The Gestapoization of America
by
Eric Peters
EricPetersAutos.com
Now we canÂ’t
lawfully speak or peaceably assemble. Not within earshot or sight
of those who rule us, at any rate.
HR347 –
the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act is
now “the law.” (More accurately, an updated version of
the Law
to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich. The phraseology
and cadences are becoming so familiar, arenÂ’t they?)
It codifies
the federal government’s practice – ever since the days
of The Chimp – to shunt protesters into what Judge Andrew Napolitano
rightly calls No Speech Zones and more, expands on it –
criminalizing mere speech, mere peaceful assembly, if it
“impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of government business
or official functions” – as defined by the agents of the
federal government. The language is so sweepingly vague it amounts
to carte blanche suspension of the First Amendment whenever and
wherever the government so decides.
Heckling –
or even standing silent with a protest sign could and will
be construed as “impeding” and/or “disrupting”
the “orderly conduct of government.”
And the punishments
for transgressing the new befehl are severe: As much as ten
years in prison and an unspecified fine. The minimum sentence
is up to one year in prison and an unspecified fine. No more plastic
handcuffs, temporarily fitted – a short ride to the pokey and
a misdemeanor fine (even that is an outrage, of course).
Henceforth, “offenders” will be facing life-changing hard
time. Even a month or two in the clink is enough to result in the
loss of one’s job – and with that, the cavalcade into
destitution begins. A year in jail and itÂ’s over for most people.
Ten years? For “impeding or disrupting the orderly conduct
of government business or official functions”? In other words,
for heckling a pompous politician? For denouncing ObamaCare? For
causing Obama (or Romney or any of the other front men) to see or
hear dissatisfaction with their rule?
Yes, indeed.
Rapists
are treated more gently. Of course, rapists – and murderers
– do not offend against the state. It is a key thing to grasp.
They merely trample upon the rights of other people. And they
– the people – don’t matter. As George Orwell’s
Winston Smith explained in 1984, the real crime is political crime;
i.e., dissent. In his dystopia, ordinary criminals were likewise
treated almost kindly – relative to the consequences that awaited
Thought Criminals such as Winston Smith.
And soon –
and now – us.
The chilling
effect this will have on (formerly) free speech will be extreme.
How many will dare to say anything – to even stand on a street
corner – in the face of this? Which is precisely the object
of those behind the new law.
This is a history
lesson in process.
People often
ask, couldnÂ’t the Germans see it coming? Why didnÂ’t they
do anything?
Well, why donÂ’t
we?
May
3, 2012
Eric Peters
[send him mail] is an automotive
columnist and author of Automotive
Atrocities and Road Hogs (2011). Visit his
website.
Copyright
© 2012 Eric Peters