Imperial nation

We’ve all heard the stories of people vanishing in pre-collapse Soviet Russia or China, charged with vague crimes against the State. Saying a few words that criticize their government — something that we take for granted here in the United States — can land you in prison charged with treason. I’m glad we live in a country that puts freedom first. Or does it? The Bush administration is taking its cues from our socialist neighbors.

As the Bush administration continues to ever more resemble the character sideshow Bob from the Simpsons, forever stepping on another rake, its primary issue is not the rakes nor why it keeps leaving them on the ground, or even the cleaning up they where meant for. These people are much more worried about who had the audacity to reveal the existence of the rakes in the first place. — Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)

The administration is on the hunt for anyone that might have leaked information of the NSA spying operations to the media (all this amidst more news that there might be even more spying going on than previously thought). As the Bush administration launches several investigations into who might have blown the whistle on their warrant-free surveillance programs and CIA prisons the press, senators and citizens alike are becoming even more deeply concerned about civil rights. According to MSNBC, The Washington Post reports that dozens of employees have already been interviewed by the FBI, and the Justice Department is warning reporters that they could be prosecuted under espionage laws.

Pretty soon, Senator Arlin Specter could find himself being investigated for this: the republican from Pennsylvania saying today, he might call Attorney General Alberto Gonzales back before his judiciary committee for another round of questioning because of his concerns that there might be more secret surveillance programs … Senator Specter left wondering what [Gonzales] was referring to in a letter he sent the committee after his testimony last month, in which he wrote “I did not and could not address any other classified intelligence activities.” And another rake hits somebody in the forehead. — Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)

Where is our country heading? Isn’t it counter to our constitution to compromise free speech? Our administration is, in effect, telling our press that any leak — even a leak regarding illegal government activity — could be punishable by imprisonment. We are exporting Democracy abroad but compromising our own interpretation of it.

Already the United States is referred to as “Imperial” America in some countries. It’s not a far stretch from here to a scene from some dystopian future, a government controlled state where challenging the establishment is treason.