cannabisnews.com: How The Terror War Took Your Rights How The Terror War Took Your Rights Posted by FoM on December 05, 2001 at 16:11:42 PT By M.L. Simon Source: Rock River Times This week, I’m going to talk about how the terror war took your rights. I am also going to show that it really wasn’t the terror war that took your rights. You already gave them away to fight the war on drugs. The terror war merely broadened the giveaway to all citizens. Those of us who have been fighting the drug war for a number of years warned Americans that this would happen. We begged America not to go down that road. We said that the drug war was only the first step, that the next step would be to get all Americans in the net. America told the anti-prohibitionists that the law couldn’t be used against most Americans because most Americans don’t use drugs. The anti-prohibitionists replied that they are only using the drug war as a prototype to see what America will stand for, to see how many of us have forgotten the Constitution and why we have one. It appears that the anti-prohibitionists were correct.What rights have Americans been willing to give up to fight drugs? The first and foremost is the right to be secure in our houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures—the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. We know that probable cause is no longer a requirement. Nowadays, mere suspicion will do. What happens if there is no suspicion that can be in any way articulated? We have secret informants. We have informants so secret that they no longer need to be produced in court. The requirement to produce the informant at trial was a feature of American justice only 30 years ago. What happened to your right to confront your accusers? The drug war ate it. But for the government, things are much better than that. No longer is it necessary to produce the informant; in addition, the authorities no longer need to even give the name of the informant. The powers that be need only say that the informant was a reliable source before. How can this fact be proved? Well, by current rules of evidence, there is no need. We take the policeman’s word. Does this lead to notional (nonexistent) informants? You better believe it. The police have a name for this practice and other associated practices. It is called testilying. If there is no truth, how can there be any justice? These same tactics are now applied to terrorists. Who are the terrorists? Well, that is kind of vague. It could be someone who has a grudge against the government. Not necessarily a violent grudge—just any kind of complaint that might disturb the smooth functioning of the machinery. Someone who agitated against the drug war, for instance. Harboring the wrong opinion can get you under suspicion. Once under suspicion, all that is needed is the word of an informant, and away you go for 20 or 50 years. Don’t believe me? There are people doing such time for what is called “no dope” dope conspiracies. A jail house snitch is recruited by the government and made to claim that these people were planning to manufacture or import drugs. Twenty years with no evidence other than that of the snitch, who benefits by reduced time behind bars. The terror laws will widen the net.Every single usurpation that is being broadened to fight the terror war was initially used to fight the previous pariahs, the drug users. Every one of the proposals passed by Congress to fight the terror war was first proposed or passed to fight the drug war. Let us follow the money. The government does. We have been told for years that to fight the drug barons, we needed to get their money. And to get their money, we needed asset forfeiture laws. Those laws now work like this: If the authorities suspect the money had something to do with drugs, they can take it. What kind of evidence do they need? Why, none at all. A suspicion by an officer of the state is plenty good enough. Too much cash on hand? You must be a drug dealer. The cash is now the property of the police. These laws are now re tooled and added to for the terror war.Let us take the drug manufacture and paraphernalia laws. Anyone caught with any number of common household chemicals or items such as iodine or pressure cookers or cigarette rolling papers could be charged with a drug manufacturing or intent to use offense. With the new terror law in place, scowl at the hardware store attendant while buying a utility knife, and you could be charged as a terrorist. Because the government has asked the shopkeepers of America to be vigilant for suspicious behavior and report it to the authorities. Just as they did for the drug laws. Since the drug laws were not objected to, why object to the new anti-terror laws? Go along to get along. I advise you to be on your best behavior all the time because you are a suspect.This may come as a surprise, but the Constitution does not guarantee Americans any rights. If it did, then the unjust laws passed in the name of drugs and terror could not stand. The only guarantee of a right is the will of the people to oppose usurpations.“But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain — that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”—Lysander Spooner“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.”—Frederick DouglassSaying of the week: Drug laws aid the police by making everyone a suspect.If you want to get your rights back, ask a politician: Do you support drug prohibition because it finances criminals at home or because it finances terrorists abroad?This weeks Senate Judiciary Committee politician:Senator Edward KennedyVoice: 202/224-4543FAX: 202/224-2417E-mail: senator kennedy.senate.govM. L. Simon is an industrial controls designer and independent political activist. Source: Rock River Times (IL)Author: M.L. SimonPublished: December 5, 2001Copyright 2001 - The Rock River TimesContact: frank rockrivertimes.comWebsite: http://www.rockrivertimes.com/Related Articles:Hope Anti-Terrorism Effort Isn't Like Drug War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11472.shtmlGovernment Fights War on Terrorism and Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11469.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by qqqq on December 07, 2001 at 00:33:03 PT ...ABSURDLY PHANTASMAGORICALLY STRANGE......! ...Once again........it's time for a tirade,,,gonna rant on my favorite topic,,the media......I live in a sort of self inflicted state of shock and baffled raging astonishment....I have somehow become involved,in paying close,and constant attention to network TV news.