Letter to the Editor
I am not a native of New Hampshire, although I do consider myself a native New Englander, so I probably don’t really understand the slogan “Live Free or Die.” I would have thought that it might have something to do with not wanting the government to invade my bedroom or my doctor’s office, or listen to my phone calls and read my e-mail, or have access to my financial records unless I have actually done something that is a reasonable cause for a warrant (from the Bill of Rights, in case anyone was wondering where I pulled that from).
But apparently, at least for the people who purport to represent me in Congress, it means that I should be scared out of my gourd enough to want my government to do these things to protect me from terrorists, as well as gay marriage and anything approaching personal privacy. Meanwhile my fears of being without healthcare, heat, safe food, clean air and water and any sort of decent retirement are met with tax cuts for the rich, executive orders that undermine environmental protections, a prescription drug plan that enriches drug companies, and other proposals that hand my well-being over to the tender mercies of multinational corporations that no longer have any common interest with American workers to keep our country economically strong.
Senator Feingold came up with a great line the other day. The Bush administration accuses people like me of having a “pre-9/11 mentality.” But Senator Feingold and I reply that the Bush adminstration has a “pre-1776 mentality.” Pre-Bill of Rights, that is, when George was King.
Excellent comment at digby. "Do you feel safer today." Rings of Regan, and attacks the supposed strong point. Kudos.
-meat.
Posted by: meatornado | February 06, 2006 at 02:12 AM