Nibbling at Our Rights

by Ruth A. Sheets

Is it just me or is there a concerted effort to bit by bit take away rights of American citizens?

The evidence, laws are being passed, in the name of stopping voter fraud, requiring photo I.D. in order to vote.  There is no structure to insure that everyone can get that I.D. free of charge and with a minimum of inconvenience.  That should remind us of the poll taxes and other voting restrictions applied to African-Americans and some poor Whites in the pre-anti poll tax -Constitutional amendment times in the South.

States have passed “Stand Your Ground” laws which allow someone with a gun to shoot a person, even if the person is unarmed.  What about the rights of the unarmed?

America's Security Complex has obtained enormous power in our nation.  The “War on Terror” has so mobilized them that it is now permissible to detain American citizens indefinitely under the guise of “stopping terrorists." It is also possible to use drones against Americans suspected of terrorism.  What about due process?

Now, we learn that the Congress has just passed in its “Defense” bill that we Americans are allowed to be propagandized.  Of course, we have the right to turn off the TV or not buy the newspapers and magazines that contain such propaganda, but how do we know when we are receiving the truth and when lies in the guise of truth?

Regulation is now being described as unnecessary, job destroying.  The wealthy and powerful would say “anything goes” in a free market.  What about the rights of people to have clean air and water, to have safe food and medicines?  What about the right to be part of a working economy?

When people assemble to protest their loss of rights, they are met with anger, police violence, and negative media coverage, even though the protesters have the right to be there.

OK, so these are not “official” rights like freedom of speech, religion, etc., but they are rights that have come to at least partially represent what it means to be American.  One can’t help but wonder if the folks who are working to limit the rights of fellow citizens are aware of what they are doing and the consequences.  

It seems to me that this nibbling at our rights is more dangerous to us than terrorism because it has the power of a huge bomb, but the stealth of a deadly disease.  Unfortunately, I am not sure the average American has either the weapons or the will to fight it.