Thought control: "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act"

[MondoGlobo]

This sounds like just the sort of thing we need to stand up against...

While its purpose is to prevent terrorism, the bill doesn't criminalize any specific conduct or contain penalties. But the commission's findings will be cited by those who see a terrorist under every bed and who will demand enactment of criminal penalties that further restrict free speech and other civil liberties. Action contrary to the commission's findings will be interpreted as a sign of treason at worst or a lack of patriotism at the least.

While Ms. Harman denies that her proposal creates "thought police," it defines "homegrown terrorism" as "planned" or "threatened" use of force to coerce the government or the people in the promotion of "political or social objectives." That means that no force need actually have occurred as long as the government charges that the individual or group thought about doing it.

[alan stuart]

While many many scary things have come about since the creation of that stupid Patriot Act and the follow up Protect America Act (Patriot Act part 2), this by far is one of the worst to come down the pike.
The mere fact that this legislation was slipped in during regular business as a "special" piece of legislation should in and of itself sound warning bells.
Also, it passed by an astonishing vote of 406 to 6.
Nothing in the house gets passed these days by that kind of margin unless they are naming a post office or congratulating a baseball team.
One has to wonder if anyone bothered to read this travesty.
It is not unknown for them not to read what they are voting on, case in point the Patriot Act.
But this bill, now in the Senate, being pushed by Susan Collins on the Homeland Security Committee, with another rabid hound dog Leiberman in the mix, concerns me a great deal.
Bad enough that we have a president to thinks that the Constitution is "just a piece of paper". Plus, a Congress of both houses unable or unwilling to take a definitive stance against his unlimited unchecked power usurpation, we find ourselves with this abomination of a bill headed our way.
Also one has to question, where is the main stream media in all of this ? Has anyone anywhere heard any mention of this bill on any prime time news channel at all? Have they all been so corrupted and biased into reporting only what they are told to, that a topic like this is totally off the radar?

sec 899 A (2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term " violent radicalization" means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.
What is a religious belief system?
The term is vague and leaves open for debate many avenues for thought. Would liberalism, socialism or nationalism fall into this area? How would anyone determine what a religious belief system was? At one of their commission hearings ? What type of questions could/would they ask ? Moreover, who is to say that their opinions to the answers they receive are correct and unbiased.
SEC 899 A (4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE - The term "ideologically based violence" means the use, PLANNED USE, or THREATENED use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the individual's political, religious or social beliefs.
What in the name of hell does this mean? The planned use? How in the hell could they/I/you/anyone on this planet know what they plan to do before they do it ?
You have to go out pretty far on a limb to even suggest that some dipshit sitting on a panel could look you in the eye and tell you that he/she 'KNEW" what you were planning, just by looking at you.
Have we now so far down the abyss towards the police state that if we attend a demonstration or a rally against the government, do we now become face to face with terrorist charges?
To be locked up with no rights, no privileges, no lawyers, no habeas corpus to be rendered to some third world country for who knows what treatment and then to be locked up......forever.
SEC 899B (3) The internet had aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist related propaganda to United States citizens.
This is by far one of the worst sections of this entire bill. This strikes right where you and I are right now. Without a warrant they could now criminalize the thoughts and ideas that are flowing from my mind to my fingers and out to you. This would mean far more greater danger to me than any outward physical action or protest that I could ever make.
In effect, my thoughts and my ideals would be the basis for whatever penalties I might face as opposed to any outright criminal acts I might comit.
Are you afraid Yet ?
I sure as hell hope so.
Make no mistake, this legislation is dangerous.
They could and would most certainly shut down this and all other sites where we feel we have the freedom to say as we please.
So please my friends, spread the word.
Your senators are home for the holidays.
Find them, call their home offices and let them know how you feel about this bill. S.R. 1959
LETS STOP THIS IN ITS TRACKS