A blog for those relatively new at exploring the world of politics. It's also for those who want to discuss U.S. politics, history, economics, and our country's current state of affairs.
teaches history and government at a college in Houston. He is passionate about life, liberty, and property and wants to help people learn about the ever-increasing growth and power of the coercive state.
In a civilized society, should anyone or any government ever force anyone to do anything against his or her will as long as that person does not infringe upon the life, liberty, or property of another?
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Patriot Act
There has been harsh criticism of the Patriot Act, specifically because it seems to greatly enhance the government's ability/authority to keep a close eye on us. Here's an interesting article regarding the act.
Sting and The Police said it well in 1983, "Every breath you take. And every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take. I'll be watching you.
Nice to think Texas is going to pay to train civilian hunters to kill from helicopters, just in case all the Patriot Act measures fail to protect us.
Hey! Thought i would let you know that we talked about some of the aspects of the patriot act in class. We discussed the hightened airport security and all of the illegal aspects of it. Guess what our instructors said?
"I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Yet no one had a response for me when I gave them this quote:
"those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Occupy Wall Street people are targeting the wrong people most of the time. Government is the root of our problems. I personally explained it to a couple of them and they got it. They need leadership and lots of research.
Leadership indeed! Our government is in bed with those crooks and they are all one in the same with the way they're robbing this country blind together. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see how fast the movements have spread to every corner of the globe.
On the contrary I think the lack of leadership is a boon to the Occupy Movement, as is the ambiguity of its intent. In that ambiguity their message can't get diluted and misdirected. I see it as the beginning of a dialogue where the people of this country unite against the collusion of corporate interests and our government to impede and destroy the rights it was put in place to protect. The root of our problems is our government because this tree of crony capitalism has poisoned it completely.
Will, I agree the root cause of the problems is the government, but you posted that "their message can't get diluted and misdirected." My question is, though, do they have a message? (besides they want change)? Are they against Wall ST.? The govt? Capitalism? Cronyism? What really is their message?
There isn't a message in a list of demands or a manifesto format. It's a movement of people, and so the message is varied. But I think the overarching themes are that we're fed up with an economic system that rewards short-term profits over long-term sustainability and a political system that fosters that. We want corporate money completely divorced from our political process. We want tax reform that closes loopholes. These aren't views that are unique to the Occupy Movement.
Speaking for myself: I'm not against capitalism; I'm just not for laissez-faire capitalism. Capitalists must underpay workers for their labor in order to make a profit; and to offset that I'm for our government protecting worker interests by providing healthcare, education, and unemployment insurance when capitalists sell out their workers' livelihoods for profit. I'm for a system of government where citizens' input has no relationship to how much money they have to spend. I'm for a justice system that prosecutes criminals who steal a million dollars more fervently than those who steal a hundred dollars. I'm for using our tax dollars on our citizens rather than maintaining the empire.
10 comments:
I did not know that they had extended the Patriot Act but I knew they eventually would.
I feel more secure already.
Sting and The Police said it well in 1983, "Every breath you take. And every move you make.
Every bond you break. Every step you take. I'll be watching you.
Nice to think Texas is going to pay to train civilian hunters to kill from helicopters, just in case all the Patriot Act measures fail to protect us.
GP for President!!!!!
Hey! Thought i would let you know that we talked about some of the aspects of the patriot act in class. We discussed the hightened airport security and all of the illegal aspects of it. Guess what our instructors said?
"I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Yet no one had a response for me when I gave them this quote:
"those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
I'm happy to visit your blog, really hope to become your friends so can view the latest content in your blog,
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regards.
What are your comments on Occupy Wall St. movements sir!?
Occupy Wall Street people are targeting the wrong people most of the time. Government is the root of our problems. I personally explained it to a couple of them and they got it. They need leadership and lots of research.
Leadership indeed! Our government is in bed with those crooks and they are all one in the same with the way they're robbing this country blind together. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see how fast the movements have spread to every corner of the globe.
On the contrary I think the lack of leadership is a boon to the Occupy Movement, as is the ambiguity of its intent. In that ambiguity their message can't get diluted and misdirected. I see it as the beginning of a dialogue where the people of this country unite against the collusion of corporate interests and our government to impede and destroy the rights it was put in place to protect. The root of our problems is our government because this tree of crony capitalism has poisoned it completely.
Will, I agree the root cause of the problems is the government, but you posted that "their message can't get diluted and misdirected." My question is, though, do they have a message? (besides they want change)? Are they against Wall ST.? The govt? Capitalism? Cronyism? What really is their message?
There isn't a message in a list of demands or a manifesto format. It's a movement of people, and so the message is varied. But I think the overarching themes are that we're fed up with an economic system that rewards short-term profits over long-term sustainability and a political system that fosters that. We want corporate money completely divorced from our political process. We want tax reform that closes loopholes. These aren't views that are unique to the Occupy Movement.
Speaking for myself: I'm not against capitalism; I'm just not for laissez-faire capitalism. Capitalists must underpay workers for their labor in order to make a profit; and to offset that I'm for our government protecting worker interests by providing healthcare, education, and unemployment insurance when capitalists sell out their workers' livelihoods for profit. I'm for a system of government where citizens' input has no relationship to how much money they have to spend. I'm for a justice system that prosecutes criminals who steal a million dollars more fervently than those who steal a hundred dollars. I'm for using our tax dollars on our citizens rather than maintaining the empire.
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