To paraphrase a quote from one of the best movies, and characters of all time (Keyser Soze) — “The greatest trick the US government ever pulled was convincing the people they still had liberty.”
At what point do we stop claiming the title “land of the free”?
When our governement officials misunderstand, disregard, and flagrantly violate our Constitution?
Or a more detailed listing of Constitutional violations from our recent post http://www.funpoliticalsurvey.com/wp/uncategorized/calling-all-constitution-warriors
Drug war shrinking the bill of rights http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145529,00.html
When US citizens are targeted for assassination or indefinite detention without any due process?
Make note that President Obama actually requested the language allowing indefinite detention be re-inserted to the final law
Reuturs article talking about the secret commission for who can be exterminated http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-cia-killlist-idUSTRE79475C20111005
Not only did they kill al-Awlaki without a trial or even the courtesy of presenting any evidence, they also killed his 16 year old son and 17 year old cousin while they ate dinner. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097899,00.html
When innocent people are routinely harrassed, arrested, injured and killed?
Police shoot small time gambler, corruption and coverup afterwards http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193652,00.html
A mother tasered during a traffic stop (in front of her kids); one of many videos of police abuse you can find with a simple search on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AaSLERx0VM&feature=related
A resource for numerous other articles related to police abuses http://reason.com/topics/police
When we have more people in jail than any other country on the planet?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita
When military tactics and equipment are used for domestic law enforcement?
A predator drone helps capture suspected cow thief and his family http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/north-dakota-police-use-predator-drone-catch-cow-thieves
The # of SWAT raids in 1980 was 2884, now we average over 50,000 per year
http://stopthedrugwar.org/videos/swat
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26079096/
When our Constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech is under constant attack?
When candidates promising respect for freedom and civil liberties maintain or expand the violations of their predecessor?
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/obama-civil-liberties-the-left/
When our right to travel is seriously eroded, privacy violated, and we are given the choice between allowing ourselves (and our kids) to be groped or porno-scanned with potentially dangerous levels of radiation?
A partial list of TSA abuses http://www.lewrockwell.com/rep2/12-scariest-tsa-stories.html
The TSA pedophile http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/100514.html
When the government’s reach extends to almost every aspect of our daily lives?
We encounter and endless stream of regulation and dozens of taxes on any given day. Additionally, more than 50% of Americans receive a significant portion of their income from the government; there are more than 80K pages of Federal regulation; and we are on course for government to consume 60% of our national GDP by mid century http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=13935
http://www.lewrockwell.com/decoster/decoster65.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rep/50-mind-blowing-facts-about-america.html
So, if we are no longer a free nation, what are we?
Many conservatives will claim we are headed towards socialism. While there is certainly valid evidence to support that statement, it seems more accurate to note our progression towards fascism and totalitarianism. Fascism represents the unholy alliance between big government and big business, which both the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street seem to recognize.
Additionally, one of the trademarks of a Totalitarian state is the government no longer recognizes any limitations on its power. While the USA is certainly not 100% Totalitarian in this regard, the question is quickly advancing towards one of degrees.
An article describing how the USA is becoming a Fascist state http://lewrockwell.com/rockwell/fascist-threat192.html
A podcast of a Lew Rockwell speech about the US progression towards Fascism and Totalitarianism http://www.lewrockwell.com/lewrockwell-show/2011/12/09/240-heil-obama-the-fascist-american-state/
Whether it is too late for our once great nation is yet to be seen. I prefer to remain optimistic that people will come to realize the value of liberty as end to itself for the morality and prosperity it represents.