General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Drones: Do I have a line in the sand? [View all]Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)First, how immediate a concern is it that some American citizen in a cave now considers himself an enemy? How pressing is this REALLY? Is something this trivial worth abandoning our Constitution?
Second, while we are currently discussing a case in which an apparently known terrorist (and anyone in the area) was vaporized on the other side of the world, that is NOT the power the government is now claiming.
They are claiming that they have the legal authority to kill anyone, anywhere, with no judicial process, no oversight, in total secrecy, at their whim. Anyone that they decide, based upon ANY standard or no standard at all, and that such murders shall be free of any question or review. ANYONE, anywhere, at any time, no questions asked. They are claiming, in short, the power to kill at will.
And it will NOT stop there. You know this. YOU KNOW THIS. I never stops there. The only thing that has ever stopped this is the American people saying "No, sorry, your good intentions aside, we are not going to trust you to ignore the constitution and bill of rights. Even if you claim you need the power, even if you claim there is just no other way, even if you claim that it's for our own good."
It's not going to stop. And there is no insignificant next step. We aren't talking about reading emails morphing into spy cameras in your bedroom. We are now talking about murdering political enemies. That's how far we have come. So like I said in the OP, you need to decide if there is anything you strand for at all. If you wont draw the line at murder then you won't draw it anywhere. Just save the justifications and rationalizations and start goose stepping to the polka, because if you can embrace this that's where you are.