The Price of Freedom (continued)

Again, the Constitution of the United States becomes nothing more than a doormat on which to wipe your feet, thanks to the Bush administration and the support of the Courts. (See prior post of January 31, 2006, "The Price of Freedom") The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, on a 2-1 vote ordered the case to be dismissed in the District Court. The vote, along party lines (why am I not surprised), could effectively rule out any future challenges to the federal wiretapping program instituted by the "President" after 9/11. In the case of ACLU v. NSA, the plaintiffs were unable to produce evidence that they have been sufficiently harmed to justify a lawsuit against the NSA. As a result, the case must be dismissed. The problem is that a 1953 statute prohibits national security information from being released for any purpose, including the effective prosecution of court proceedings. The only way to obtain such information would be through illegal means creating a "catch-22" scenario. Essentially, this wire-tapping program can continue indefinitely, without significant court challenges as long as no plaintiff as able to secure information showing that they have been targeted and have received significant harm.

Is this the nature of the Constitution? Are these the ideals that our nation was founded on? I argue not. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution protects US citizens from "illegal searches and seizures" - as any basic civics class will teach:

Amendment 4
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

And how long will this continue? As citizens of the United States, we demand more from our government than tyranny. If we were happy with tyranny, then we would never have demanded our independence from Great Britain. Unfortunately, this is something that we will be forced to endure so long as the "war on terror" continues. And it seems, that as long as Bush or one of the "neocon" cronies get elected, it will continue for quite sometime. But it also seems that citizens of the United States are not the only ones who are dismayed at the current direction of the US government and politics. While Bush's approval ratings fall to 29% here in the US, it seems to be at 0% in Ireland. But can the current batch of political rivals vying for the presidency produce any significant changes that will bring a change to the public opinion toward the United States?

This administration has become one of hypocrisy. Here in the United States so few people can see its full extent. However it is painfully obvious abroad. US policies toward other nations are strictly capitalist and fully fascist. Where Americans tout their high ethical and moral standards to the rest of the world, a critical look at the United States will show that politicians know the theory, but refuse to put it into practice:

1. The United States pushes for democratic elections throughout the world, yet our "President" has been elected by the courts and the electoral college system effectively takes presidential elections out of the hands of the electorate;
2. Equality and fair treatment of citizens is demanded of nations around the world before the US trades with them, yet segregation exists, not specifically along racial lines, but along economic lines and is supported by the protection of big business over the worker;
3. Fair justice is demanded of new and burgeoning governments while the US justice system provides greater benefits for those who can afford better lawyers;
4. Lining up as many allies against terror is a major goal of US foreign policy, yet the United States has supplied "legitimate" governments who undertook terrorist actions against their own people.

The evidence is there but few people will read the writing on the wall. At times it seems that the greatest enemy to the people of the United States is the United States' government. Changes in policy and philosophy must be made or things will get much worse.

from the Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

And Justice for some....

Yesterday, "President" Bush commuted the sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for his involvement in the leaking of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame. This does not mean that Libby was pardoned, oh what a relief, it means that he has still been convicted but won't serve a single day in prison. So, we can rest easy that he remains the highest ranking White House official convicted since the Iran-Contra affairs of the 1980's.

On the other hand, what does this say for national security? It says that our CIA operatives who risk their lives in the field, obtaining sensitive information from around the world are no longer safe in their own country. The precedent set here is that it is "ok" to endanger CIA field operatives because even if you are convicted, according to the law, you won't have serve any jail time. This is from a "President" who so highly values national security that he:

• has put this country in harms way in order to protect national security;
• has sent our young men and women into battle in the name of national security;
• has fought to limit civil liberties in the name of national security.

While at the same time is willing to allow his friend to walk, without punishment, for violating national security.

This is simply another example of how the "President" stole an election in order to produce profits for his friends in the corporate world (in the Industrial Military Complex) as we were warned by outgoing President Eisenhower in 1960.

And who pays the price? Cronies of the administration? Of course not, as can be seen by Libby's commuted sentence (30 months is far too long to spend in prison for violating national security!). It is paid by the tax payers who foot the bill for criminal prosecutions and 2 1/2 year trials that result in convictions and no jail time. It is paid by those men and women in the field who risk their lives for national security just to have it made a mockery of by the "President." Where is this all going? When will it end? When will those truly responsible pay the price? Where is the justice?

Check out the article: Bush Wipes Away Libby's Prison Sentence

This just in.. Bush hasn't ruled out a full pardon in the future! Travesty. Bush won't rule out full Libby pardon