10 Years Ago You Could Criticize Your Government Officials. Today?

[Blackhatjack]

We used to say that the citizens in this country are the most free in the world, because we had Constitutional rights and liberties guaranteed to each one of us.

Do you still feel that way today?

IF in the name of security we destroy all 'expectations of privacy' that our citizens used to have, isn't it true that the enemies of our democracy have indeed won?

Just wondering...

[undeterred]

1. 10 years ago we were impeaching the president

for getting a blow job and telling a lie to hide it. Now we have a murderous lying administration and we change the laws to legitimate everything they've done.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Is this a free country or what?

I vote what.

[jgraz]

3. In Soviet Union, Government Officials criticize YOU!

[Gabi Hayes]

9. waaaaat a caaantry!

[pt22]

4. The thing is, they've quit listening to criticism.

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

5. Many of us still do, and we haven't been rounded up - - yet. nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. Well, as long as it's a Democrat - you can just make shit up

And make national news!

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

7. See what fear does to a country. The solution. Take back your

rights by speaking up loudly and often, all of us, phone your reps, don't be afraid, speak up in line in the market, country will change.

[Blackhatjack]

8. I for one do not believe '911 changed everything' - it just provided the opportunity to quash rights

IF anything, we should be more vigilant today about insisting upon our rights to investigate and criticize our government and its officials.

[TexasObserver]

10. Free Speech broke out in the 1960s, ruled in the 1970s, began its retreat in 1980s

The freedoms we have are far fewer now than any time in the past 45 years.

[stillcool]

11. Ten years ago I had no idea..

about half the shit my government was doing.

[Igel]

12. Have you read many DU posts?

Or other liberal/progressive blogs?

Or even any conservative blogs?

Criticism is rampant.

"IF in the name of security we destroy all 'expectations of privacy' that our citizens used to have, isn't it true that the enemies of our democracy have indeed won?"

No. If you amend your question to, "IF in the name of security we destroy all 'expectations of privacy' that our citizens used to have, isn't it true that the enemies of democracy have indeed won?" then the answer would be yes. Most enemies don't care if we're a democracy; they have other concerns--some our meddling in their country, some keeping them from occupying the international position they deserve, some because we let our women out in suggestive clothes, some because they don't like our economic system, some the fact that we don't support them. Some don't like democracy, but that's seldom "democracy per se"--usually there's some more terrible trait that democracy is viewed as supporting.

[1]

13. yeah, i don't get it. what could you say 10 years ago that you can't say today?

and seriously, if you had "expectations of privacy" 10 years ago? they were truly just that. expectations.

the only reason a government agency needs a warrant is to make the surveillance activity admissible in a court of law. you don't think they watched and listened, not caring about the "admissibility", before that?

heh.

wonder about that.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. DemocraticUndergound.com may have a few criticisms of government officials

[VP505]

15. I have come to believe that

our Legislative Branch of Government doesn't mind our criticism one bit. They have tuned we the people out, its business as usual and they don't even have the courtesy to tell us to go call someone that gives a fu**, they just ignore us unless they want donations or our vote. Once they get either its back on ignore..

[norepubsin08]

16. I got the crap kicked out of me

on October 27, 1988 in Tacoma, Washington at a George Bush the first campaign rally by his security forces. My crime? Asking the then Vice President "what are you going to do for the poor, George Bush?" It's just more blatant now.

[Selatius]

17. If you can habituate people to accept no freedom, you can habituate them to accept many other things

If we build walls around our borders to keep out the "undesirables," couldn't the wall also be used to keep people in? In the Soviet Union, people knew they had no real power.

[old mark]

18. Criticize government officials?

Where the hell would you start?
I learn more and more about them and I am just amazed they are still in office and not in prison.

mark