Americans Have Lost VIRTUALLY ALL of Our Constitutional Rights

[Larrymc]

Interesting i have not checked all but, the few i have should be upsetting, to any Patriot.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/10/americans-have-lost-virtually-all-of-our-constitutional-rights.html

[fj1200]

I disagree in the main but I'm surprised you were taken in by this leftie diatribe. :poke:


The widespread system of torture carried out in the last 10 years – with the help of other countries (http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/cia-renditions-aided-54-countries-014932627.html) –violates the 8th Amendment (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/12/is-america-still-a-nation-of-laws.html). Many want to bring it back (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/05/bipartisan-congressional-bill-would-authorize-the-use-of-propaganda-on-americans-living-inside-america-because-banning-propaganda-ties-the-hands-of-americas-diplomatic-officials-mil.html) … or at least justify its past use (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/01/debating-torture-is-like-debating-whether-rape-is-good.html).
While Justice Scalia disingenuously argues (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2008/04/scalia-tries-to-apologize-for-torture-fails-violating-the-war-crimes-act-of-1996-in-the-process.html) that torture does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment because it is meant to produce information – not punish – he’s wrong (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/04/9-torture-myths-debunked.html). It’s not only cruel and unusual … it is technically a form of terrorism (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/05/torture-is-a-form-of-terrorism.html).

[revelarts]

...
For example, the following actions may get an American citizen living on U.S. soil labeled as a “suspected terrorist” today:


Complaining about the taste (http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/you-might-be-terrorist-if-you-complain-about-your-tap-water) of your tap water



Being young (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/insider-threat/) (if you live near a battle zone, you are fair game (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/06/u-s-labels-all-young-men-in-battle-zones-as-militants-and-american-soil-is-now-considered-a-battle-zone.html); and see this (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/12/no-child-left-behind.html))



Using social media (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/insider-threat/)



Reporting or doing journalism (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/09/in-america-journalists-are-considered-terrorists.html) (and here (http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/19/assange-high-tech-terrorist-biden) and here (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/11/rep-peter-king-punish-journalists-who-report-classified-information/))



Having “strange odors” (http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2011/08/10/7769/) or “bright colored stains on clothes” (http://oathkeepers.org/oath/2011/08/10/7769/) (what if you eat mustard or ketchup?)



Speaking out against government policies (http://www.counterpunch.org/cohn09302006.html)



Protesting anything (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html) (such as participating in the “Occupy” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/nyregion/occupy-movement-was-investigated-by-fbi-counterterrorism-agents-records-show.html?_r=0) or “Tea Party” (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60421.html) movements)



Questioning war (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html) (even though war reduces our national security (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/04/four-stories-this-week-prove-that-the-war-on-terror-is-a-farce.html); and see this (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/nobel-prize-winning-economist-war-is-widely-thought-to-be-linked-to-economic-good-times-nonsense.html))



Criticizing the government’s targeting of innocent civilians with drones (http://www.salon.com/2012/02/06/top_official_drone_critics_are_al_qaeda_enablers/singleton/) (although killing innocent civilians with drones is one of the main things which increases terrorism (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/01/nice-work-creating-new-terrorists-you.html). And see this (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/10/why-were-losing-the-war-on-terror.html))



Asking questions about pollution (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html) (even at a public Congressional hearing (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/02/02/documentary-filmmaker-josh-fox-arrested-at-fracking-hearing)?)



Paying cash at an Internet cafe (http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2012/02/06/fbi-enlists-internet-cafe-owners-to-spy-on-customers-2/)



Asking questions about Wall Street shenanigans (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html)



Holding gold (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html)



Creating alternative currencies (http://www.nysun.com/editorials/a-unique-form-of-terrorism/87269/)



Stocking up on more than 7 days of food (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXKfEsgLLRU&feature=related) (even though all Mormons are taught to stockpile food (http://jenny-evans.suite101.com/why-do-mormons-store-food-a284336), and most Hawaiians store up on extra food (http://whatreallyhappened.com/node/156535))



Having bumper stickers saying things like “Know Your Rights Or Lose Them” (http://www.infowars.com/doj-funded-training-manual-lists-bumper-stickers-as-terrorism/)



Investigating factory farming (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-fbi-tracking-animal-videotapers-as-terrorists-20111229,0,5919114.story)



