Our freedom at risk…your thoughts please

[the number 42]

Is our freedom at risk?

Yes. Ever hear of Dominionism?

www.theocracywatch.org

Disturbing. Is this information accurate? They seem to be associated with Cornell University:
"TheocracyWatch is a project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy (CRESP) at Cornell University. CRESP is a nonsectarian, action-based educational organization with its roots in religious dialogue, human rights advocacy, and ethical thought"
http://www.theocracywatch.org/about_us2.htm

 

[Artman]

Our country in the recent past has in my opinion gone too far in its interpretation of the phrase "Separation of Church and State."

While I agree that the government should by no means create its own religion or press its religious convictions on others, that does not mean that it should deprive individuals of theirs.


There is a case in California where a teacher is sueing a school system in Federal Court for forbidding him to teach certain historical documents because they mention God, or to edit any references to God out of said documents prior to teaching them. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1288139/posts

In my opinion, this is an example of Liberalism interferring with our freedoms.

 

[Burnsys]

FOX NEWS: 'Patriot Act II' Irks Civil Libertarians
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141072,00.html

The new legislation gives the Justice Department vast new powers to prosecute the War on Terror. Legal analysts say, in this regard, the bill might as well carry another name — Patriot Act II.

"The pressure to pass some intelligence reform ultimately worked to the advantage of the (Bush) administration," said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley. "They were able to take a few of the provisions of what's called Patriot II and put them in this bill."

Ashcroft had long sought tougher anti-terror laws, and had long been formulating a second bill to build on the USA Patriot Act (search), passed just weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. But concerns about civil liberties stalled the measure in Congress. Lawmakers supporting the measures managed to tuck a few into the intelligence reform bill that passed overwhelmingly this week.

"If this had gone to the next Congress, it's very likely some of these provisions would have gotten much closer scrutiny and would have been opposed," Turley said.

One example of the new provisions: The Justice Department can now ask a federal court that operates in secret to allow surveillance of a so-called lone-wolf terrorist — a suspect with no connection to a terrorist organization like Al Qaeda (search) or to any nation. An example of someone who would qualify is Timothy McVeigh (search).

"You have a combination of a secret court that is operating below the constitutional standard for search and seizure and now against individuals who can simply be declared lone wolves without any connection to terrorists," Turley said.

The bill also gives federal judges the authority to deny bail to any terrorism suspect, currently permitted in federal drug cases. The goal is to keep indicted terrorists from fleeing before trial.
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Wow, a secret court, with no bail, and any can be declared a terrorist, don't have to be linked to a terrorist...

Is this even constitutional?

Pd: didn't know if post it in: Comparison between Nazi Germany and Neo-Conservative USA.

 

[Burnsys]

FOX: Biometric IDs Tested Around the Country
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141059,00.html

Hitlers dream.. no more Barcode Tatoos..

NEW YORK — A biometric identification card being tested at 34 of the nation's ports of entry may become the government-worker identification card of the future.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, many calls were made to boost security at ports of entry throughout the United States and find ways to ensure that people gaining access to potentially vulnerable facilities weren't terrorists. TWIC is one step being taken by the federal government to make sure people trying to access these locations are who they say they are
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and more:

FOX: Car Black Boxes: Safety or Spy Feature?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141048,00.html

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed standards for the data collected by EDRs, but the agency emphasized in a recent notice that it is not mandating Black Boxes. It will be under pressure to do so. The National Transportation Safety Board has listed Black Boxes as one of its “most wanted” measures.

But car manufacturers aren’t touting the safety benefits of the Black Box like they do so many other improvements on the modern automobile. That is because the Black Box is not a safety feature; it is a surveillance tool—and when drivers learn about it, they are none too happy.

There are a number of directions in which this technology is likely to go. It could collect and retain more information for longer periods. It could interact with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to record where a car has traveled. And it could combine with communications systems to signal authorities in real time.