quote:

ORIGINAL: KYsissy

I think the original framers of our system of government saw this type of thing as possible.
They were distrustful of government and tried to institute means to stymie the reach of government.  Did they do enough?

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
Thomas Jefferson

Good point!
Ever wonder how that would change our Armed Forces? The overwhelming majority of soldiers are from low income backgrounds; The investors and executives of Halliburton grow insanely rich from war, while Joe Lunchbucket gets his arm blown off. Small wonder why Cheney is so eager to continue such a war, and line up new ones. If the Bush twins were front line grunts, the decision making might have been a bit different, doncha you think?

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson

Terrific sentiment. Who do you propose we shoot first? Type your answer clearly, Homeland Security does not want to have to waterboard it out of you.

The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.
Benjamin Franklin

Sage advice.
This was quoted often in the debate over the Patriot Act and court rulings in the War On Terror, which produced such "essential tools for security" as allowing the government to listen to your personal phone calls without a warrant, lock up an American citizen for 6 years without charges or a trial, and rifle through your bank records and library records without warrants or notifying you.
In that debate, what side were the "American Patriots" on?

quote:

ORIGINAL: KYsissy

"If the Bush twins were front line grunts, the decision making might have been a bit different, doncha you think?"
Absolutely!!!


I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.
Thomas Jefferson.

"
Terrific sentiment. Who do you propose we shoot first? Type your answer clearly, Homeland Security does not want to have to waterboard it out of you. "

Now you're just being silly.  EVERY system of government eventually collapses.
How close are we?  3 generations away? 2? 1? This generation? I don't have that answer and neither do you.

"This was quoted often in the debate over the Patriot Act and court rulings in the War On Terror, which produced such "essential tools for security" as allowing the government to listen to your personal phone calls without a warrant, lock up an American citizen for 6 years without charges or a trial, and rifle through your bank records and library records without warrants or notifying you.
In that debate, what side were the "American Patriots" on?

Yet another deceptive name from the government.  Both sides of the aisle are equally proficient at coming up with names for their bills that sound so good you just don't want to vote against them.

And in my opinion the ones that voted against this bill were on the right side.
But those same people are  curiously silent when it comes to reinstating the fairness doctrine. A thinly veiled attempt to silence right wing radio.
If you stand for the bill of rights, you have to defend it even when you detest the ones who might benefit from your defense.