Jonathan Wallace

This question showed up in my email last year: What can we, as citizens, do to prevent the government from implementing martial
law? What are the signs of it already taking place in increments?

I typed my heart out and fingers raw. Later, this rambling piece of rhetoric emerged…

Signs are everywhere. Curfews, executive orders—any law made by an unelected official that restricts human behavior is a sign of the government increasing it’s power. The famous quote “those who give up liberty for security deserve neither” is especially relevant today. The public opinion or our collective smattering of ideologies will decide where the line between security and liberty is drawn.
As always, there is a slippery slope…increments of government encroachment can scare and prepare us. Google “v Bush”, dozens of Supreme Court cases have been filed against the current administration under the pretenses of civil liberties violations.

This proved to be a problem for the Bush Administrations War On Terror. A typical enemy of the US (non-citizen) is tried by military tribunal. The lack of transparency in these tribunals allow for assortment of interrogation techniques, and unconventional civil procedures to be performed. For the most part a non-citizen can simply be shipped to Gitmo and imprisoned indefinitely. The problem: terrorists are sometimes U.S. citizens.

A rushed, controversial piece of legislation is soon written up to deal with some of these problems: The Patriot Act. Inside this phone book of legal rhetoric there were a few small controversial clauses. One allowed for the unrestricted access to every record owned by the state without a judges approval. Big brother could then look at everything from library records to anything you spent your Medicaid check on. Also added; a small clause allowing the executive branch to suspend your civil liberties if you were a presumed terrorist.

Needless to say, this piece of legislation made some strange bedfellows. Opposition was heard from Ron Paul, Nader, and Ted Kennedy. The legal intelligentsia had a field day. Prominent professors, politicians, and judges tore this piece of legislation up, put an expiration date on it, and tarnished President Bush’s career forever.

To prevent martial law we have to be vigilant. Read, understand, and act. H.R. 3699 allows for the what exactly? Find out. Then call your Congressman, donate to that Think Tank, send that article to the media, and stand on the street corner if you have too.

Never forget the U.S. Constitution is the most important ally in the war on tyranny. Read it, memorize it, and when the state comes knocking on our doors, we can breathe easier knowing that we stand on the shoulders of giants.

“The business schools reward difficult complex behavior more than simple behavior, but simple behavior is more effective.”
Warren Buffet

This idea is Occam’s Razor in science, this is Google shocking the tech world with the utter simplicity of it’s innovations, and this is why the David always beats Goliath.

“…a wise prince must provide in such a way that, in whatever circumstances, the citizens will always be in need of him and of his government. Then they will always be loyal to him.”
The Prince
Machiavelli

Obama and Roosevelt must have read Machiavelli. Consider the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, or the WPA in Roosevelt’s day. Watch which districts receive what and how much — the areas that receive funding will have incumbents or challengers, but all will have Democratic majorities. It’s 1936 all over again.

I thought accepting dirty money is against the law. I wonder how the Congressman and his staff will handle this: “We had no idea it was dirty money.”

Dirty Money Watch: Rep. Phil Hare

By: MARK TAPSCOTT
Editorial Page Editor | 6/17/09 11:59 AM
WHO: Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), a co-sponsor of The Employee Free Choice Act (aka Card Check).
WHAT: Hare received the following dirty money:

Communication Workers of America (PAC) $6,500 in 2008 election cycle; $1,000 in 2006 election cycle. Boilermakers Union (PAC) $1,000 in 2010 election cycle; $4,000 in 2008 election cycle; $2,000 in 2006 election cycle. American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $2,250 in 2008 election cycle; $3,000 in 2006 election cycle.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $10,000 in 2010 election cycle; $9,000 in 2008 election cycle; $11,000 in 2006 election cycle. Service Employees International Union (PAC) $6,500 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. United Steelworkers of America (PAC) $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $5,000 in 2006 election cycle.

WHY IT’S DIRTY: Multiple officers and members of these unions, including division presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers, have been convicted since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement, falsifying official reports to government, mail fraud and conspiracy. The Communication Workers of America and the American Federation of Government Employees have had eight convictions, The Service Employees International Union has had nine convictions and The Boilermakers have had 10 members convicted, while the IBEW has had 14 members convicted. The United Steelworkers of America, which includes Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), has had 30 convictions among its membership. The amounts of embezzled funds range from over $5,000 to over $100,000.
WILL HARE GIVE IT BACK: Hare did not respond to The Examiner’s request for comment.
THE SCORE:
Number of Democrats who have given it back: 0
Number of Republicans who have given it back: 0

YOUR TURN: You can reach Rep. Hare’s Washington D.C. office at 202-225-5905.

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