Letters to the Editor

Goodlatte, cronies lead KGB-style assault

Bob Goodlatte and 403 of his cronies in the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed another Orwellian, KGB, police-state-type bill (HR 1955), titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This bill is one of the most blatant attacks against the Constitution yet. It defined THOUGHT crimes as homegrown terrorism.  If passed into law, it will establish a commission and a center of excellence to study and defeat so called thought criminals. This bill specifically targets the civilian population of the United Stated and uses vague language to define homegrown terrorism.

In Section 899A of the bill, the definition of violent radicalization is defined as any belief system that the government considers to be an extremist agenda. Since the bill doesn't specifically define what an extremist belief system is, it is entirely up to the interpretation of the government. Considering how much the government has done to destroy the Constitution via the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act and Defense Authorization Act, this bill would be the coup de grace for our individual liberties. Any adversity, no matter how small, no matter how peaceful, could be defined as extremist by the government and you could be arrested as a homegrown terrorist. And, remember, if you are designated a terrorist by the government, under the Military Commissions Act, you lose your constitutional right to habeas corpus and you may never have your day in court.

Sections 899B mentions the Internet as a main source for terrorist propaganda (i.e., the freedom movement). It mentions streams in obvious reference to many of the patriot and pro-Constitution Internet radio networks that have been formed.
Folks, this bill is not designed to protect you from terrorists. It is designed to enslave and further control you in a police state. Remember the words of Benjamin Franklin: "When you give up your liberty for security, in the long run you lose both." I strongly urge you to call, write, or e-mail Sens. John Warner and Jim Webb and tell them you strongly oppose Senate Bill s. 1959.

Glenn Lindley

Waynesboro