Infringing a copyright (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/08/counter-terror-gone-crazy-copyright-infringement-is-being-treated-as-terrorism.html)



Taking pictures or videos (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2008/09/in-a-fascist-state-cameras-equal-terrorism.html)



Talking to police officers (http://www.infowars.com/dhs-video-characterizes-white-americans-as-most-likely-terrorists/)



Wearing a hoodie (http://www.infowars.com/dhs-video-characterizes-white-americans-as-most-likely-terrorists/)



Driving a van (http://www.infowars.com/dhs-video-characterizes-white-americans-as-most-likely-terrorists/)



Writing on a piece of paper (http://www.infowars.com/dhs-video-characterizes-white-americans-as-most-likely-terrorists/)



(Not having a Facebook account (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184658/Is-joining-Facebook-sign-youre-psychopath-Some-employers-psychologists-say-suspicious.html) may soon be added)

And holding the following beliefs may also be considered grounds for suspected terrorism:


Being frustrated with “mainstream ideologies” (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/insider-threat/)



Valuing online privacy (http://publicintelligence.net/do-you-like-online-privacy-you-may-be-a-terrorist/) (and see this (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/06/nsa-director-cyber-terrorism-snowden?CMP=twt_gu))



Being a libertarian (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/in-modern-america-liking-peace-is-considered-terrorism.html)



Liking the Founding Fathers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oP1Ke70Mi8)



Being a Christian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oP1Ke70Mi8)



Being anti-tax, anti-regulation or for the gold standard (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-fbi-extremists-idUSTRE81600V20120207)



Being “reverent of individual liberty” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



Being “anti-nuclear” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Believe in conspiracy theories” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“A belief that one’s personal and/or national “way of life” is under attack” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Impose strict religious tenets or laws on society (fundamentalists)” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Insert religion into the political sphere” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Those who seek to politicize religion” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Supported political movements for autonomy” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



Being “anti-abortion” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



Being “anti-Catholic” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



Being “anti-global” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Suspicious of centralized federal authority” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“Fiercely nationalistic (as opposed to universal and international in orientation)” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



“A belief in the need to be prepared for an attack either by participating in … survivalism” (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/government-uses-anti-terror-laws-to-crush-dissent-and-help-big-business.html)



Opposing genetically engineered food (http://www.infowars.com/doj-funded-training-manual-lists-bumper-stickers-as-terrorism/)



Opposing surveillance (http://www.infowars.com/dhs-video-characterizes-white-americans-as-most-likely-terrorists/)

Of course, Muslims (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/12/hsbc-prosecution-fine-money-laundering) are more or less subject to a separate system of justice in America.
And 1st Amendment rights are especially chilled when power has become so concentrated that the same agency (http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/10/the-same-secret-government-agency-which-spies-on-all-americans-also-decides-who-gets-assassinated-by-drones.html) which spies on all Americans also decides who should be assassinated.



He actually missed a few reasons...

[aboutime]

I can agree. Attempts have been made to take our constitutional rights away. But, as I write this. I am confident, and feel good about having all of the constitutional rights I was born with, and served my country for 30 years to protect.

Evidence remains. I am using my 1st amendment rights here on DP.
Would someone please tell me which rights I have actually lost?

[jafar00]

Glad some of you are starting see what we have been seeing for years here on the outside.

[revelarts]

I can agree. Attempts have been made to take our constitutional rights away. But, as I write this. I am confident, and feel good about having all of the constitutional rights I was born with, and served my country for 30 years to protect.

Evidence remains. I am using my 1st amendment rights here on DP.
Would someone please tell me which rights I have actually lost?

read the article AT,

the 1st amendment is not for talking about the weather. it's for talking/writing/broadcast/ about things that piss people off. things that can make public officials and powerful people look bad.

How many videos do you want of people standing up in public speaking to local state and federal officials where police come and shut them down?
How many videos of peaceful protesters getting pepper sprayed, hit, photographed and arrested?
I don't consider "just being arrested and released" as part of my 1st amendment freedom .
If you go to the political event there are "free speech zones" but it's was my understanding that the whole country was a free speech ZONE.

How many stories of whistle blowers reporting criminal activity being thrown in jail or taken to court and the reporters threatened while the offenders go unmolested, free to continue there dirty work, do you want?

Being "free" to do everything the local/state/fed gov't says when the gov't says you can is not the freedom the founders laid out.

