Going, Going, (almost) Gone

The Bill of Rights is disappearing like the Ghost of Christmas Past in the classic "A Christmas Carol." In one version, George C. Scott portrays Scrooge, and after viewing the past, he turns upon the Ghost and declares, "And as for you, I've had quite enough of you!" Whereupon, he proceeds to forcibly extinguish the light of truth.

Obama ended December, 2011, by signing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Of course, just about everyone except Ron Paul and his libertarians believe it's necessary to provide in some measure for the defense of the nation. Even the Obama administration, with its abysmal record of closing the Southern border to gun-runners, human slavers (politely called "traffickers"), drug runners, terrorists and just about anyone willing to stroll in, has not suggested completely eliminating the military.

Yet, for all that, the NDAA should not have been signed. It should never have passed the Senate. It should never have passed the House. The NDAA should not even have been written, because it contains provisions which completely contravene and in practice obliterate the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Amendments contained in the United States Bill of Rights. 

The NDAA allows for the seizure and detention, without warrant, charges, or trial, of American citizens, even within the borders of the United States, that the agents and bureaucrats of the government conveniently identify as "terror suspects." While it is a laudable goal to prevent "terror," it may be that the NDAA places the government in a position to inflict as much terror as it purports to prevent. As Benjamin Franklin noted, we are most at risk from people with good intentions. Citizens detained under the NDAA, and not charged, will never have access to any court for the protection of their rights. Without access to the courts, all pretense of due process will disappear. Arguably, though, the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination will still exist for those strong enough to resist any waterboarding or other persuasion the government may elect to employ.

Mr. Bush's "Patriot" Act went far along this path already, infringing the Bill of Rights in regard to searches and public trials, but the NDAA reaches a new low, and the GOP has been remarkably complicit in this effort. In effect, in their frenzied search for security, the American People are throwing away the very rights they allegedly treasure. When those Rights are gone, only blood and guts can buy them back.

Another Amendment under attack is the First Amendment. Secretary of State Clinton is working with the Organization of Islamic Countries to limit and control speech about Islam. The Congress is working to pass SOPA and Protect IP, to give the government a kill switch on speech it disagrees with.

The Second Amendment is also in the Administration's sights, as Secretary Clinton works hard to help the UN complete the Small Arms Treaty. Citizens are required to obey laws made pursuant to the Constitution and treaties. So, if that treaty becomes law, it will be interpreted to supersede the Second Amendment and thereby to eliminate the individual right to possess small arms (and that's not tanks, RPGs, or missiles; it's rifles, pistols, and shotguns.)

The First and Second Amendments protect all the others, but all are rapidly going. Our government is playing the Scrooge. Unhappy with what Truth shows, it is extinguishing the light, and removing the rights that uphold truth; with barely a whimper, our rights are quickly going, going, (almost) gone.