I don't want to be an alarmist here. But. Democracy and freedom in the U.S. is hanging by a thread. The U.S. Supreme Court, through a series of 5 to 4 decisions, has so far turned away those who are afraid of or detest freedom and the personal responsibility that comes with it.
But President Bush and his fellow travelers in Congress are one justice away from achieving what the enemies of America have not been able to do since our founding over 200 years ago - to burn the Constitution and grind the ashes into the dirt.
I don't want yet another law to "fight the war against" [insert your favorite issue here]. I don't want yet another law to imprison innocent citizens without being charged, without access to legal counsel, without basic human rights once guaranteed in the Constitution.
We live in an unsafe world and all the laws man can design will not change that. I am reminded of something H. L. Menken once said: "The worst government is the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression."
We live in a time that hangs in the balance. If we choose wisely we may have freedom. Choose unwisely and we will have oppression the likes of which we have never seen here before.
Aloha!
