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This Is the Way of Dictatorships
by Tom Chartier
by Tom Chartier
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"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot
easier... just so long as I'm the dictator."
~ George Walker Bush, 2000
Was this a really a joke? Back in 2000 many thought so. But was
George in jest? Maybe there was more to that remark than bad taste. Maybe it
was a private prank on the American people.
That was then, but this is now: It's not a joke anymore. It's
reality.
With the help of three posturing Senators and a spineless, corrupt
Congress, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 has been imposed upon the
Republic. For those still in the dark, under this law George W. Bush has the
full power not only to decide who is a threat but also to order his Praetorian
Guard to haul the suspect away to whatever end. Neither courts nor Congress nor
citizenry have legal recourse or protection from the wrath of Emperor George.
George W. Bush got exactly what he wanted. George Walker Bush is a
dictator.
Things will become a lot easier for him from here on. Of course in
Bush's "mind," he is still busy "protecting us."
But, we all know that the real purpose of the law is to protect
Bush from Americans. From opposing views, Bush shields himself; to dissent he
is deaf. This is how he has always run his administration. Thou shalt not
disagree.
This is the way of dictatorships.
Who will be the first innocent American to fall prey to this
heinous new law? Who will be the first citizen to be arrested under George's
orders, tried (maybe) under a Military Tribunal and then disappear?
That poor soul will be painted as a threat to American security.
Any American loyal to the Republic and the US Constitution who is possessed
with the courage to be vocal will be a threat to Bush. Those who speak out are
always the first to be quieted.
This is the way of dictatorships.
Will it be a highly visible critic? Will Keith Olbermann be framed
and fired? Will Cindy Sheehan be arrested. again; this time to be shuffled away
to Guantanamo for keeps? At the very least, Camp Crawford has to be an eyesore
to Bush. Those in power always consider protesters threats.
What about the great lampooners? How about Bill Maher or Jon
Stewart? Maybe Stephen Colbert will be the first. His sense of humor seemed too
much like the truth to the press corps gathered in Washington DC last spring:
"Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the
decider. The press secretary announces those decisions and you people in the
press type them down. Make, announce, type. Just put them through a spell check
and go home!"
In Bush's world would Mark Twain be safe upholding the tradition of
poking fun at the President all and sundry and thus enjoy his Constitutionally
guaranteed right to freedom of expression? Doubtful. To paraphrase the late Joe
McCarthy - Are you now or have you ever been making fun of George W. Bush?
This very moment, is the White House drawing up a list entitled
"Enemies of Bush"? Are you on it? I probably am.
Will journalists who report the truth about the Bush regime simply
cease to appear in print? Will Internet sites hosting dissent be shut down?
Will the FCC play a role? Will LewRockwell.com be shut down in the interest of
"national security" simply because his site has been critical of Bush?
This is the way of dictatorships.
The voices of reason, debate and dissent will be silenced. They
will be replaced by voices of those who are not "stumped by morality." The US
Constitution and the Bill of Rights will cease to protect US citizens from
tyranny. "Elected officials" (oxymoron) will be nothing more than cringing
servants of The Master. The courts will be nothing more than rubber stamps for
the Will of Bush.
This is the way of dictatorships.
Ordinary citizens will display the American flag not out of pride
but from fear lest they vanish overnight. Americans will be careful to be seen
as "with Bush" rather than against Bush. The artificial, paranoid fear of
terrorists will be replaced by a very real fear of our own government. And
finally, when everyone speaks in hushed tones of "disappeared" people whom once
they knew, will it dawn on Americans what a precious thing they have traded for
the "security" of George W. Bush?
This is the way of dictatorships. Welcome to The New American
Century.
Elizabeth Gyllensvard edited and contributed to this article.
October 6, 2006
Tom Chartier [send him mail] played lead guitar in legendary Los
Angeles punk band The Rotters for 26 years until their final appearance in
January of 2004. He has lived in Tokyo and Los Angeles. Currently he resides
somewhere in the Caribbean.
Copyright © 2006 LewRockwell.com
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