Today from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Time, Oathkeepers founder Stewart Rhodes and friends will be giving a LiveStreaming presentation on the modern Intolerable Acts. That’s the NDAA, the proposed Enemy Expatriation Act, and related monstrosities like the USA-UNPatriot Act.
Though no force on the planet could get me to sit still to watch four hours of streaming video, and my cynical and anarchistic old heart doesn’t believe in the constitutional governance these folks hope to restore, I think this will be interesting.
Most of all, I like (in a terribly sad way, of course) the meme that these are our time’s equivalent to the original Intolerable Acts — which led not to restoration of anything, as you know, but to rebellion and overthrow.
Ever since the NDAA was inflicted on us, I’ve been looking for the right words. Yes, infinite detention without due process, Big Brother surveillance, military commissions, and all their ilk are just tick marks on a long continuum, as a lot of people here observed. But … well, so were The Intolerable Acts.
At some point, the continuum ends.
Yes, it’s about to get “interesting.” I wish these hopeful folks all the best.
Well, that’ll give me something to do today…
I was planning to go to the Outdoor Wilderness Survival Show at the Convention Center this weekend. But not in this weather… 🙂
Maybe you could use the trip to the convention center as an exercise in outdoor wilderness survival? 😉
You’ve touched on a situation that I’ve pondered for some time.
If “the constitutional governance these folks hope to restore” is attempted, where would that leave them if a rebellion (or revolution) were successful? Would they end up being the Alexander Hamiltons, while other lib-anarchists might become the Thomas Paines when a new America was founded?
I can see that problem arise between limited-gov and no-gov adherents.
There’s no denying the sincerity of constitutionalists among libertarian ranks. I just wonder how they plan to inplement it in the face of nay-sayers — as well as multitudes of sheeple who would follow along behind and be left with whatever the new “leaders” decided.
The patriot act was a hasty and ill conceived reaction to the events of 9/11/01. Since March 20, 2010 due to the enactment of Obamacare over the opposition of the people, a state of war has existed between the government and the populace. The NDAA is the equivalent of the German Enabling Act of 1933. The German variation was intended to deal with jews/communists which were clearly defined elements of that society. The the US version is meant to deal with “terrorists” the definition of which is left up to the Executive bureaucracy. Welcome to the new USSA and keep your mouth shut or you too will see the inside of a FEMA camp.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!!
Sadder thing is, ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ, there was very little about the Patriot Act (other than the voting) that was hasty. It was basically implementing plans made long before 9-11.
The difference between the Intolerable Acts of 1774 and their modern counterparts is that the previous version aroused a substantial portion of the populace to anger and, eventually, rebellion. Today, outside of places like this blog and other hangouts for libertarians and anarchists (a decided minority), a substantial portion of the populace seems to *approve* of the new laws vitiating our freedoms. I think ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ’s analogy is more accurate, and our current situation more closely mirrors Germany’s descent into tyranny in the 1930s than it does the colonists’ ascent to freedom in 1776.
If you look at American history from the beginning, the “intolerable acts” started so long ago that most people can’t point to the first one. I’m not sure I can.
Step by step, inch by inch… one “intolerable act” piled upon another until we are at the bottom of the shit pile were we find ourselves today. We’ve TOLERATED them all.
We’ve got a whole LOT of shit shoveling to do.
Hi Claire,
“Off goes the head of the king, and tyranny gives way to freedom. The change seems abysmal. Then, bit by bit, the face of freedom hardens, and by and by it is the old face of tyranny. Then another cycle, and another. But under the play of all these opposites there is something fundamental and permanent — the basic delusion that men may be governed and yet be free.”
H.L. Mencken
The Threepers and Oathkeepers and Tea Partiers all share the same delusion that dooms their cause–a belief in government. Facepalm.
Dave
“There has been such a thing as letting mankind alone; there has never been such a thing as governing mankind” [with success] — Zhuangzi.
I didn’t start paying attention to the political landscape until 2005 when I began working for a daily newspaper. I was a copy editor, but specialized in layout. I felt I needed some solid opinions to be “able to hang” in the daily newsroom meetings. I was 32 at the time and had no political influence from my family or friends. That subject was not ever talked about. I didn’t know a damn thing. Just going through the motions and not knowing my history. It’s embarrassing to say that.
So I began my own study of the situation and really started paying attention to the candidates and the history of the system etc etc. What I found was a deep seeded “bad vibe” feeling coming from all of them. I didn’t believe them. They were lying. I could just tell. After more and more study and participation in discussions/debates, I came to my own personal conclusion that the current political system is a scam. It seemed to me that I could not find much difference between a D and an R. Sure some ideals are put forth as dividing issues, but I personally didn’t see much difference in the end results. I truly believe it’s a scam pitting one group of people against another for distraction and the illusion of participation.
Being introduced to Claire’s books was even more eye-opening and I’m so thankful for them. It’s absolutely incredible to see the original intolerable acts and compare them to what is already law now. Unbelievable.
I have also found in my short time of gaining good knowledge that nobody will discuss their opinions with me aside from blogs like this as another poster mentioned. The idea that I support some “fringe” viewpoint has alienated me. That’s the scariest thing – the apathy and/or naivety I see everywhere.
JS wrote, “The idea that I support some “fringe” viewpoint has alienated me. That’s the scariest thing – the apathy and/or naivety I see everywhere.”
Welcome to the club.
JS and Clark, please consider that there’s a vast difference between “apathy” and the refusal to be sucked into the political game. The only person anyone can truly govern properly is themselves.
People need “rulers” like alligators need shoes… made from their own hides.
MamaLiberty, … yes, there is a difference.
Unfortunately I see more apathy/naivety in my circle versus stepping away and it’s depressing. I was one myself until I caught a spark. I really think most people have no idea what’s going on – or don’t want to know until something affects them personally.