Fool's Philosophy - by Nate Bartling

The Rise of the Empire

October 19th 2006 12:37

Emperor Bush (Wikipedia)

On Tuesday the 17th October 2006, George W Bush signed the Military Commisions Act 2006 and effectively removed 'The Great Writ' or Habeus Corpus from the constitution. For those who do not know what Habeus Corpus is, it has been a fundamental law in the civilized world since 1215 and provides you with the right to challenge your imprisonment. It is your right to a fair trial and is the legal background to the concept of 'innocent until proven guilty'.

Adolph Hitler (wikipedia)

The US governement now has the authority to imprison and torture anyone they see fit, without challenge, purely on the word of George W Bush. It seems to me acts such as this invariably mark the beginning of a dictatorship. Adolph Hitler passed similar laws after the burning of the Reichstag (which was carried out by his own troops) then proceeded to imprison and murder anybody who challenged his authority.Stalin had his 'Great Purge' and assasinated any opposition. Even the fictional Emperor Palpatine turned the senate into the first galactic empire and massacred all those capable of opposing him with the infamous order 66. All of these actions were carried out in the name of peace and protecting citizens from 'terrorists' and 'rebels'.

Emperor Palpatine (Wikipedia)

If this act is designed to protect American citizens from some evil foreign invader, why does it refer so often to a "breach of allegiance to the United States"? Surely only those who have alleigance to the US are its citizens and therefore not the foreign extremists that allegedly hate the US so much. If this act is meant to protect the US from 'terrorists' who are envious of America's freedom and constitution, why does it remove the very rights it is claimed to defend?

Democrat Senator Feingold of Wisconsin predicts that this will be seen as "a stain on our nations history". Proffesor of constitutional law Jonathon Turley, while being interviewed by Keith Olbermann describes this a "time of shame for the American system" and says "Congress just gave the President despotic powers".

According to bill HR 6166 your freedom is now entirely dependant on the decision of the President of the US. In my opinion, trusting in the sanity and restraint of Emperor Bush is not a viable strategy.

Relevant Links
Military Comissions Act 2006

Countdown with Keith Olbermann on Military Comissions Act

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44 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Phillip Wister

October 19th 2006 14:00

Great article. Fits exactly my comment on legitgov.org only better written. The Emperor analogy is especially good. Now get your generation to get out and vote or they will be drafted for the next couple stupid wars which will take place.
Phillip Wister

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 14:05

Hi Phillip

Thanks for the comment.

Thats assuming that Bush doesnt take the next step that Hitler, Stalin and Palpatine did and make himself Fuhrer. But I should hope if that ever happens, the people would see it as a step too far and not tolerate it, I hope.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 14:38

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

All the fear for this and that and the so called 'war on terror' is just a sham to remove our rights. People are stupid and they believe they ened to lose their rights to be 'safe'.

My family immigrated from a country that had securtiy agents that spied on you, you'd disappear from the street and never be seen again, you couldn't so much as complain about the price of tomato's and be left untouched. Someone working for the security would see you.

Looks like I'll be taking my as of yet non-existant family away from australia one day to escape the same tyranny.

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 14:46

Hi Ahmed,

Judging by your comment it seems that you know better than most of us that this kind of thing is a reality and can happen to us in an instant.

I sincerely hope you never have to leave Australia as you should have the freedom to live wherever you please without fear. it also begs the question, where can you go that wont be affected by all this? I hear Easter Island is nice!

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 14:49

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

Yeah, we'll be moving out of a developed country wth an economy significant enough to warrant attention.

I hope not, but its already starting, ASIO is hiring everyday citizens to act as spy's...

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 14:54

Its shocking how much we do it to ourselves. As David Icke once said "We have out-sheeped the sheep, at least they need a sheepdog to make them conform, we keep ourselves in line"

it reminds me of the scene in the film Equilibrium where the main character is scared his young son will turn him in to the authorities for not taking his dose.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 14:56

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

I was actually thinking of signing up, free money, but I'd hate to spy on people for a living.

I must admit that I no longer trust anyone, some of my closest of close friends maybe, but I don't really trust anyone else...

Comment by Harmony Rocks

October 19th 2006 15:27

head for threads
Harmony's Forum For You
Harmony's Forum For You

Gareth,

I love this part of your post so much I had to repeat it here:

"If this act is designed to protect American citizens . . . why does it refer so often to a "breach of allegiance" . . . only those who have alleigance to the US are its citizens . . . why does it remove the very rights it is claimed to defend?"

Indeed! In a government, is there any line at all between protecting and dictating?

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 15:32

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

Oh I just remembered, freedom of speach should be protected unless there is a 'clear and present danger' to the unted states if it was not censored.

Whats happening now is the term 'clear and present' is being messed up...

