OK folks, it's getting worse...

Will the Patriot act and other new government powers be used to suppress dissent? Sooner or later, they will. And it's looking like sooner.

The basis of all law in this country is the protection of the people from their government. We cannot rely on people's good judgement in this regard; that's why we have laws in the first place. It's the bill of rights and related protections that ARE the United States: if we lose this, then the USA is lost.

Attorney General John Ashcroft says these sweeping new powers will be used to launch a new "law enforcement campaign."

Uh-oh...

First there was the "Patriot" act

• the government can monitor email and Web browsing with little judicial oversight
• the definition of terrorism now includes hacking into a U.S. government computer system or breaking into and damaging any Internet-connected computer
• Internet Service Providers can conduct surveillance of "computer trespassers" without a court order
• Internet provider or telephone company must give FBI customer information it asks for, including phone numbers called, without a court order
• aliens must be detained, without time limit (deportation proceedings must be initiated within 7 days), if the Attorney General believes they may be a terrorist.
• the definition of domestic terrorism now includes anything that is (a) dangerous, (b) illegal, and (c) intended to pressure the government or public opinion (like spray-painting slogans on a highway overpass?)

http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism_militias/20011031_eff_usa_patriot_analysis.html

http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11854

http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1109-09.htm

Read it online:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.3162.ENR:

Print it (over 300 pp!!!):

http://www.house.gov/judiciary/hr2975terrorismbill.pdf

Then the government started considering torture (you got this link earlier)

And now it's secret military tribunals instead of courts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24744-2001Nov13.html

What next? Watch out people, this is really happening.

As always, pass along what you think is useful and unsubscribe whenever you like.

Peace be upon you,

Andy