Another Assault on Americans' Rights

[jsteele]

Apparently Joe Lieberman has introduced or is about to introduce a bill that would strip American citizens of their citizenship if they are accused of involvement with foreign terrorist groups. Apparently, in today's America one need not be convicted of anything to be punished. Rather, a simple accusation will do. The US State Department gets to decide both who is a terrorist group and whether you have been involved with one or not. One might expect that right wingers would be outraged at the thought of no one but Hillary Clinton standing between them and their citizenship, but I don't expect much in the way of protest from them. Similarly, several cowardly Democrats are already signaling support.

Just to be clear, had this law been in place some years ago, anyone who supported Nelson Mandela and his campaign against Apartheid could have been stripped of his citizenship. A number of American Jews who are involved with the Jewish Defense League could also run afoul of this law (though I'd expect Lieberman to find some way of accommodating them). By all rights, President Ronald Reagan should be posthumously stripped of his citizenship due to his involvement with the Contras.

I expect the Tea Baggers to be silent about this while screaming about fascism because Obama wants to provide healthcare to them. But, real fascism is coming, step by step. Obama can now kill American citizens without a trial or even judicial oversight. Arizona has done away with the presumption of innocence. Lieberman doesn't believe you deserve a trial.

A real death panel exists in the NSC and has already decided upon death for one American. Lieberman wants to add a citizenship panel. John McCain doesn't believe that American citizens deserve to have Miranda rights. But, most people don't believe any of this is aimed at them so they won't be concerned. Principles no longer matter in this country.

[Anonymous]

That is right. It was terrifying to see how quickly ancient rights like habeus corpus were abandoned following 9/11. Yet rather than calming down upon sober reflection, the nation has become increasingly hysterical. Torture, extra-judicial killing, forced carrying of I.D. cards are all supported by the majority of the population.

[Anonymous]

Lieberman has totally lost it. I sure hope that the rest of them can see it.

[Anonymous]

This is how it starts.

[Anonymous]

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both"-Benjamin Franklin. See also Proof of Citizenship thread.