Alex Constantine - August 22, 2008
By Timothy V. Gatto
www.countercurrents.org
19 August, 2008
As with any civilization, there comes a time where that civilization must choose between right and wrong, commonsense and nonsense, and civility over barbarism. The period immediately after World War II saw the world community questioning the German people on their complicity with the fascist regime that had wrecked havoc and desolation upon the world and was guilty of mass exterminations of millions of human beings. The answer that was often time given was that the average German didn’t see it coming, and that if they knew what the future would bring, they would have never participated in Hitler’s mad schemes. The world never quite forgot the German people’s complicity in the last World War, and they will not forgive the American people for displaying their lack of concern over what our government does in the name of the “American People”.
In order to create “A more perfect union” we devised one of the greatest documents in history, the American Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights. These documents have served us well for the last several centuries, but of late it has become the shell of what they once were. They are no longer documents that guarantees the people’s rights, but of the government’s utter control over its own people. We have basically lost the 1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
In this nation we are expected to elect our President not only for his statesmanship, but also for his religious stance. We are given “Free Speech Zones” away from the focal point of a demonstration in order that our voices will not be heard. We are not allowed to peaceably assemble without permits and permission, and as far as the redress of grievances, all one has to do is look at the new bankruptcy laws and the Patriot Act. Congress is deaf and dumb to the articles of impeachment brought against this President for illegally wiretapping American citizens and starting an invasion against a sovereign nation of false pretenses killing over 1.2 million people and thousands of American soldiers, just two of the 36 articles of impeachment.
The political corporate duopoly has stonewalled the inherent contempt citations that should have come out of Congress that should be leveled at the Executive Department employees that refuse to answer Congressional subpoenas’ to testify in front of Congress about what they knew about the lies leading up to the Iraq War, the firing of US Attorneys for political reasons and the exposing of a covert CIA Agent by the Executive Branch. This was the reason Nixon resigned!
The 4th Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
This Amendment was scrapped in it’s entirety by the Patriot Acts that require no warrant in the event you are suspected of being a “terrorist” or a “terrorist sympathizer”. What is the definition of a “terrorist”, or is this just a catch-all phrase for the government to violate the fourth amendment? The people in PETA have been designated as belonging to a terrorist organization! What is the government’s next step in this march towards fascism? Where is wiretapping phone conversations of American citizens and prying into their e-mails and computers in the scheme of things? Does this not also violate the 4th Amendment?
The 5th Amendment: No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
This was also written before The Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Grand Juries are not required for suspected “terrorists” and property is regularly confiscated and used for public use by drug enforcement agencies on our other never-ending war “The War on Drugs”. Double jeopardy seems to be the only part of this amendment not written out, and there are ways the government has to get around that also.
The 6th Amendment: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
That is unless you are charged with being a “terrorist” and you fall under the Patriot Act and the MCA2006. This is another amendment stripped out of the Bill of Rights.
The 8th Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Torture for detainees, even American citizens suspected of being “terrorists” or “terrorist sympathizers’ is routine in this once proud republic. It’s public record for anyone to see. Extrodinary Rendition and placement in Guantanamo can result in a number of nefartious types of U.S. torture procedures such as water-boarding and being assaulted “up to and not exceeding organ failure.” This is just one more insult to the rule of law in our once proud nation.
The truth is that we have become a nation bent on military conquest and seizure of other nation’s resources by military force. We have invaded the Middle-East for resources, not to bring these people “democracy”. We are in the process of surrounding the nation of the Russian Federation to insure global hegemony. We are in the process of installing nuclear missiles in the former Warsaw Pact nation of Poland in defiance of the wishes of the Russian State. This is akin to the USSR installing nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1963. This almost caused a thermo-nuclear war, but the USSR backed off if we took our missiles from Turkey. Now this insane administration wants to bring us back to the prospect of “nuclear brinkmanship” and put the entire world in harm’s way in order to satisfy our leader’s hubris.
