The following are examples of freedoms, which Bush and Congress have already taken away from the American people (as reported by the Associated Press):
Freedom of Association:
Government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity to assist terror investigations.
Freedom of Information:
Government has closed once public immigration hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges, and has encouraged bureaucrats to resist public records questions.
Freedom of Speech:
Government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone that the government subpoenaed information related to a terror investigation.
Freedom From Unreasonable Searches:
Government may search and seize Americans’ papers and effects without probable cause to assist terror investigation.
Right to Legal Representation:
Government may monitor federal prison jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients, and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes.
Right to remain silent when questioned by police:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that citizens no longer have the right to remain silent when questioned by police.
Right to a Speedy and Public Trial:
Government may jail Americans indefinitely without a trial.
Right to Liberty:
Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them.
“…the Bush administration has done more to dismantle constitutional protections of our liberties than any other president in modern history. It seems that people believe that until federal Storm Troopers knock down the doors of their homes and drag them off to the Gulags, they have lost no freedoms.
Nothing could be further from the truth.” – Chuck Baldwin, Baltimore Chronicle
