Is the US turning into a police state?

Question

A lot of people may think thats an absurd thing to ask but im very worried about the future of our country. people are way to willing to sacrifice personal freedom and privacy for security. it's republicains and democrates. I mean the patriot act, habeas corpus, weapons bans, state amendments towards personla choices like marriage. these are all the type of things facist governemnts do. facist governments dont want there poeple armed (weapons bans), don't want them educated (the us eduacation system is getting worse and worse results), they want there citizens affraid of an enemy that is evil, always lurking and hateful of our way of life. this is so orwellean im getting scared. we've gotten so far from the way our country was 230 years ago so slowly people haven't even noticed as one by one our freedoms were taken away and morality was legislated. i dont think it's going to be more then 20-50 years before they start jailing political dissadents.

Answer 1

If you had ever lived in a police state, you wouldn't think that.

Go try one.  And stop apologizing to the world on behalf of Americans in other posts.  You don't speak for all of us.  Grow up.

lol, Derek, if I knew more about gold fish, I guess I'd have a high percentage like you. lol  You must be brilliant.

Answer 2

A very good question, relevant to our modern time and worthy of consideration and responses.  Without generalizing the entire United States of America while residing in California, it is certainly a major concern here, particularly Los Angeles, where I read and research current events of local, state and federal government news.  It is not encouraging.  I am forty-something, educated, a voter, and love my state and country.  I am dissatisfied with local and national leadership across the board because as a citizen, I deal with government on every level: from taxes to jury duty to contacting my congressmen for issues I cannot reach alone.  For that very reason, it is vital to be involved and learn our government's duties and especially our rights as citizens to control our government, as it is and was created to be a benefit to our daily lives.  To inspect and question authority is not to be unpatriotic or paranoid:  it is to be wise, effective, concerned and willing to participate in one's best capacity a reasonable and honest effort to help make changes wherever needed and to be confident that WE are our government.  

A glaring flaw of governmental injustice should concern us but not invoke hopelessness, fear, or speak of failure.  It should motivate involvement and positive change and remind us that we do have good government as well that still functions within its capacity.

Thank you for asking and allowing me to answer freely, for freedom of speech is not dead in America, but falls short of full participation.  My local county's government made yet another bad headline:  County Assistant Assesser Arrested on Six Felonies.  All at his job.  Last fall a city councilman was arrested and jailed for serious corruption and quite soon the County Assesser will be arrested on felony charges too.  It is very upsetting and disgusting but encouraging that the District Attorney office employs a special unit strictly to watchdog the integrity of judicial and law enforcement agencies.  Unfortunate that it needs it but it helps.

*P.S.  In specific answer to your essential titled question:  YES, it is a police state and has been for some time.  If it is not a police state, then let's hear exactly what else it is and with supportive facts.  It is not a democracy.

Answer 3

OMG, lol, I just posted a question about this...so I don't think ppl are going to answer mine...I'm not trying to be a debbie downer, but this country, the world; it's going way downhill, But I'm more worried about this contry. I mean I'm more of an economic man, but this oil "shortage" will send the world into caos. I mean it's on purpose. They are trying to pull something big, I'm not saying what. But oh it's something...

The stock markets they say are shaping up to be 1930, yeah right after the crash! I mean and it's only getting worse, this oil situation isn't going to get better, in a month, in a year, in 5 years in my opinion...

The Western European markets are down I think 22% from last year...there is going to be something big happen, if it's not energy crisis or food shortage, probably from a result of an energy crisis...gosh why! Why did I have to be born now...it's crazy! I want to scream...

I'm not saying that the United States has the potentail of becomeing a police state, ALOT of potentail, I mean half the population is super obese and dieing so I mean how will they fight? I think we are in a 5%< portion of the population even halfway reailizing that something is wrong...CRAZY CRAZY...Oh and listen to this listening to CNN just heard, "Will there be a terroist attack on the Fourth of July? Well some analist are saying be on the look-out and report any suspicious activity...they say the attack would be symbolic to them..." the news caster almost rolled her eyes it looked like, lol. WHY SAY THAT?! And people belive that when they hear that...I know alot of people who that would make them scared...

Answer 4

You hit the nail on the head.  The problem is that we won't have another revolution, because today's Americans love big government.  They'd trade security for freedom any day of the week.  They would never give up their welfare check, medicare check, medicaid check, social security check, etc.

Answer 5

People have been asking this same question for over 200 years.

It has not happened yet and I see no reason to believe that it will in the foreseeable future.

You talk about losing freedom for security - can you identify exactly how any of the post 9/11 security changes have affected you?  (Besides longer lines at airports?)

Answer 6

Yes. We are becoming the thing we fear most. When gov't and corporations run the show, that is by definition fascism.

One really important thing you left out is the consolidation of media. The bigger huge media corporations are, the less voices there are to be heard.

Answer 7

with gw bush in its very possable

Answer 8

i think you read "1984" too many times... lol

that book had ME wondering...

Answer 9

There are those of us who fully intend not letting that happen. If you want to saddle up with the good guys, take a look here at some candidates now running for public office — these folks cross party lines and have vowed to use the Constitution as their rulebook:

http://www.paulcongress.com/Candidates.h...

Fear of tyranny is always justified, but turn it into action and you'll feel a whole lot better.

Answer 10

We are sliding down the slippery slope of the Nanny State. The War on Drugs was the catalyst and now PACs are clamoring for control of every aspect of consumption by the individual, but in the name of Consumerism the Corporation is the unaffected, first-class citizen.