

Bush believes that what he is doing is right. He doesn't even listen to his father's advice on this topic. America got what it voted (and paid) for in 2004.

Grace Nearing said...

[The deal] also alters the conditions of the National Security Letter, a type of order for a person to appear in secret court.

I wonder how these are delivered? Registered mail, return receipt? Or, more ominously, hand-delivered?

This is all very, very creepy.

Jim Wetzel said...

Grace, a "National Security Letter" seems to be a highly versatile thing, in addition to being highly creepy. It summons you to secret courts (star chambers), it forces anyone who knows anything about you to tell all ... it likely removes waxy buildup, too.

Lemming, you're correct about what America's getting. We're collectively complicit in the doings of BushCo. The consequences are self-inflicted ... again, in the collective sense. Trouble is, they're felt by individuals. And, really, I never, ever voted for that little sawed-off Mussolini. Never!

(On the other hand, I haven't made any real effort to overthrow his sorry butt, either ...)