Op-Ed: Have You Drawn Your Line In The Sand?

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At what point will the citizens of the United States say enough? At that point will their voices be heard or will it be a moot point?

Looking back at the recent administration of the present administration one has to question what the heck is going on. The line was cast in the sand a long time ago. Politically the residents of the United States don't have a foot to stand on if the government decides that martial law is needed to govern its people. The laws are already in place. It just needs that inky signature on the dotted line to enforce.

The John W. Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2006 was signed, sealed and delivered on October 17, 2006 by George Bush. It looks good. If you read the lines it appears that the powers that be will be ready and able to move in and "protect" its people in case of a natural emergency like Hurricane Katrina. Just don't read it closely and you won't have anything to fear.

"But on closer inspection, its language also alters the two-centuries-old Insurrection Act, which Congress passed in 1807 to limit the president’s power to deploy troops within the United States ... 'to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy'," Stein wrote.

"But the amended law takes the cuffs off" and "critics say it’s a formula for executive branch mischief," Jeff Stein, CQ National Security Editor wrote, as "the new language adds 'natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident' to the list of conditions permitting the President to take over local authority — particularly 'if domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order.'"

That's right Congress has set up the government to put martial law into place when it deems it is needed. Wait, take that back a step. When the President deems it is needed. One man.

How's it feel to know just where that line in the sand is drawn?

The United States has never been as close to complete chaos as it is today. Okay, if you go back a hundred years and more there was that little incident of civil war. Brothers killing brothers and so on. But in "modern" time this is a new one. It's also been done right under the nose of your average Joe. Nifty, huh?

Let's not just put this at the feet of Bush though. Jimmy Carter had a little piece of the action way back in 1976.

"FEMA's powers were consolidated by President Jimmy Carter to incorporate: The National Security Act of 1947, which allows for the strategic relocation of industries, services, government and other essential economic activities, and to rationalize the requirements for manpower, resources and production facilities; The 1950 Defense Production Act, which gives the President sweeping powers over all aspects of the economy; The Act of August 29, 1916, which authorizes the Secretary of the Army, in time of war, to take possession of any transportation system for transporting troops, material, or any other purpose related to the emergency; and The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which enables the President to seize the property of a foreign country or national. These powers were transferred to FEMA in a sweeping consolidation in 1979."

That little rule means if the Prez says state of emergency Congress has to respect that order for SIX months. A lot can happen in six months. Detention Camps anyone?

So what could happen? The list is scary. You've been warned.

EO 10990: "allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports."

Ready for checkpoints everywhere? Having to have a special pass to travel on the road?

Federal seizure of all communications media in the US.

CNN, FOX,NBC,ABC,CBS are all locked lipped. They have to have permission as to what the American people are allowed to hear. Outside sources are intercepted. CBC and BBC are outlawed. Journalists risk detention if they do not go through the proper channels.

Federal seizure of all electric power, fuels, minerals, public and private.

You are rationed your fuel. The government owns it all.

Federal seizure of all food supplies and resources, public and private and all farms and equipment.

Your local farmer is not going to be impressed by this one.

Federal seizure of all means of transportation, including cars, trucks, or vehicles of any kind and total control over all highways, seaports and water ways.

Read this one carefully. Yes that means the car you worked so hard for can be seized for no reason other than the government decrees it.

Federal seizure of American people for work forces under federal supervision, including the splitting up of families if the government so desires.

Think this won't happen? Hear of a little place in Eldorado, Texas? How easy was it for the government to enter and remove 450 or so children?

Federal seizure of all health, education and welfare facilities, both public and private.

Does this mean the citizens of the United States would finally have universal health care coverage? I don't think so.

Empowers the Postmaster General to register every single person in the US.

The local post office is going to have it's hands full. Thought postmen were a little uppity before? You haven't seen anything yet.

Federal seizure of all airports and aircraft.

Well the airlines are all shutting down anyway........

Federal seizure of all housing and finances and authority to establish forced relocation. Authority to designate areas to be abandoned as 'unsafe,' establish new locations for populations, relocate communities, build new housing with public funds.

Hey isn't that part of what those blasted Red Coats did during the American Revolution? Hmm, history does repeat itself.

Seizure of all railroads, inland waterways and storage facilities, both public and private.

What better way to move people like cattle from point A to point B.

Provides FEMA complete authorization to put above orders into effect in times of increased international tension of economic or financial crisis (FEMA will be in control in case of 'National Emergency').

Umm....FEMA? Oh now we can all feel safe. Trailer parks that give cancer is a little trick of this agency. Ready for them to be full scale and serving you?

"Apparently Allows Cabinet Heads to Make Direct Loans to Government Contractors."

Good to know that Halliburton will still be going strong.

So where is that line in the sand? It could just be getting a little worn down if the government thinks it needs to.