Top 10 Signs of the Impending U.S. Police State (Alternet)

[JohnnyRingo]

Is the U.S. becoming a police state? Here are the top 10 signs that it may well be the case.

1. The Internet Clampdown

One saving grace of alternative media in this age of unfettered corporate conglomeration has been the internet. While the masses are spoon-fed predigested news on TV and in mainstream print publications, the truth-seeking individual still has access to a broad array of investigative reporting and political opinion via the world-wide web. Of course, it was only a matter of time before the government moved to patch up this crack in the sky.

Attempts to regulate and filter internet content are intensifying lately, coming both from telecommunications corporations (who are gearing up to pass legislation transferring ownership and regulation of the internet to themselves), and the Pentagon (which issued an "Information Operations Roadmap" in 2003, signed by Donald Rumsfeld, which outlines tactics such as network attacks and acknowledges, without suggesting a remedy, that US propaganda planted in other countries has easily found its way to Americans via the internet). One obvious tactic clearing the way for stifling regulation of internet content is the growing media frenzy over child pornography and "internet predators," which will surely lead to legislation that by far exceeds in its purview what is needed to fight such threats.

Nine more here:
http://www.alternet.org/rights/36553/

[kapkao]

1. ..;

"The Long War"

This little piece of clumsy marketing died off quickly, but it gave away what many already suspected: the War on Terror will never end, nor is it meant to end. It is designed to be perpetual. As with the War on Drugs, it outlines a goal that can never be fully attained -- as long as there are pissed off people and explosives. The Long War will eternally justify what are ostensibly temporary measures: suspension of civil liberties, military expansion, domestic spying, massive deficit spending and the like. This short-lived moniker told us all, "get used to it. Things aren't going to change any time soon."

I'm a big fan of 1984 myself, but I think one of their editors needs to lay off the political fiction for a while. I don't think anyone seriously believes we are inevitably headed to becoming /just/ like INGSOC. Perhaps it's time college political studies professors started suggesting that Orwell never intended to author a literal suggestion for for the future of 20th century politics; merely aspects of it.

In either case, the commentary wreaks of anecdote. The pentagon has never displayed an interest in censoring the general public, unless vital military secrets are involved.

[Richard Steele]

2. Hi, kapkao! Welcome to DU!

So, what do you believe we _ARE_ headed for?

[newyawker99]

3. Hi kapkao!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: