Do you value your right to free speech?

Question

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955

This bill is in the process of slipping through Congress and both Republicans and Democrats alike see nothing wrong with it. Your right to freedom of speech is under attack.

"The assault on the US Constitution by the Democratic Party is as determined as the assault by the Republicans. On October 23, 2007, the House passed a bill sponsored by California Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman, chairwoman of a Homeland Security subcommittee, which overturns the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free expression, association, and assembly.The bill passed the House on a vote of 404-6. In the Senate the bill is sponsored by Maine Republican Susan Collins and apparently faces no meaningful opposition.

Harman's bill is called the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act." When HR 1955 becomes law, it will create a commission tasked with identifying extremist people, groups, and ideas. The commission will hold hearings around the country, taking testimony and compiling a list of dangerous people and beliefs. The bill will, in short, create massive terrorism in the United States. But the perpetrators of terrorism will not be Muslim terrorists; they will be government agents and fellow citizens."

The McCarthy hearings will be brought back if this is allowed to pass, and so far, it has been moving along without any opposition.

http://no-doubt-tj.livejournal.com/5770.html

Answer 1

This is scary !!!

It needs to be STOPPED.  But how ?

Answer 2

Yes, I do value the right to free speech.

This is frightening.

And sadly, I feel - just a start of things to come in the future.

Answer 3

This is a bad bill, it only authorizes a commission to study what laws should be passed, this is congressional buck passing at its worst.  This thing needs to be stopped before it gets started.

Answer 4

well if it's simply a commission tasked with identifying extremist people, groups, and ideas, but no action is taken against them, i see no problem with it. besides a huge waste of our tax money

Answer 5

I am a liberal and very concerned with the erosion of our Constitutional rights.  I also realize that the Democrats have largely gone along with Bush and the Republicans in this regard - they seem to speak up against these things and then let the Republicans have their way.

In this particular bill I see nothing wrong.  It seems like the purpose of this commission is to study the causes of violent extremism and terrorism, not to attack differing opinions.  Section 899F(a) specifically states that the Constitutional rights of American citizens and lawful permanent residents will be protected - although maybe that means they will torture Muslims who are students or visiting relatives to get information from them.

I think the main problem is that the Constitutional rights we do have are being trampled upon - but these rights and the Constitution still exist - at least for now.  The Republicans can misuse this bill to violate civil rights in the same way they misused other laws.  I'm not sure that the bill in itself is so bad, its the fact that this criminal administration is given free reign to violate the law.

All the more reason to make sure that Obama is elected and that this election is not stolen.  John Paul Stevens is 88 and probably doesn't want to (or can't) hang on for another 4 years, and we need to replace him with another good person who understands the Constitution.  I hate to hope for anyone's death, but Scalia is 72 and looks kind of fat, and if we are lucky President Obama will be able to change the balance of the court so that it does its job again.

Answer 6

If this bill passes they will probably close down Yahoo Answers.

and they might even put granny in jail! Yikes!