Living in Fear of Our Government

July 7, 2008
by Cliff Carson

A letter to my friend Broward, on the growth of tyranny in America

Broward, you asked about whether one should fear our Government. At first that seemed such an easy question to answer. We have the "best Government in the world" - so why would I have any reason to fear it? But since you asked, I thought well maybe - to start, I ought to do some reading, some thinking, and make sure that what I write as my response to you is as correct as can be.

My first bit of reading was an article by Paul Craig Roberts "No one is safe in America.From the Government." I must admit, it made an impact on me. Roberts' first item of discussion was the Zimbabwe situation, and how Mugabe has now become a full blown dictator. Robert Mugabe, when defeated in Zimbabwe's last election, stated that he "didn't care what the vote was, he was not stepping down as ruler". He backed up his statement by murdering most of his opposition and threatening anyone voting against him in the future.

With the current trend of our Government, the question then becomes "Can that happen here?" And the follow-up question is "If not, why not?" So Broward, the way things are headed right now with Congress kissing up to the all-time Criminal-in-Chief, maybe we should fear what the Government might become if we don't stop it, here and now, at the 2008 election.

Then, Roberts segues directly into how the Bush Administration has lied us into two wars already, and is doing a propaganda build-up to justify starting a third war against Iran. None of this would be applicable if the already-caused two wars and the anticipated third war were wars of defense. But they are not.

The first two wars were initiated by the Neo-Con Cabal - of which many of our elected leaders are in bed with. This Cabal is a major element of a Shadow Government that has usurped our Constitutional form of Government. These wars are wars of choice, wars of aggression if you will, and seemingly conducted primarily to enrich and empower the Shadow Government. Our Vice President, one of the staunchest members of the Neo-Con Cabal, when asked by a reporter "Vice President Cheney, over 73% of the America public is against the Iraqi War, do you have anything to say to that fact?" Vice President Cheney's answer was "SO?"

Possibly, VP Cheney was thinking of the Presidential Directive 51?

This directive, completely unnoticed by the media, and given no scrutiny by Congress, literally gives the White House unprecedented dictatorial power over the government and the country - bypassing the US Congress and obliterating the separation of powers. The directive also placed the Secretary of Homeland Security in charge of domestic "security."

This link takes you to the H.R. 6166 - the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This act allows Bush to name any American Citizen an "Enemy Combatant" and legalizes seizing and imprisoning without notice to anyone. It also removes any right of challenge to the charge. Getting scared yet? The Act also legalizes anything that has been done in the "War on Terror."

OK, now I'm really getting uncomfortable.

I'm actually wondering if I should be writing this. Can I be whisked away in the middle of the night, never to heard from again, with my family unknowing as to what has happened? And maybe I would be sent to one of the prisons KBR has been paid $385 million to build, with a total capacity of 2 million prisoners?

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Broward, you have consistently said that the Constitution is being ignored by our elected Government leaders. And you state, "Not just by the White House, but by the very leadership body (Congress) that is charged with and has pledged to, "Protect our Constitution against all enemies both Domestic and Foreign."

Since neither the House nor the Senate is keeping this pledge, should we begin to fear what the result might someday become?

You liken the process of our Government to the Government of a Union; as a matter of fact you speak of our system as a Union. As you have stated, a Union has as its head a Constitution and Stewards. Our Constitution replaced the KING of England and its authority to represent every American; therefore the Constitution was created as the Head of our Government.

Congress was created as the "Embodiment" of our Constitution, that is to say they are the stewards of our Government and as such are charged with addressing all grievances from the people when the Constitution has been violated. The Constitution is currently being ignored by all elected branches of Government.

Is it time to become concerned? If not, why not?

"The Constitution and the People rule America through the Congress"; that's the way it was meant to be; but Congress has abandoned our Constitution, and abandoned the People it was created to serve! Is Congress is the problem? Congress has abandoned the "checks and balances" written in the Constitution that is supposed to control a runaway Executive or Judiciary - or, for that matter, any other elected or appointed leader or Governing entity that could usurp our Constitutional rights.

So why haven't we restored our Constitution to it's rightful place as the Head of our Government? So far, our elected leaders have refused a clear signal from the people and Congress also seems to take Cheney's position of "So?" So I ask again, should we be living in fear of our Government?

Well Broward, you have certainly given me reason for worry. I don't believe that we should ever fall under a Dictatorial Government, but on the other hand, we have allowed the Shadow Government to flourish, we have allowed the Executive to adopt an attitude of "Above the Law," and we have not demanded from Congress that they keep their pledge to "defend the Constitution from all enemies Foreign and Domestic."

Sounds like we might be contributing to the problem. I guess if we had elected moral and honest leaders and kept them that way, we wouldn't have to worry. But what if we don't do this? I am beginning to develop a fear of our Government.

But I still believe in the American people. We have a chance to make things right this election. I hope so. Hope is a wonderful thing; it can sustain us through the darkest of times.

Hope plus action is usually a winner.