It’s been some time now since the National Defense Authorization Act has been passed. I remember there being much outrage about the legislation before Obama “reluctantly” signed it. Now, however, it seems like old news.
I remember people saying that they were going to move out of the country if the bill was passed. They boasted about how they refused to live in a country that passed hypocritical laws and disrespected its constituents.
But ever since it was signed, nothing seems to have changed. Has everyone forgotten that the government can imprison U.S. citizens without trial or jury?
I’m so confused. Everyone was mad about it, and all of a sudden, people have moved on.
The last time I remember people getting really upset and speaking out was with the Occupy Wall Street Movement, and I’m very proud of these people for speaking up for themselves. That’s excellent!
Now where are all the people in the streets? The government had handed fodder for protest on a silver platter, and still, everyone is just taking it.
How are politically inactive – see also, politically inept – people like myself supposed to feel when there is a wildfire of outrage, and then a sudden hush? Should I still be upset? Should I move on to more important things, like the Stop Online Piracy Act?
After all, who cares about the National Defense Act, which threw the sixth amendment out the window, when SOPA is attacking the first amendment? After all, it comes first in our Constitution.
What will happen if SOPA is passed? Will everyone grumble and accept it? Will people move on to the next hot topic as they did with the Defense Act? I certainly hope not.
Instead of realizing that we’ll just live with whatever the government decides, we must do everything in our power to prevent such legislation. Earlier in the week, I saw an online petition on Google that only required an email address and a zip code.
We need to stop letting the government walk all over us. Sign a petition, register online and prevent another legislative travesty.
Ellen Weiss
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Obama reluctantly signed the bill and noted when doing so that though his administration had the power, they would not use the power to override the 6th amendment. This means that the political pressure of utilizing this power will make whoever is president next seem like a tyrant if they do not have legitimate reasons to use it. Thus, it’s highly probable that political pressure checks back any abuses of power by any administration. Besides, so long as you aren’t a suspected terrorist you’ve got nothing to be worried about. The supreme court may eventually overturn it anyways for unconstitutionality, so it may be a non-issue.