A danger to Democracy
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 23.01.07Currently flying around the internet is news of Senate Bill 1 and a section that would “silence free speech”. This is a serious charge, and the Carolina Journal seems to have a decent write up of the pages in question; section 220. The bill was supposedly intended to clean up some of the shadowy ethics between organizations and government officials. Unfortunately, section 220 does the opposite; completely exempting large corporations and senatorial buyoffs, it requires small grass roots groups to register with the government, notify of all activity, and report quarterly financial records for review. It’s serious enough that Focus on the Family and the ACLU actually agree on the severity of the threat. The impact can extend to any community organization, non-profit, religious group, and even blogger. It seems that without complete government registration (and 45 days notice ahead of all planned activity, among other requirements), anyone asking for petitions, requesting involvement in contacting officials, or even asking for neighbors to participate in their own government, would be faced with $200,00 fines.
You can read more from The Washington Post, and please contact your senator, let them know what you think.
Also recently brought to my attention, by Eli Ihms, Attorney General Gonzales has stated that Habeas Corpus (right to a fair trial) is not expressly granted by the constitution. I understand that respect for the law has been degrading rather badly, especially as war time brings sundry unpleasantries to the board, but this is an inconcievably grevious statement. While general reactions to the Attorney General still fall within “utter incredulity”, I pray there’s a turn for the better sometime in our future… the current run of things can, and will, lead to anarchy.
I’m not normally one to comment on political issues, but the USA is getting so disturbingly close to socialism. I used to think we were 5-10 years from a socialist state; now it seems that the surroundings of the recent war have brought it within just a few years. This is a painful blow to liberty.
what’s wrong with a little socialism?
mediaboxAdvanced
Thanks for getting the word out! For a link to a petition that you can sign (in addition to contacting your representatives in Congress), see the American Center for Law and Justice’s website: http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=2507
I’ll likely post a link to your post in my blog soon.