Toolbox of Tyranny

by Groff Schroeder

By the time you read this, the United State's 2008 Election will probably be over. Thanks to President George W. Bush (rejected by popular vote in 2000 and prevailing in 2004 in Ohio under rather dubious circumstances), the office of President of the United States is radically different than it was on January 20, 2001.

Like kings predating the Magna Carta (or dictators since) America's president is no longer bound by habeas corpus rights, is essentially above the law and inherits virtually complete and unchecked power over all civil and human rights – including human life. However, unlike recent history's dictators and even the god kings and imperial emperors of antiquity, the unchecked power of the US President extends to virtually every point on the surface of the earth.

Because information plays such a key role in politics, intelligence and history, the next president will be able to spy on any of us at any time for almost any reason, free of the relatively minor restrictions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The president may arrest and imprison anyone, anywhere for any reason (including no reason). Presidential restrictions upon assassinations have been eliminated, and the idea of trials to establish innocence or guilt appears to have been abandoned, especially in cases of “terrorism,” which is now quite broadly defined. Furthermore, thanks to the Presidential Records Act Executive Order of November 1, 2001, the People of the United States will probably have access to precious few documents relating to the actions George W. Bush (or any president thereafter).

Countless other human rights, civil liberties and privacy, public health and environmental laws We the People fought (and sometimes died) for during the 20^th have been unenforced, selectively enforced or quietly revoked during the last eight years. Often apparently criminal corporate manipulation of the United States government (made possible by “campaign donations” and “omnibus” bills) appear to have led to the systematic looting of the US Treasury, the revocation of important laws and the nullification of the strong separation of powers and checks and balances of the US Constitution. Perhaps only one check and balance to this power remains – the power of the American People to vote for presidential candidates.

The United States 2008 Election Ballot contained the paired names of sixteen presidential candidates, each meeting identical requirements for inclusion on the ballot. What do you call an election in which most voters have little or no information about most of the candidates running for office? How come just two candidates received almost 24x7 speculative “news” coverage and the exclusive benefit of nationally televised “debates?” Why must We the People employ personal research to educate ourselves about any legal candidate for the most powerful office on earth – let alone almost 90% of them?

No matter who is elected, it will be months before America's next president takes office, which leaves plenty of time for shreddin... uh... cleaning out those incriminat... uh... useless documents sitting around in filing cabinets and safes in the White House and vice president's residence. After all, although our representatives are no longer impeachable for violating the Constitution after leaving office they are still subject to prosecution for violations of the law and there appears to be plenty of evidence of that – at least for now.

Toolbox of Tyranny - by Groff Schroeder: November 2008