Is U.S. turning into authoritarian nation?
One of the multitude of candidates for President was on the View the other day, and was asked what he considered the most alarming action, or danger to America. He replied the elimination of our right of Habeas Corpus, which is the right to know what we are charged with and to confront our accusers. I have been concerned with the denial by federal authorities of the right to demonstrate within view of the President.
If a demonstration is forming, they are herded five miles away to a lonely stadium where there is no press, and the President is not bothered by pesky demonstrators. I understand the need for security, but what happened to free expression and the right to peacefully demonstrate? Much has been made of the right of the government to eavesdrop on private conversations, but no phone calls and not granting our traditional rights of habeas corpus smacks of fascism, or even the former Soviet Union.
I am also concerned with the changes in the laws concerning martial law, and the grounds for enabling it. America has always been a civilian-controlled country, but these new changes in the law make the national government the arbiter of whether or not to impose it. The states were right to insist on keeping control of the National Guard and Army Reserve units located in their states, as power should not be concentrated in the hands of just a few authoritarians who do not really believe in democracy.
We have leaders who give lip service to the democratic ideals but try to overturn a state”s vote on euthanasia in Oregon, and medical marijuana in California. What happened to the fiscally responsible, state”s rights party of Barry Goldwater? Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater would be turning over in their graves.
Dave Gebhard
Lakeport
