In Today’s America

Recently Time Magazine published a cover story depicting the U.S. Constitution passing through a paper shredder with the headlines “Does It Still Matter?” The article portrays the Constitution as an outmoded document that we should ignore to whatever extent is expedient to pursue someone’s vision of a better society. There is little doubt that America is in a constitutional crisis.

Once upon a time in the United States, Americans held firm to the belief that the Constitution was the supreme law of the land. We believed that our elected officials swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  We believed that our sworn law enforcement officers were “public servants” who also took that same oath and were totally committed to protecting the lives and property of the people they served.

In today’s America, many of our elected officials (both Republicans and Democrats alike), seem to have forgotten that oath and have become indifferent to the constitutionality of their legislation.

In today’s America, the U.S. Constitution has been relegated to nothing more than a piece of antiquated paper—and a symbol to which politicians now only pay lip service.

In today’s America, the global surveillance grid by which we find ourselves enveloped, should serve as a wake up call for what the future may hold for us.

Sunita Patel and Scott Paltrowitz eloquently sum this up when they write, “We are being brought closer to an extensive and inescapable surveillance state, where we blindly place our hands on electronic devices that capture our digital prints, stare into iris scanning devices that record the details of our eyes, and have pictures taken of different angles of our faces so that the FBI and other federal agencies can store and use such information.”

Before it is too late, we must ask ourselves to what end are all these devices and systems being constructed—and what we can do about it?

Americans are simply uninformed at best, and when they encounter something that seems mildly invasive, they simply shrug it off…”why get upset if you have nothing to hide?”

Well if you love the liberty and the freedom our forefathers bled and often died for and so nobly gave to us, then you better start paying attention and watching your back, because the federal government is systematically stripping away those liberties and freedoms with each passing day!   One day they may be focusing their attention on those of us who don’t “accept” and “integrate” into their system!

Unfortunately, among the most heinous acts of recent legislation, the House and Senate have passed (and Obama has signed into law) the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, effectively stripping away our constitutional right to Habeas Corpus, or the right to a trial by a jury of your peers.

In today’s America, you do not have the right to say whatever you want. If you wish to exercise your right of free speech, you often are restricted to special free speech zones.

In today’s America, you do not have the right to grow whatever food you want nor sell that food to someone who wishes to purchase it.

In today’s America, you no longer have the right to protect yourself or your property from unreasonable search or seizure.

In today’s America, you do not have a right to privacy because the government openly watches, tracks, monitors and records everything we do both online and off.

In today’s America, our sitting presidents abuse power not granted to them by the Constitution, by issuing decrees in the form of Executive Orders.

In today’s America, our government has come to mean something entirely different than what was intended by the writers of the Constitution.

Perhaps it is time for the American people take to the streets! It is only a matter of time before the masses recognize the full extent of America’s indebtedness and all the negative ramifications of an economic collapse that was entirely avoidable.  Once the economic collapse occurs, the breakdown of our currency will follow, along with law and order.

Consider for a moment that under The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act,  which passed the House but died in the Senate, those in power would have effectively been able to outlaw all dissent of the government—even on the Internet. One must ask the question, do any of these new laws give our government enhanced capability to protect us from the war on terror? Or do they give the government and security agencies new and broad reaching powers to singlehandedly dismantle our Constitution, round up citizens indefinitely while silencing all forms of opposition?  The evidence suggests that our government has set the stage for turning us into a modern day police state.

We must be vigilant because time is growing short. Prepare to feed and defend yourself. Also, do your best to get the word out to our fellow citizens and help them prepare as well. If you have second doubts then simply look to your family and let them serve as a reminder of why you should prepare for the inevitable, and to forge ahead in order to protect what matters most.

In the meantime, keep your powder dry and your faith strong!

Steve Nolan