How we lose our rights incrementally.
Example 1 (cut, pasted and edited from another thread):
The War on Drugs. The nanny statists have decided that it is their duty to protect the American citizens from perceived immorality of drug abuse. Of course, in so arguing their points, they bring up the cases of derelict parents and hypes robbing liquor stores to support their habit. They never bring up the majority of peaceful people who just use drugs for simple recreation or psychological self exploration. Nor do they make the distinction that there are and have been a great number of people throughout history who have been derelict parents or robbers and never did any drugs (but maybe some alcohol).
Now a few years back, I think it was with SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Bill Bennet, the government came up with the idea of 'zero tolerance.' Part of this wonderful mishmash of authoritarian ideas was a concept known as 'asset forfeiture' which allowed the government to take property from accused drug dealers without trial or proof of guilt. This was said to be designed to put 'drug kingpins' out of business. This was put in place with typical legal arbitrariness by simply terming the asset forfeiture a civil action instead of criminal (totally disregarding the letter and spirit of the constitution).
Fast forward a few years. Recreational drug users are having their cars and homes stolen under color of authority by your police state operatives. Children are being trained in government schools to accept the concept of being presumed guilty and having their bodies monitored with drug tests. Farmers and other property owners are having their greatest economic asset, their land, taken from them under asset forfeiture rules because of some alleged violation of the endangered species act. Legal defense counsels are having their bank accounts frozen if they agree to defend someone accused of a crime, because some of their money may have originated from the alleged illegal activity of their client. None of these requires any criminal prosecution, burden of proof is now placed on the victims of government theft instead of their accusers.
NO drugs were considered illegal under federal law when the Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791. There were no drug tests mandated by federal law under the banner of the interstate commerce clause of the constitution.
Example number 2:
The right to keep the fruits of your labor. The income tax was instituted about 1913 (I may be off by a couple of years). During the debates in congress it was brought out that some worried that it may go as high as 10% but this was ignored as alarmist! Last year I paid 27.5% income tax plus 15.3% self employment tax.
Example number 3:
The right to keep and bear arms. I don't think I need to go into any detail, except to say that when the Republic was founded this was considered to be an absolute right of the individual. The phrase, "shall not be infringed" meant just that.
Example number 4:
Property Rights for Land. In addition to the previous example listed under the War On Drugs. Go to you're local government and find out what permits, fees, taxes, and restrictions are placed on you and your land if you want to create dwellings for human beings. (Then ask yourself what contributes to lack of affordable housing.)
Do you know how many new laws, regulations or taxes were passed by your state government last year? Do you know how many new laws, regulations or taxes were passed by your federal government last year? Your county government? Your city government? Every time a law or regulation is passed stating that you must do something, that curtails your freedom. Every time that a law or regulation is passed stating that you must not do something, that curtails your freedom. Everytime your taxes are raised, the freedom to decide how your money should be used to improve things is taken away from you. Most of these taken by themselves may seem rather small and relatively inconsequential, but what happens when you consider their effects in totality? Your freedoms are being taken away incrementally.
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"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
-- US 4th Amendment
"... nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
-- US 5th Amendment
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
-- US 9th Amendment
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."
-- US 10th Amendment
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