Page 275 - Fruits from a Poisonous Tree

EPILOGUE

The primary reason for the existence of any government is the protection
of its citizens with all of their alienable rights intact. After the events of
September 11, 2001, a Johnny-come-lately federal government now wants to
furnish us the protections we should have enjoyed before the tragic reality of
the thousands of dead in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
I have some concern with regard to the plane that crashed into the
Pentagon. During my stint as a pilot, I must say I was rather hard on military
equipment. After several crashes (none of which were my fault, mind you), I
can say that I have some experience in reviewing a crash site for evidence of
the event. In reviewing hundreds of photos of the scene, I could not locate
any of the fuselage, wings, tail section or landing gear of the doomed aircraft.
I know there was a fire, but there is always a fire at crash sites and still there
are remnants of the aircraft, but not this time. Strange.
The Congress was quick to grant the President sweeping power in his
war against Terrorists around the world via their overwhelming adoption of
the “Patriot Act.” If the provisions contained within the act were applied
only against aliens suspected of terrorist activity in this country, then there
might be some justification for some of the incomprehensible authority now
permitted law enforcement. That act can and will most likely be used by all
agencies of government to invade all citizens’ constitutional protections, not
just foreign terrorists. Anyone who dares to exercise the 1 Amendment right
st
of free speech in speaking out against government policy can be denigrated
by the government and labeled a terrorist. If you seek privacy protection in
the form of a trust, you can be labeled a terrorist hiding his money. Any
attempt to question the fairness of a tax can get you labeled a terrorist. That is
the way it has always worked in fascist societies; ours is no exception.
The Constitution for the United States has been a dead letter ever since
the 1933 passage of the War Powers Act. But the federal beast has permitted
its use by defendants in court when it suited their purpose; it is otherwise
optional to them. Now, however, even the pretense of constitutional
protection is lost under the Patriot Act. Telephones can now be monitored,
homes can be searched and property seized, all without a warrant or without
judicial inquiry. The definitions of “terrorist” are left up to the Attorney
General, the President, or the corner cop on the beat.
When, not if, there is another catastrophic event, be it terrorist-related,
economic, or manufactured by the government, the President will impose

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