What you and i have today AT is a sorry shadow of the freedoms they won AT.

is it better than China, yes, is better than Russia, yes, is it better than Saudi Arabia , Yes.
But is getting MORE like each them every year, YES.

[revelarts]

Glad some of you are starting see what we have been seeing for years here on the outside.

Some of us do, But J, you want to take away our right to bear arms.
"for our safety". Making the loss of rights WORSE here.

I appreciate the backhanded encouragement on keeping our rights, but could you be consistent and encourage us to defend THEM ALL?

[jafar00]

Some of us do, But J, you want to take away our right to bear arms.
"for our safety". Making the loss of rights WORSE here.

I appreciate the backhanded encouragement on keeping our rights, but could you be consistent and encourage us to defend THEM ALL?

Why can't you just get a proper system of licensing in place so that those who don't deserve the right to bear arms because they want to kill people have a much harder time getting hold of a gun?

[aboutime]

read the article AT,

the 1st amendment is not for talking about the weather. it's for talking/writing/broadcast/ about things that piss people off. things that can make public officials and powerful people look bad.

How many videos do you want of people standing up in public speaking to local state and federal officials where police come and shut them down?
How many videos of peaceful protesters getting pepper sprayed, hit, photographed and arrested?
I don't consider "just being arrested and released" as part of my 1st amendment freedom .
If you go to the political event there are "free speech zones" but it's was my understanding that the whole country was a free speech ZONE.

How many stories of whistle blowers reporting criminal activity being thrown in jail or taken to court and the reporters threatened while the offenders go unmolested, free to continue there dirty work, do you want?

Being "free" to do everything the local/state/fed gov't says when the gov't says you can is not the freedom the founders laid out.

What you and i have today AT is a sorry shadow of the freedoms they won AT.

is it better than China, yes, is better than Russia, yes, is it better than Saudi Arabia , Yes.
But is getting MORE like each them every year, YES.


For the sake of argument rev. I won't disagree with all that you said above. YET. When someone says WE have lost ALL OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I DISAGREE.

I am an American first. And as a citizen of this nation. I STILL HAVE EVERY RIGHT I WAS BORN WITH AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Nobody, No Government, No organization has been successful in taking ANY of my rights away.
Tell us rev. Be honest. WHAT RIGHTS HAVE YOU PERSONALLY LOST, per the subject of this thread???
LIST them, and they MUST apply to you, and provide proof YOU HAVE LOST THEM.

[revelarts]

AT, I'm going to go over the edge here with my reply a bit, just to make the point.
Many Germans never had a problem with the SS or the police While Jews, Gypsies, minorities and "imbeciles" where gassed to death. Do MY rights personally have to be attacked before I can say that "our" rights have been lost? Do they literally have to come for me before i can say it? Or can i look at my Neighbors and fellow citizens and say -WTH is this?! "WE" have rights and the gov't is abusing them and overstepping it's power.

but sure i could list a few. search without warrent,
Police have opened my car and TSA has opened my luggage, and frisked me for no reason.
I've been detained for taking pictures in public.

I could go into various laws that are on the books that i consider unconstitutional that apply to me but you'd probably consider it to radical because it's the law and we should obey it even though we think it's unconstitutional but there are plenty.
One example though, why do i need a "license" to travel on public roads. I have a Human right and common law right to travel, the public road is just that, PUBLIC. driving is not a privilege that could be granted by states. we have a right to travel and cars are just a means of transportation.

but like i said, stuff like that is beyond the pale for many, we're soo far gone in our kneeling to the state to get permission to do stuff. It's hard for us to really think like free people that well any more.

"can i please get on the airplane mr transportation policeman? Here are the reasons i'm traveling, everything i'm carrying with me for you to poke through, including my computer info, here are my shoes, my naked scanner picture and here are my papers. can i please go, thank you"
That's not even freedom East Germany circa 1955, but the US 2013?

[Larrymc]

I can agree. Attempts have been made to take our constitutional rights away. But, as I write this. I am confident, and feel good about having all of the constitutional rights I was born with, and served my country for 30 years to protect.

Evidence remains. I am using my 1st amendment rights here on DP.
Would someone please tell me which rights I have actually lost?The article gives examples on rights that have been infringed, The quiston is have you, participated in such actions, without recourse??

