How can we promote Democracy around the world if we strangle it at home?
The Patriot Act and the 2007 Defense Authorization Act completely contradict Democracy and constitutionally protected freedoms!
Do we have to suffer just 1 American citizen unjustly arrested or detained before anyone says this is dangerous to allow our government the ability to legally do this?
They have already arrested and/or detained other citizens of the world!
Isn’ it time we practice what we preach intsead of just saying we do?
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Global Referendum – Please Vote Now
Democratic World Parliament
Damn that Patriot Act and its assistance to victims of violence and terrorism.
Title VI: Providing for victims of terrorism, public safety officers and their families is the sixth of ten titles which comprise the USA PATRIOT Act, an anti-terrorism bill passed in the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It provides aid to the families of Public Safety Officers who were injured or killed in terrorist attacks, and amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
Subtitle A–Aid to Families of Public Safety Officers
Tit I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968[1] has provisions that provide for the payment of benefits for public safety officers or the family of those officers who are killed or who have suffered a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty. Section 611 of the Patriot Act expedited such payments and they are now to be made not later than 30 days after the injury has been certified if it was sustained while investigating, undertaking rescue or recovery efforts related to a terrorist attack. Section 612 similarly amended Public Law 107-37[2], which also provides benefits for public safety officers who sustained catastrophic injuries sustained in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The amendment included “permanent and total disability” in the allowable reasons an officer may receive benefits. Benefits were increased from $100,000 to $250,000.[3]
The Assistant Attorney General was given expanded authority under section 614 of the Patriot Act to make grants[4] to any organisation that administers any Office of Justice Programs, which were established under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.[5] The relevance to Subtitle A is that the Programs include the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program.
[edit] Subtitle B–Amendments to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984
[edit] Crime victims fund
The Crime Victim Fund, which is regulated by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, allows private entities or individuals to give donations, gifts or bequests into the Fund.[6] Section 621 of the Patriot Act amended the formula for distributions from the Fund. The Director must distribute not less than 90 percent nor more than 110 percent of the amount distributed from the Fund in the previous fiscal year. However, this does not apply if the amount of money in the Fund is twice what was distributed in the previous financial year — in this case the Director may distribute up to 120 percent of the amount distributed in the previous fiscal year. The Director is also directed to distribute amounts to cover the judicial branch’s administrative costs along with amounts to grant programs.[7] Any funds left over from the distribution were to remain in reserve in the Fund for future fiscal years, without a fiscal year limitation. These changes were later rolled back by section 111 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (H.R. 2500). The Patriot Act also changed the distribution percentages of the remaining amount in the Fund in a particular fiscal year. The percentage given to crime victim compensation programs[8] and for crime victim assistance[9] was lowered from 48.5% to 47.5%, while funds for demonstration projects, program evaluation, compliance efforts, training and technical assistance services to eligible crime victim assistance programs and for the financial support of services to victims of Federal crime by eligible crime victim assistance programs was raised from 3% to 5%.[10]
The anti-terrorism emergency fund clause of the Victims of Crime Act was amended.[11] Previously it stated that “the Director may retain any portion of the Fund that was deposited during a fiscal year that was in excess of 110 percent of the total amount deposited in the Fund during the preceding fiscal year as an emergency reserve” so long as the amount does not exceed $100,000,000.[12] It now reads that “the Director may set aside up to $50,000,000 from the amounts transferred to the Fund in response to the airplane hijackings and terrorist acts that occurred on September 11, 2001, as an antiterrorism emergency reserve” and also details how this amount may be replenished.
The Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act[13] created the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and this was made one of the Federal benefits that should be a primary payer to the States.[14][15]
Rescue Plan for Planet Earth
We can’t, and we don’t. I say that not as a judgment of the troops, since people will predictably be accusing me of doing that, but rather as a judgment of the Bush administration and their enablers in congress (Democrats and Republicans alike).
World Allegiance
We are strangling it at home, so we can strangle it around the world.
Sentient World Simulation
Well thats just like asking a woman “Why don’t you address your deep personal hypocracies?” Because it is easy to say do as I say not as I do, and besides everybody is doing it so that makes it okay.
World Consumption
The terrorist have another spokesperson. The Patriot Act is an example of how our country’s government. Our ELECTED officials PASSED A LAW, and the PRESIDENT signed it. Sounds like Democracy at work.
Vote World Parliament
we can only strangle one thing at a time- patience
world democracy
Our government has no interest in democracy at home or abroad. It wants compliant foreign client-states to make a nice home for American businesses. That means low wages and repressive regimes. If democracy actually prevails as it did in Venezuala for example, then our government immediately flies into ejaculations of protest. You can bet that we are funding anti-government groups in Venezuala to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
World Allegiance
How do you talk to the kids about NOT having sex when you “go to town” as often as you can? Please this is simplistic logic and baiting.
One World Government
Well it certainly is hard for me to get all worked up about a theoretical ‘strangling of our rights’ when you can’t produce a SINGLE example to back up your theory.
The Patriot Act has already proven itself to be very effective in the War on Terror.
Right now, that should be the focus.
Criminals and terrorists ARE probably going to have a tougher time…I have no problem with that.
We have ‘arrested and detained’ hostile combatants trying to kill Americans…thank God…what’s your point?
That’s what we’re SUPPOSED to be doing!
‘Freedom’ does not constitute turning the other cheek to an enemy that wishes death and destruction to us and will stop at nothing to attain it.
What a laughable premise…the dismantling of these terrorist organizations is not worth a ‘…just ONE american unjustly arrested…’
Grow up and join the real world, pal.
Vote World Parliament
Giving respect to all around us then seeking respect from on other with educating each child till next 25 yrs in the world will result democracy on earth
Planet in Peril
Democracy is highly overrated and I believe at times it hurts our society. It is rule by majority, if the majority says do it, the congress runs around and does it, you see the congress enjoys spending your money. The majority does not always choose the right thing to do, yet congress runs around and does it.
There is not arbitration of right and wrong in a democracy. If the people violate the constitution the congress runs around violating the constitution, which of course is wrong.
I think there has to be some judgement on the morality of an issue rather than just relying on the public to say do it. If we wanted a pure democracty we could eliminate most of congress and just run our country based on mandatory polls, would not that be a fine mess…………oops we already do that don’t we.
Sentient World Simulation
we want to take over the world. has nothing to do with us. I mean think about it, we are trying to make everyone like us….why? so they think like us and have no objections to what we want. when the rest of the world follows suit, then we will work on this democracy thing in the USA
One World Government
I have nothing to hide…..Even if I sold crack on my telephone and it was overheard it could not be used against me in court.
I lost friends on 9/11 and I do not wish to lose even more.
Vote World Parliament
Yes I do agree with you.
The democracy / rule of law / equality should also be there in the U. N Security Council. All 185 member nations should be given equal powers, fate of 180 nations should not be given in the hands of 5 Veto Powers, U.S., U.K., France, Russia and China,. It is the highest peak of inequality. These five Veto Nations are exploiting the sovereignty of 180 member nations of U.N.O.,
The General Assembly should decide all the matters of U.N.O., functions of Security Council should be given to the General Assembly and the Security Council should be dissolved.
Without having the democratic soul in U.N.O., how it is possible to have democracy in all the nations of the world.
First follow the main principle of democracy, viz., equality, in the U.N.O., then ask the nations to follow the same.
Otherwise the U.N.O will be failed as Leage of Nation and World War – III will broke out.
World Democracy Online
true. wedon’t have all our freedoms but yet we ‘try’ to give freedoms to others (not that you can give someone freedom through war).
and ask any con on here- we live in a republic but want to spread democracy