Originally posted by Ryan

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Oh no! Now people can't play billiards properly because they aren't allowed to use forcing in it! :O

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Heh... I just noticed... People would have to enFORCE the law. Therefore, nothing could be done about it if someone forced something, because then the police and government would be breaking it too

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Originally posted by Metal_Man88

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If this bill gets passed, they're going to have a hard time arresting all the people for things enshrined in the Constitution.

That is, if they use it the way it is claimed there.

However, I've discovered many absolutely frightening bills already have been passed, with equal or even superior misuse abilities to this one.

Guess why they haven't been abused?

The media, the American people in general create a tremendous outcry at anything considered to be against the spirit of the nation. This is why stuff like Enron came toppling down. How slavery and subsequent Jim Crow laws eventually died.

I believe this to be alarmist. Pass or no pass, it won't ultimately magically turn us into a fascist country. Why? The people don't want that. In fact, they've shown utter discontent with how things are now. If they began cracking down as described here, government would break down entirely.

I propose that the bill is merely some red tape to allow them to better catch terrorists. It is powerful... and thus easily abusable... but somehow I doubt the Supreme Court would allow it to be used for these wide-ranging abuses people like to claim it can have.

Instead, I believe anti-American or anti-Bush people are using it as an excuse to attack the government. I understand why, but I think it's the wrong tact. (Well, sure. I'm all for attacking the bill itself. But announcing the death of America due to one bill is, frankly, absurd. Unless that bill, of course, said 'The Constitution is Null and Void' in shiny letters.)

Ultimately, the country fluctuates between low and high with rights and laws like this. Given a new era, this legislation will die of disuse. And given this era, their ability to use it will probably be crippled by media and other attacks on it, plus the inevitable calls for it to be dismantled (See: 'Patriot' Act.)

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Originally posted by Metal_Man88, later post

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Here we go.

A non-hysterical reaction.

Originally posted by "Ars Technica"

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Similar claims are made in a lengthy piece at The Indypendent, and a follow-up piece on blogosphere reaction shows just how hyped-up the rhetoric here has become ("Stop S. 1959 or lose Internet free speech," one poster wrote). Such rhetoric seems more than a bit over the top, since the commission doesn't have the power to make laws or to rewrite the Constitution. Still, if the issue concerns you, now would be an excellent time to contact your senator.

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This bill is dumb, but why haven't our rights already been destroyed? I have yet to be heckled by any government agents despite the fact my views conflict with this administration's. (Primarily, I preferred the old Clinton days, or, heck, most of the previous presidents.)

There will always be some example of rights abuse, and I agree that things get a bit touchy here.

But screaming bloody murder and announcing the end of America won't make it go away. :p

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Originally posted by Metal_Man88

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I believe this to be alarmist. Pass or no pass, it won't ultimately magically turn us into a fascist country. Why? The people don't want that. In fact, they've shown utter discontent with how things are now. If they began cracking down as described here, government would break down entirely.

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Originally posted by Thor

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It's past our time.
We need to overthrow the government. NOW.
The Declaration of Independence says we can do it if we're feeling persecuted.
We have to revolt. We must.
If we don't rally a valiant counter-offensive against this corruption, this will only be a tragic prelude to the downfall of American society.
We must preserve our liberty. And we must do it now.

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