Are our civil Liberties under threat...yes/no

[Angry Irishman]

I'm curious. I'll keep this simple. Based on laws that have been passed or recent bills that are trying to be passed in the last two administrations...are our Constitutional rights under threat? The laws and bills I'm referring to are pretty self explanatory.

 

[Agent11]

Yes. Although they have been fairly sneaky about it.

 

[Doppel]

Absolutely yes.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Yep.

 

[Farang]

Yes, though I think most of them were introduced under the last administration (not saying either deserves more blame as both have continued them). Most of my concerns are related to surveillance and no fly list type stuff.

The drones issue is more theoretical I think at this point. Still important, but the concerns are not really grounded in any horrendous actions. The government seems to be pretty responsible in their use of drones, frankly I'm not concerned with an obvious terrorist political leader in Yemen getting killed even if he happened to have an American passport. The theoretical stuff is about Billy Bob getting targeted at his farm in Kansas which there is no indication for happening in the future.

 

[DominionSeraph]

They're always under threat. That's why we have the ACLU.

 

[Oldgamer]

Our civil liberties have been under threat for a long time now. But the sheeple in America are too apathetic living in their little bubbles to actually demand change.

The ACLU cannot do much unless we the people rally behind them, and start doing more to push our representatives to make changes.

 

[PokerGuy]

They're always under threat. That's why we have the ACLU.

hahaha, very funny, they're usually the ones leading the assault.

Anyhow, OP, anyone who doesn't realize the liberties are under threat is just plain stupid. They're under threat because neither political side really believes in all of them, they just believe in some of them and want to do away with others.

It's kind of like illegal immigration. It's gone past the point of no return because it happens to be an issue where both parties are happy to let it get messed up, just for different reasons.

 

[PokerGuy]

The ACLU cannot do much unless we the people rally behind them, and start doing more to push our representatives to make changes.

Why would we rally behind them when more often than not they are on the wrong side?

 

[soulcougher73]

Yes

 

[Stone Rain]

Yes, they definitely are.

Though one could make the case they've already been shredded, due first to the Patriot Act, and even more thoroughly by the NDAA.

 

[Incorruptible]

Yes and its even worse with obama who has violated them even more with NDAA

 

[Leymenaide]

Warning answering this question in the affirmative will make you the target of a drone strike.

 

[Zargon]

YES

no question.

 

[Juddog]

Pole not found.

 

[trenchfoot]

Yes. In a democracy rife with special interests that have too much influence, where the rich keep getting richer in a separate economy they have built for themselves, where American citizens who are actively preparing for all-out war against their gov't actually consider themselves true "patriots" and where our gov't reflexively protects itself from its own people, a resounding YES is in order.

 

[Leymenaide]

Yes. In a democracy rife with special interests that have too much influence, where the rich keep getting richer in a separate economy they have built for themselves, where American citizens who are actively preparing for all-out war against their gov't actually consider themselves true "patriots" and where our gov't reflexively protects itself from its own people, a resounding YES is in order.

Tweaker,
Nice job. The news is now controlled to the point that there is no news. Wealth is controlling the conversation. Patents instead of a tool for innovation are methods for the rich to collect rent. Courts used to control a population well beyond damage done by the crime let it be a grandmother sued for patent infringement over a download she knows nothing about or the poor going to jail for stealing a can of tuna fish while the store owner can and does play with the computer and steal from the consumer but is not and cannot be arrested by the police. I went to the Police with a bill which I was overcharged 60% on one shopping order where the price was posted at least 2 times at the price I should have paid or was an end cap display. The police would not arrest the manager. The owner should be in jail but it does not happen. Steal from the poor and you are smart, rich and protected. Challenge wealth and you are the victim of a grand jury.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

They're always under threat. That's why we have the ACLU.

Which has been markedly irrelevant. Obama and others do not need nor want nor care for our wishes. People have exactly what they asked for. Indeed, they want more of it.

 

[Double Trouble]

Is there even a question? Your rights are always under attack. For any democracy to stay a democracy it's critical for the populace to be vigilant and protect their rights. Our population has not. We do the opposite, we give away our rights to the government in return for promises of security.

 

[jackstar7]

How about this: Enjoy them while you can.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Is there even a question? Your rights are always under attack. For any democracy to stay a democracy it's critical for the populace to be vigilant and protect their rights. Our population has not. We do the opposite, we give away our rights to the government in return for promises of security.

People complain about the Boomers, but it seems the present day youth of voting age have no real clue about the value of their liberty. "We shouldn't have to live with 18th century concepts" is one I've heard before. Selling one's birthright for a bowl of lentils.

 

[NoStateofMind]

You bet it is but no one really cares. If they did it would have stopped long ago. Instead we have a bunch of nodding heads (including myself) acknowledging what we know to be true only to watch the next attack on our rights fly right over the top of our heads. Our politicians don't care because we don't make them. Rand Paul may be one of the last few who actually give a shit but he'll be cast aside like his father in due time for being "a crazy loon" which will undermine, yet again, another attempt at restoring power to the people.

Barring some sort of financial collapse, and after the ensuing bloodshed, I doubt we ever have the spirit of liberty grace the white house again.

 

[NoStateofMind]

It does befuddle me though to think these rights should be the first thing we look to preserve when electing officials but people are too scared of taking responsibility for themselves. Those that are elected take an oath to uphold the Constitution and yet constantly spit on it if it interferes with their agenda. When do we check our values first before casting our vote? We don't and thats why I say not to. The only choices you will get are the approved establishment types. Every four years its another Republican or Democrat who has some promise of great things and how he won't be like his predecessor and so on and so on. How many times do you have to get fucked to know you're a whore?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You bet it is but no one really cares. If they did it would have stopped long ago. Instead we have a bunch of nodding heads (including myself) acknowledging what we know to be true only to watch the next attack on our rights fly right over the top of our heads. Our politicians don't care because we don't make them. Rand Paul may be one of the last few who actually give a shit but he'll be cast aside like his father in due time for being "a crazy loon" which will undermine, yet again, another attempt at restoring power to the people.

Barring some sort of financial collapse, and after the ensuing bloodshed, I doubt we ever have the spirit of liberty grace the white house again.

It's painfully obvious that parties have learned how we're manipulated. Another threadaddresses the low approval rating of Congress, however you can bet the person paying isn't going to vote for the opposition to show they cannot be taken for granted. Indeed the reverse is true. People will vote for a yellow dog as long as it's a rep/dem. They own the electorate by fear and they know it.

 

[Agent11]

Most people don't pay too much attention to legislation.