(I dont have cable)... ... ...Each day,,it seems to get more obvious.I cannot Believe it is happening,,,I cannot believe that it is going on ,in such unrecognition!........I'll say it again,,,It is the biggest single factor in the coup on democracy,and all that America stands for. ..Of course,overall,money is the beastly grand-dad of the problem,,,and money is stronger than most all drugs,,we might think of the money obsessed abusers,,as being on "green crack".......Now,I think our situation today,could be seen as a great big red white and blue Lincoln Navigator SUV,,,barreling down the highway,,,and behind the wheel,,is Uncle Sam......Yup,,,it's Uncle Sam from HELL!...His tattered red white and blue tophat lays on the seat beside him...His blue blazer,and red striped pants are shabby,and soiled...Beads of brackish sweat form on his oily forehead,and dribble down on his un-shaven face.His blank eyes are bugging out of his head..he has been on a three month long green crack binge,,,,,,it aint pretty!....OK,,,,now,to return to my tirade,,,I cant believe the obviousness of the scripted media,and the censorship of any,and all relevant information concerning this "war"....consider this;...Does it not seem peculiar ,that according to the government/military,,this "war",has had no casualties due to enemy fire. Nope,,the only reported US casualties,were due to "equipment malfunctions",,and "friendly fire"...In other words,more US soldiers have been killed by US fuckups,than by the "enemy".......Here's my explanation of this paradox;;;;...The only reason that these non-enemy caused casualties have been reported,is because they could not be covered up.I do not believe that have been no other casualties... ..I gotta wrap up this lackluster tirade now,,,,so I'll summarize by once again,,comparing the government/corporate dominated media,and its program of endoctrination through advanced propaganda,,,,,to a CULT!... ... They have mastered the principles of controlling the Sheeples minds,,,and that is disturbing,,BUT!,, it becomes TERRIFYING,,when those who have mastered all manner of political/spiritual/mind-fuck psychotech Ju-Ju,,,,are also the ones who control,and own the means to "program" the populace,and influence the hearts and minds of the masses,,,,,..,,,,...hope ya kinda know what I mean......... gotta go [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by dddd on December 06, 2001 at 15:25:52 PT boppy .....I havnt cut my hair for over ten years.......I dont even bother with ponytails anymore.....I'm an old,longhaired Hippie,,,,and proud of it!........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by freedom fighter on December 06, 2001 at 14:53:20 PT boppy, bottom feeders as Lehder described in previous posting are who we need to watch out for. Well, by nature, I am the kind of person who would just mind my own business. FoM is correct when she mentioned that I have stated that I could easily pass for Bin Laden's evil younger brother. The people that you described are common. I tend to just ignore them. But this guy(55ish) went too far. He went 5 mph on a 30 mph zone. He took off in huff when I raised both of my hands in the air as to say what the heck do you want? You are corrected about wise asses challenging my right to be me. Sad fact about this country that racism do exist. Most 5 ft MEN do not tend to challenge a 6ft6inch, 200 pounds MEN. But, I must admit there are some dumb wise asses who felt so macho challengin my size and my "disability". I happened not to hear very well and I could never ever resemble the boys at the golf course discussing the stock options.:_) I have close experience of discrimination many times. Most of time I tend to let it go but there are times where my defensive mechanicism kicks in and I would walk up to that person and be blunt about what I think of that person because he went too far. Most of them later start to respect me for what I am. What that has to do with the bottom feeders? Well, they are like these unknown accusers who have already put many through the system. I should know cuz I am a prisoner of war on some stupid drugs myself because of an unknown accuser. We really do not have any right to "be" anymore. I was reading articles about 3 strikes Law in California, did you know that there is a man sitting in prison for 25 yrs to Life because he stole a bread from a store? There are plenty examples of folks who were in possesion of 10$ rocks sitting in prisons for life. One guy passed a 7$ bad check and got life for it. As long this country cannot take care of its' sick, disabled, and those poor people right, we sure ain't free.ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Lehder on December 06, 2001 at 08:24:05 PT: Countdown to Zimbabwe "Time is running short. If we want to preserve and maintain a constitutional government, we have until March 25. That’s when the Patriot Act (a misnomer if there ever was one) takes effect."http://www.rockrivertimes.com/trrtcgi/viewnews.cgi?category=4&id=1007576553 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by boppy on December 06, 2001 at 07:21:22 PT Hey, Freedom Fighter... I was just telling FoM yesterday about being stereotyped by neighbors because I wear a ponytail. I just get the indifferent or dirty looks by passersby when I'm working in my yard. I just smile and wave to piss them off. It's not enough to be an individual. You have to resemble the other sheep who hang out at the golf course and discuss stock options. If I were you, I would try and refrain from hostile gestures. You never know when some wise ass wants to challenge your right to "be". [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dddd on December 06, 2001 at 04:49:42 PT An Outstanding Article.... .....It's so true...." Every one of the proposals passed by Congress to fight the terror war was first proposed or passed to fight the drug war."..........now that's what I call terrifying!......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on December 06, 2001 at 04:22:38 PT God given inalienable rights are too left wing for the so called government leaders that are hacking and hatcheting the constitution into dust at this moment.Would you say we have a plethora of 'rights'?We don't need no stinking 'rights'. The double positive that makes a negative, "Yeah, right."God Himself would be denied immigration into this country. He is a prime suspect, arrest HIM. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 05, 2001 at 23:04:05 PT Hi freedom fighter Didn't you say that you looked in the mirror right after 9-11 because people where staring at you and you said you thought you looked like bin Laden? I know it made me laugh. Maybe you should tuck your hair up under your hat so they don't ask you why. Just kidding. You could carry a guitar around and say you are one of ZZ Top! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on December 05, 2001 at 22:58:31 PT It is real least to me...Today, as usual, I take a walk around my neighbor, suddenly a car with a complete stranger I have never seen in my life drove slowly by me. The stranger took a good long look at me. It is freaky.I was just walking on a sidewalk minding my own business. I looked back at the stranger and raised both of my hands in the air as to say what the heck do you want from me. This have never happen to me before. Maybe I ought to cut down taking walks around the neighbor or maybe I ought to just flip my finger next time I see someone acting like this. I just think that passive pacifism do not work anymore. It might be the time to take the proactive pacifism action before it is too late. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment