Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

Heard on the radio a few minutes ago in a report about the debate in Congress over renewing the PATRIOT act: "A nation in fear cannot be a nation that's free." -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

But that's exactly it. A nation in fear can be pushed to pass (renew, extend, magnify) laws like the PATRIOT act which make us less free. And the role of folks like Frist is precisely to play fearmonger.

These people aren't trying to keep us free. They're trying to keep us afraid so we can be manipulated. (Not because they want to make us less free, specifically; because they don't give a damn about our freedom and therefore don't care whether it's a casualty in their own striving for power.)

Terror is as much the tool of people like that as it is of the folks who blow things up. Don't let the ah, y'all know how that goes. Probably better that I say instead, "Don't be fooled again."

[Edit: it didn't pass today (*whew*) but if I'm reading correctly another proposal to extend it could come up in the next two weeks ... ? The idea that the PATRIOT act is so blindingly crucial for security is undermined, I think, by this: "White House allies said they preferred to let the provisions expire and hold Democrats responsible in next year's midterm elections rather than let opponents whittle away at the law." -- that is, it's more useful as a political football to score rhetorical points with, than important to our safety, even to the folks who think it's a good idea. Either being able to point fingers and accuse their opponents of making us less safe is more important than doing what they can to keep us safe anyhow, or the PATRIOT act isn't really important to keeping us safe to begin with. My personal guess is both.]