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 15:32

Hi Harmony

thanks for the comment

I think there is a very clear line between protecting and dictating. A protector acts on behalf of the people and upholds the beliefs he protects. A dictator forces the people to conform to his will and to subscribe to approved beliefs of his own choosing.

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 15:34

Hi Ahmed

i think there is a 'clear and present danger' to the people of the United states, but there is much confusion regarding what exactly the danger is.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 15:37

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

I don't think there is at all really, not as bad as its being made out to say the least.

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 15:39

maybe I should rephrase that statement. i believe there is a 'clear and present danger' to the constitution of the US

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 15:42

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

heh, its just a piece of paper now, been disregarded quite a few times already...

Comment by somu

October 19th 2006 19:38

"The Rise of the Empire" : I liked the title.

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 19:44

Thanks for the comment Somu

Its scary how well Emperor Palpatine's rise to dictatorship and the birth of the empire describes what is going on today. Apparently George Lucas just researched how democracies become dictatorships for the story and found that false flag style terror and scaring people into giving up their rights were the common factors throughout history.

Comment by somu

October 19th 2006 19:50

wow. your voice is thought provoking. I envy you.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 19:58

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

George Lucas seems to have been looking through real life politics for the star wars series, anyone figure the blockade of naboo by trade ships was somewhat similar to sanctions against Iraq by the US?

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 20:04

Hi Somu

Thanks a lot.

Hi Ahmed

Yeah, there are a lot of similarities throughout the whole saga. Lucas claims that he wrote the entire story back in the seventies and couldnt possibly have based it on our current state of affairs, so he claims. But he does admit that it was influenced by a range of political acts from Caesar taking over the senate to the cuban missile crisis and Vietnam.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 20:07

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

Hmm, I still think he got hte idea from Americas sanction of Iraq

Comment by spain01

October 19th 2006 21:03

Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
Fire News Blog

Congratulations on another superb posting. Your work is elevating the overall quality of this site.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 21:05

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

aww, now I feel discouraged and underappreciated

But yeah, keep up the good work

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 21:14

My thanks to you both for your comments. Its very encouraging and a great feeling to know other writers enjoy my posts.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 21:16

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

Yeah, except when those writers write about their day jobs and videogames for kids... yeah ok, were cool

Comment by Harmony Rocks

October 19th 2006 21:19

head for threads
Harmony's Forum For You
Harmony's Forum For You

Sorry, when I questioned the difference between protecting and dictating, I wasn't asking for a definition (although it was nice of you to give it anyway, Gareth).

The point I was trying to make is: in the language of governments, 'protect' is the word often used for 'dictate'. People would be up in arms if Bush came out and dictatorially said "ve have vays", but the attitude softens if the 'ways' are cloaked as protedtion.

And, by the way, has 'clear and present danger' been defined?

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 21:27

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

It is a definition initself

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 21:31

Hi Harmony,

Sorry, I didnt meanto be patronising. I agree with you that it seems all Bush has to do is say "Its for your own protection" and people will agree to anything.

Comment by Harmony Rocks

October 19th 2006 22:10

head for threads
Harmony's Forum For You
Harmony's Forum For You

No, Ahmed, 'clear and present danger' has no clear cut definition here. It's vague and ambiguous.

Gareth, I didn't think you were patronising, I thought what I said might have been misleading.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 22:12

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

Think of it t his way, if China declares war on the US then there is a clear and present danger

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 22:14

I interpreted clear and present danger as an obvious and immediate threat.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 22:17

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

so the question is, is there an obvious threat by an external force upon america?

Comment by Gareth

October 19th 2006 22:22

I dont think so, but I believe there is a very immediate threat to the constitution and the rights of the american citizens in the form of bills such as the one passed this week.

Comment by Ahmed

October 19th 2006 22:28

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

I know

Amazing, so if I get thrown into prison in the US I cant even challenge it? Thats it, I'm done.

Comment by Damo

October 20th 2006 01:17

Great post.
But the Howard Government in Australia has already created a set of laws that are much worse.
Here you can be arrested (detained) without charge if you are suspected of knowing something about a terrorist act. Not that you are involved but that you may no something. You have no right to silence and no allowed to tell anyone of the arrest.
The problem is, as former Prime Minister Malcom Frazer explained, that you have to prove a negative. You have to prove that you don't know anything. Failure to do so and you could jailed for 5 years.

Comment by rjcortez

October 20th 2006 05:18

"(Sec. 7) Amends federal criminal justice provisions to deny any court or judge jurisdiction to hear or consider an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed by or on behalf of, or to hear or consider any other action against the United States or its agents relating to any aspect of the detention, treatment, or trial of, an alien detained outside the United States who is or was detained by the United States and has been determined to have been properly detained as an enemy combatant or is awaiting such determination. Makes the provisions of this section effective upon enactment, and applicable to all cases, without exception, pending on or after enactment which relate to any aspect of the detention, transfer, treatment, trial, or conditions of detention of an alien detained by the United States since September 11, 2001."