[aboutime]

AT, I'm going to go over the edge here with my reply a bit here, just to make the point.
Many Germans never had a problem with the SS or the police While Jews, Gypsies, minorities and "imbeciles" where gassed to death. Do MY rights personally have to be attacked before I can say that "our" rights have been lost? Do they literally have to come for me before i can say it? Or can i look at my Neighbors and fellow citizens and say -WTH is this?! "WE" have rights and the gov't is abusing them and overstepping it's power.

but sure i could list a few. search without warrent,
Police have opened my car and TSA has opened my luggage, and frisked me for no reason.
I've been detained for taking pictures in public.

I could go into various laws that are on the books that i consider unconstitutional that apply to me but you'd probably consider it to radical because it's the law and we should obey it even though we think it's unconstitutional but there are plenty.

one example why do i need a "license" to travel on public roads. I have Human right and common law right to travel, the public road is just that PUBLIC. driving is not a privilege that could be granted by states. we have a right to travel and cars are just a means of transportation.

but like i said, stuff like that is beyond the pale for many, we're soo far gone in our kneeling to the state to get permission to do stuff. We can't really think like free people that well any more.

"can i please get on the airplane mr transportation policeman? Here are the reasons i'm traveling, everything i'm carrying with me for you to poke through, including my computer info, here are my shoes, my naked scanner picture and here are my papers. can i please go"
That's not even freedom East Germany circa 1955, but the US 2013?



Rev. Because you disagree with a law, or you say it is unconstitutional does not give ANY citizen the right to DISOBEY said law because...you disagree with it, and will not obey it. That is still breaking the law.
I know what you are saying, and your examples are surface effects of the present laws we MUST obey because LAW MAKERS have said so.
But. Despite all of your examples. YOU have not shown me ANY RIGHTS you have physically lost, per the constitution. And, if you look hard enough. I know, you will not find any references to the TSA in the constitution.
Once again. The so-called Lawmakers...we call politicians from BOTH parties, with the SCOTUS have made the laws. As a citizen. IF YOU DISAGREE, OR DO NOT LIKE A LAW. You used the constitution to CHANGE or REPEAL those laws....NOT DISOBEY THEM. Because doing so makes you a LAW BREAKER.

[revelarts]

Rev. Because you disagree with a law, or you say it is unconstitutional does not give ANY citizen the right to DISOBEY said law because...you disagree with it, and will not obey it. That is still breaking the law.
I know what you are saying, and your examples are surface effects of the present laws we MUST obey because LAW MAKERS have said so.
But. Despite all of your examples. YOU have not shown me ANY RIGHTS you have physically lost, per the constitution. And, if you look hard enough. I know, you will not find any references to the TSA in the constitution.
Once again. The so-called Lawmakers...we call politicians from BOTH parties, with the SCOTUS have made the laws. As a citizen. IF YOU DISAGREE, OR DO NOT LIKE A LAW. You used the constitution to CHANGE or REPEAL those laws....NOT DISOBEY THEM. Because doing so makes you a LAW BREAKER.
Washington and Jefferson were lawbreakers after they tried all the "legal ways" to get redress, slaves and those that help them escape were "lawbreakers". Those that help Jew Escape Germany were "lawbreakers"

Look at the list of Terror suspects above AT, the law says terror suspect can be detained indefinitely . I fit in a lot of those categories. I suspect you do as well.
If "the law" is applied against you AT I hope you don't just go to jail peacefully. I'm not sure I will.
If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.
Henry David Thoreau


Thomas Jefferson
Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.

[aboutime]

Washington and Jefferson were lawbreakers after they tried all the "legal ways" to get redress, slaves and those that help them escape were "lawbreakers". Those that help Jew Escape Germany were "lawbreakers"

Look at the list of Terror suspects above AT, the law says terror suspect can be detained indefinitely . I fit in a lot of those categories. I suspect you do as well.
If "the law" is applied against you AT I hope you don't just go to jail peacefully. I'm not sure I will.
If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.
Henry David Thoreau


Thomas Jefferson
Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.








Never mind Rev. You're taking everything about this totally out of present day context by sounding like a typical liberal...demanding that IF THE FOUNDING FATHERS DID IT...kind of silliness.
What a waste of our time this has become.
Quoting, or referring to History, and Historic figures in this discussion is, if nothing else. Childish.

In other words rev. You simply aren't worth it. Claiming you are a victim of losing your rights?

Dumb for starters.