G
Guest
Guest
I just woke up from a dead sleep and realized that John Ashcroft had taken all my rights away.
modest mouse
Meating People is Easy
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2001
- Posts
- 8,363
This would be your foray into wit?
RisiaSkye
Artistic
- Joined
- May 1, 2000
- Posts
- 4,387
Heh. I'm not sure what the point of this is. So, I'm going to interpret freely: it seems like our old friend "guest" is stirring the pot about Ashcroft's desire to curtail First and Fourth Amendment rights. Fine. I have only two things to add on the subject.
1) If it's a right, nobody can take it away. Sure, governments can pass laws, but laws don't define rights, they define legal consequences. The society at large defines "rights," often in ambiguous or contradictory ways. So, what we're really talking about is government interventionism run amok, spearheaded by a Christian-Coalition toadie.
2) It's not hysterical or reactionary to be disturbed by Ashcroft's plans, Bush's "crusade" rhetoric, the cases on the Supreme Court's docket, or by the potential for Bush to appoint an even more conversative high Court. If you don't fight for your freedoms, you don't truly have them. Take it for granted, and someone will gladly take it away from you. Vigilance is the price of freedom.
1) If it's a right, nobody can take it away. Sure, governments can pass laws, but laws don't define rights, they define legal consequences. The society at large defines "rights," often in ambiguous or contradictory ways. So, what we're really talking about is government interventionism run amok, spearheaded by a Christian-Coalition toadie.
2) It's not hysterical or reactionary to be disturbed by Ashcroft's plans, Bush's "crusade" rhetoric, the cases on the Supreme Court's docket, or by the potential for Bush to appoint an even more conversative high Court. If you don't fight for your freedoms, you don't truly have them. Take it for granted, and someone will gladly take it away from you. Vigilance is the price of freedom.
modest mouse
Meating People is Easy
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2001
- Posts
- 8,363
ok, ok
Before any serious thought gets going I want to know that Risia has a twin sister in the New England area, single of course.
Just pass along her name and address so I can proceed to abduct her and elope.
<That should kill any serious follow-up>
Before any serious thought gets going I want to know that Risia has a twin sister in the New England area, single of course.
Just pass along her name and address so I can proceed to abduct her and elope.
<That should kill any serious follow-up>
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2001
- Posts
- 24,253
It hasn't hit yet.
"Rights" tend to vanish when the law changes and the populace at large are too blinkered to see the danger. It's very difficult to uphold your rights when you are being clubbed to the ground by mountain sized State Troopers or Police.
Yes you still have "Rights", but authority has the Law.
Young Americans in the 1960s were the forerunners of student protest that ran around the world. They too had "Rights" but it didn't help those poor kids gunned down at Kent U. Their crime? Peacefully protesting against decisions made by their own Government.
Ashcroft's changes haven't been felt yet and the only protests so far are fairly muted ones. If the American spirit of the 60's could return then it will be possible to regain the rights that you are about to lose.
But protest on that magnitude means that reforms have to hurt.
And Ashcroft's haven't even begun to bite...yet.
"Rights" tend to vanish when the law changes and the populace at large are too blinkered to see the danger. It's very difficult to uphold your rights when you are being clubbed to the ground by mountain sized State Troopers or Police.
Yes you still have "Rights", but authority has the Law.
Young Americans in the 1960s were the forerunners of student protest that ran around the world. They too had "Rights" but it didn't help those poor kids gunned down at Kent U. Their crime? Peacefully protesting against decisions made by their own Government.
Ashcroft's changes haven't been felt yet and the only protests so far are fairly muted ones. If the American spirit of the 60's could return then it will be possible to regain the rights that you are about to lose.
But protest on that magnitude means that reforms have to hurt.
And Ashcroft's haven't even begun to bite...yet.
alltherage
orgasmic inDucktion
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2001
- Posts
- 2,666
The authorities had the law in the 1960's but the protestors helped change the authorities plans. We have and will always face periods when our freedom's are threatened. An enlightened population is our best defense. The United States has many faults but we evolve and change and our basic rights remain. Our history reveals a cycle to our politics. I do not believe any single administration has the power to perminently derail our fundemental rights. They can chip away and if we do not protest the chipping we run the risk of lose. Besides, has anyone listened to our politicians lately. Even when they are trying to be good they cannot resist shooting each other. Thank god for our inefficient and unwieldy political system. Henry Steele Commanger(a great historian) saw the fact that our system is inefficient, and clumsy as our greatest strength.
p_p_man
The 'Euro' European
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2001
- Posts
- 24,253
alltherage said:
The problem is knowing exactly when to start making the protests that count.
Usually strong "people power" doesn't start until reforms hurt. Although in this case where those reforms are so fundamental to America's way of life, the mere thought of having them introduced may be enough to trigger a strong protest movement.
I agree with Commanger. The clumsiness of Government is its Achilles Heel...
G
Guest
Guest
I visit porn sites but I support John Ashcroft shutting them down. If John Ashcroft wanted to take my ass, I'd drop trou faster than you can say "Ditto!"
SimplySouthern
Smooth Up In Ya!
- Joined
- May 29, 2000
- Posts
- 11,775
Alright, people. Lets cease and desist with all the serious followup.
If ModestMouse comes back and finds that serious stuff went on, we'll all be in trouble. Probably get called a cunt or something like that.
Don't say you weren't warned!
If ModestMouse comes back and finds that serious stuff went on, we'll all be in trouble. Probably get called a cunt or something like that.
Don't say you weren't warned!
Marxist
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2001
- Posts
- 18,322
RisiaSkye said:
*ahem* I am ever-vigilant in these matters. I am Cheyenne's understudy this evening. However, instead of a calculator and calendar, I'm armed with a minor in History.
P.S.--I got it at go. And yes, I'm officially in cyber-love with you.
modest mouse
Meating People is Easy
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2001
- Posts
- 8,363
SimplySouthern said:
Your ass is first on my list. I suggest you accept your punishment without hesitation, for your own good.
Bend over!
SimplySouthern
Smooth Up In Ya!
- Joined
- May 29, 2000
- Posts
- 11,775
modest mouse said:
Ahem.
Let me be the one to remind you -- I was the ONLY one to comply with the "no seriousness" order.
Don't worry, I accept your apology.