The corporate political parties are putting up men that have as their global advisors, neo-cons of the worst caliber. The ordinary citizen in this republic no longer has any power when faced with the will of the corporations that control and finance our political leaders. Our vote counts for nothing as we are presented with corporate controlled candidates that have sold their souls to the corporate leaders and the military industrial complex. Our media has distorted news at all levels, systematically feeding our citizens government propaganda and censoring those that are determined to speak out. Third parties have had experienced intimidating rules and procedures in order that they do not gain ballot access; this is a direct result of the Democratic and Republican parties intimidations.
The truth is that our republic is virtually bankrupt with a national debt of over 9.5 trillion dollars. We have outsourced our industries for corporate profit, regardless of the cost to the American taxpayer. We are privatizing our infrastructure and holding a “fire sale” to pay for our military expenditures. We are not the richest nation on the planet. We are the nation that has more debt than any other. This does not bode well for the future of our children and our nation.
I believe that the problems facing the United States are insurmountable. The people have no real power by using the ballot box or by using the media to bring attention to these very serious problems. Massive demonstrations are not feasible simply because the people are much too involved trying to scratch out a living in this new corporate society where they are victims of rouge capitalists, from the banks to the retailers. There are many Americans that don’t understand the severity of the situation our republic finds itself in because they have not been told the honest truth, and are just too loyal to doubt their government’s words. This harkens back to the days when Germany was controlled by the National Socialists and their corporate community of military equipment and munitions makers.
We are facing thermo-nuclear war by the policies of both political parties. We are facing depression and the loss of Constitutional rights. The people are not in control of their government, nor their access to information. We are a nation of chattel and the prospects are looking very dim indeed. This is a catastrophe waiting to happen, it is unavoidable. Something has to happen to restore our freedom and our civil rights as a people. We separated from Great Briton in order to coin our own money and not be beholden to banks in Europe for credit. We find ourselves now in that very same situation with the Federal Reserve, a PRIVATE banking company made up of global bankers that charge us interest on our OWN money! This is unacceptable. This regulates us to a nation devoid of actual sovereignty.
The only way out of this predicament is to replace our corporate controlled government. Thomas Jefferson once said;
"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."
That time is now. The only way to restore the republic is to eliminate this government and this political system. There will be no peace, only death and poverty along with enslavement if we do not. There is, in my mind, only one solution. The American military knows just how far this government has strayed. They are the ones that the greatest burdens are borne by. Our General grade and Flag grade officers understand the impossibility of what our civilian leaders ask of them. They too suffer the economic crises that have led us to the brink of financial ruin.
I served in the military for almost 21 years. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is now a more just system than our civilian constitutional system of laws. The largest organization that has taken an oath to protect and defend the United States from all enemies, foreign or domestic, and to protect and preserve the constitution of the United States is our Armed Forces. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are required to preserve and protect the republic. Their obligation is clear. The sociopaths that are in control of this nation must be thrown out of office along with their corporate masters. During the time that the military assumes power, a new constitutional convention formed by elected delegates from every State must write a new Constitution that has in it a clear and concise plan for the dignity and rule of out government “by the people and for the people”. An American military government is preferable to the policies of today. Elections can be held after the signing of a new constitution and a civilian government can reassume it’s duties as trusted stewards of our republic.
This may sound like a radical plan and may frighten most Americans. We have no other choice. 10% of the population holds 71% of its wealth. The average American is not a voice in the government of today. World War III is about to begin. We are almost out of time, and I mean that in every sense of the word. I may be imprisoned for writing this, but I cannot in good conscience watch my nation rain depleted uranium, white phosphorus, napalm and other forms of death on foreign nations, killing millions. War is no longer an option unless we are attacked directly. It is not a form of diplomacy to be used in the 21st Century. It is ironic that the only people that can change our future are the very same people that do these criminals bidding. Who better to defend the republic than the military that is charged to do so? It is their solemn duty, and there can be no higher calling.
timgatto@hotmail.com
http://Liberalpro.blogspot.com
http://www.countercurrents.org/gatto190808.htm