The Senate recently passed the National Defense Authority Act and it's a pretty scary thing.
Under this act, anyone who the governments says is a terrorists can be held in military custody "without trial until the end of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization for Use of the Military Force."
Uh, what?
No trial?
Pretty sure that violates the 6th Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees a right to trial....
What's worse is that one of the creators of the bill defends it by saying that this bill only gives the government the option to withhold a trial, it wouldn't force it to.
This bill gives the government a whole lot of power. They simply have to accuse you and present "evidence" to the judge and that's it. No judicial review. Just you. In prison. Maybe forever. It is unconstitutional and violates our fundamental values, including that of right to a trial.
What may be even scarier is the fact that American citizens would be susceptible to the effects of this act, too. For example, if it passes, we could all get called terrorists for my writing this blog and your commenting on it. And if the government decided we were terrorists we could be put in military detention indefinitely or until the Friday after NEVER.
Does anyone else think this sounds a lot like the Red Scare with Communism? Now it's just a Terrorism scare? Do you think there are ANY potential benefits to this? If so, would they weigh out the costs? Would it be worth it to sacrifice American liberties? Does anyone realize that this completely and blatantly violates the 6th amendment? Anybody? What is going on with America?
I totally didn't see this post before I posted mine, but I completely agree it is like the HUAAC. I'm hoping that it will first of all not pass in the House and even if it does, that Obama does not make it law. If so there would be immediate calls to bring it to SCOTUS and even that would take up to a year for them to hear the case and decide a verdict. Congress is very much disappointing me these days.
ReplyDeleteThey're disappointing everyone. They have a lower approval rating than herpes, polygamy, and the BP oil spill.
ReplyDeleteIf Obama doesn't veto it, I'm going to continue my college search in Canada.
I agree with both of you in that this is pretty ridiculous. Even if their are possible benefits, that does not outweigh the fact that it's taking away peoples rights and liberties. So hopefully Obama realizes the hypocrisy in this act and veto's it... or yes, off to Canada!
ReplyDeleteThis is a complete violation of the US Constitution's 6th Amendment! If Obama signs this that will be sooo sad that he's sold out that much just to try to please Congress. If this bill is ever passed (which hopefully it won't be) eventually the Supreme Court will declare it unconstitutional.
ReplyDeleteIt was passed. Probably over a month ago.
ReplyDelete^Well that blows. Haha.
ReplyDeleteThis is insane. The reason for a trail is to effectively see whether or not the person is guilty or innocent! That doesn't make any sense to remove the method of determination just because you have one fingerprint. And you can't take away peoples' rights, thats also the whole point of the 6th Amendment. The whole reason this system works (most of the time) is because it prevents innocent people from being thrown in jail even though they appeared to be guilty (thats why they're in the court house in the first place!). What is wrong with Congress?
ReplyDeleteNo matter who the suspected person is, they deserve (and are guaranteed under the constitution!) a fair trial. There's no denying what the meaning behind the 6th amendment is. There's no little asterisk that says *actually we only mean when they aren't a suspected terrorist and you don't really have to do that.
ReplyDeleteThis bill has unconstitutional written all over it. I was greatly disappointed in Obama when this was signed into law. This is a step in the direction of the feared FEMA camps that have been rumored.
ReplyDelete