N03930:@@@D&summ2=m&" target="_blank">The Military Commissions Act of 2006 is very specific about the conditions that a writ of habeas corpus can not be filed. Clearly this amendment applies only to aliens, not citizens of the United States.

A little more research and a little less hyperbole would probably serve us all better.

Comment by Justin

October 20th 2006 05:56

Until rjcortez came in, I was about to facetiously state I was anticipating the implementation of a monarchy into the presidency just like the Romans, circa Julius Caesar!

Comment by Ahmed

October 20th 2006 07:11

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

You know I can't wait to be scooped up by the secret services and thrown ina tiny prison sell and 'questioned' (aka tortured) and be accused of 'knowing something', and being threatened wiht 5 years prison if I didn't say what I knew.

And I have no idea what I know, or what they think I know or heck, I don't even know if they know what they want me to know. There is no charge, no judicial process no examination, just the gesapo and me. wonderful.

Comment by Gareth

October 20th 2006 07:30

Hi RJCortez

Thanks for your comment

The act does state that it is for use against 'aliens' but as Keith Olbermann asked "And if you somehow think Habeas Corpus has not been suspended for American citizens but only for everybody else, ask yourself this: If you are pulled off the street tomorrow, and they call you an alien or an undocumented immigrant or an "unlawful enemy combatant" — exactly how are you going to convince them to give you a court hearing to prove you are not? Do you think this Attorney General is going to help you? "

The government have said that this will not be used against US citizens and is designed for their protection but the same was said of the Patriot Act which was then used to prosecute Americans. There have been several acts like this throughout history and the government has regularly used them to prosecute American citizens such as Executive Order 9066 passed in 1942 which was used to imprison Japanese-Americans and the Espionage Act, passed in 1917, which was used to imprison newspaper editors and journalists who spoke out against the government. Each of these acts was claimed to protect US citizens from 'aliens'.

Comment by Damo

October 20th 2006 09:50

Habeas Corpus for American's only?
Does that mean that the other 94% of the worlds population are just a hyperbole?
The purpose and practice of Habeas Corpus was to protect all people from cruel leaders. Not just the elite few.

I suspect that the history of all nations will not be kind to Emporer Bush the Barbarian. The one man who believes that he has the right arrest and torture anyone on Earth because he is the Commander and Chief of 6% of the worlds population.

Comment by Gareth

October 20th 2006 10:02

Hi Damo,

Yes, I hope history will remember Bush as a tyrant and not a hero who saved America, as is possible if he gets his way.

Also, aside from the 94% of the world that does not live in the US, I suspect there are many people currently in the US who are not american citizens and went there to escape brutal regimes in their own countries believing that America is a free and fair country where they would be treated with dignity and respect. How wrong they were.

Comment by Australis

October 22nd 2006 15:07

The Scriptwriting Blog
Personal Blog - A Writer's Life

Good post here.

Keith Olbermann is one of the most courageous journalists working in the US right now. I regularly visit a website called Crooks and Liars (www.crooksandliars.com) that posts his Special Comments. He give me hope for the United States in the face of the greed and venality of the current Administration. Try and catch some of his other comments, especially when he says directly to Bush, "You, sir, are a liat", and goes on to explain exactly why.

Ahmed, I hope you never have to leave, and we need to vote in a party that will not follow the US line like a little dog. It's the 21st Century, we don't need to do that any more. Mind you, I don't know where we'll find one...

Comment by Gareth

October 22nd 2006 16:27

Hi Australis
Thanks for the comment

yes, I've watched most of Olbermanns special comments and enjoyed the 'You are a liar sir' one. One of my favourites is the 911 5th anniversary where he asks Bush 'Have you no decency sir?'.
Thanks for the reference, ill check that site out now.

Comment by tezza4eva

October 26th 2006 00:22

Bush....Palpatine.... such a resemblence to thier actions is so uncanny dude, i mean, we all seem to b waking up to thier lies and as in episode 3 democracy it seems, also seems to b dyin whilst applauded by all the fed ed's , ya know

As a wise old jedi once said '' there ARE other alternatives to fighting'' fighting as in physicall one on one conflict he meant, as always this crazy old wizard speaks a lot of truth, it seems that the whole star wars plotline also co-incides with the agenda that seems to be played upon us at this very moment in time, rather than a long time ago in a galaxy far far away eh?
if this comment helps/makes ne sense i'm glad !!
as always,keep it up bro
tezza4eva xxxxxxxxx

Comment by Gareth

October 26th 2006 00:28

hi Tez

yes "democracy dies with a thundering applause" as Padme said. The correspondences are scary, if only we had a jedi order!!

Thanks for the comment

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