Posted by Doug Bandow on 11/28/09 2:34 PM   [Newer: Americans Tire of Policy of Empire] [Older: Public Says Health Care Not Government's Responsibility]

The rise of Big Government threatens all of us.  Whether we are on the Left or Right, are Republicans or Democrats, the expansion of government power is limiting our liberty in almost every area of our lives.  Thankfully, activists across the political spectrum are working together in the Campaign for Liberty and other forums to defend America's freedom heritage.

Even the New York Times has noticed in the area of the criminal law.  Reports the Times:

In the next several months, the Supreme Court will decide at least a half-dozen cases about the rights of people accused of crimes involving drugs, sex and corruption. Civil liberties groups and associations of defense lawyers have lined up on the side of the accused.

But so have conservative, libertarian and business groups. Their briefs and public statements are signs of an emerging consensus on the right that the criminal justice system is an aspect of big government that must be contained.

The development represents a sharp break with tough-on-crime policies associated with the Republican Party since the Nixon administration.

"It's a remarkable phenomenon," said Norman L. Reimer, executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "The left and the right have bent to the point where they are now in agreement on many issues. In the area of criminal justice, the whole idea of less government, less intrusion, less regulation has taken hold."

Edwin Meese III, who was known as a fervent supporter of law and order as attorney general in the Reagan administration, now spends much of his time criticizing what he calls the astounding number and vagueness of federal criminal laws.

Mr. Meese once referred to the American Civil Liberties Union as part of the "criminals' lobby." These days, he said, "in terms of working with the A.C.L.U., if they want to join us, we're happy to have them."

This should be merely the start.  When it comes to unnecessary wars abroad, assaults on our financial privacy, Federal Reserve secrecy, endless corporate and Wall Street bail-outs, health care freedom, and more, only a citizen's movement that crosses partisan and ideological lines can preserve American liberties.

Doug Bandow, American Conservative Defense Alliance

Posted 11/28/09 10:38 PM BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

http://classicalliberalismprotection.blogspot.com/ Saturday, November 28, 2009 How Can We Get Justice From A Corrupted System? Justice eventually will tear asunder the legal barricades created by the oppressors - in the U.S. the historical process that has morphed into the unConstitutional coup. The judicial branch of this perversion of our Constitutional Republic is headed by the Supreme Court so progress will likely be painfully slow until the coup is destroyed. The purpose of justice is bring about unity which implies a classical liberalism society!

Posted 11/29/09 11:28 AM triliberty516 levittown, NY

I often wonder why we are so busy fighting? Why we are so busy tossing one another under the bus and into categories that make us different then everybody else. Why we are so busy alienating on another instead of coming together where we will be more effective at protecting ourselves from the invisible hand of the machine that is attempting to enslave us. And when I say enslave us this is not a joke at all nor is it an over statement. It is exactly what we have allowed to escalate at a unprecedented manner since 911. We have literally and openly allowed this government to do what ever it wants to supposedly protect us from the same things they have allowed to happen. The towers came down and the country is in Mayhem. Since the towers came down. A complete take over. And we are all allowing this. Every last one of us. Instead of coming together we are keeping ourselves separated via Black, White, Asian, Spanish, Indian, Republican, Catholic, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Left, Right and don't forget the way out there Conspiracy Theorists. The wacked out folks that think Kennedy, King, and X were assassinated by agents of our government because they were a threat National Security or engine of the ruling class. That Oklahoma City, WACO, Ruby Ridge, the first attempt to take down the Trade Center and 911 were perpetrated upon us to change forever the way the American people live their lives as a free people. That these events have further trash the law of the land that is supposed to constrain the Federal Government not allow it to Nationalize and completely attempt to control THE PEOPLE of The United States of America whom are citizens of their respective States, not Citizens of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA whom are Federal Citizens. That these events were staged to confuse, divide and separate us. And if they were not then they were allowed to occur that the powers that be could seize upon them to take over our rights and freedoms via our supposed elected officials whom were supposedly elected to protect us and and our freedoms and liberties in stead of take them away one by one. Which we have allowed. The same conspiracy freaks whom believe that the FBI got rid of Malcolm X because he was a threat to over turning the powers of the ruling class via economic changed in his movement further inspiring the blacks to unshackle themselves and empowering themselves. This type of freedom would have spread to the rest of America and other Countries. The same countries we the Federal Government has enslaved all over South America and throughout the World. X a brilliant man eliminated religion from his cause the cause of Black Nationalism. You are not a Black Muslim or Black Christian or a Black anything other then a Black Nationalist. This will get rid of the religious aspect of our movement. That component will fragment our movement and divide our cause, making it weaker. We now don't have to squabble about our religion or our difference because we will never see eye to eye on this or them. Malcolm was a brilliant man even if you didn't think he was a good man. He realized that if Blacks in America related to their religions in their movement they would have been divided. He realized that if the Blacks didn't take their own destiny into their own hands the same way the Colonist our fore fathers did then they would continue to be enslaved to the machine. Unknown to Mr. X and many of us was that he was actually speaking for all of us; Black, White, Indian, Asian, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Librarian, Left, Right, Moderate, Conservative, Liberal and the Conspiracy Nuts too. He spoke to our senses and better angles. Freedom can not be gotten, and maintained if we are separated. We have surrendered our liberties and freedoms to the machine in Washington and the Worlds Wealthy. These are the people behind the curtain trying to kill the middle class and the poor classes of this country. They are attempting to bring us to our knees because there we will be vulnerable and weak. So they can destroy what is left of our freedoms. When the population is poor and killing themselves to survive they are weak. They can't fight back. Then the people behind the scenes can take over easily and completely. The educated classes are being crushed by economic warfare created and perpetrated by the political class for the ruling class. They are attacking from every angle on all of our freedoms. These are the people who were elected to supposedly protect us. Elected by us to supposedly protect this country and all our freedoms. The same people who are in Washington as we speak busy dismantling our freedoms and liberties acting like they are not or this is necessary. We surrender freedoms to keep freedoms? Your elected here to protect no. If you have not noticed they are doing the complete opposite. They are walking all over us and our God Given Rights. Look what is happening. Hand out after hand out to the super wealthy. Not to people who need it. No it is for Bank Bail Outs/Bail Outs to the Biggest Industries in this country and out of this country. These are people who charge the average Citizen to buy their products to pay their super high interest rates. Money that is created out of thin air. Moneys they are privy too. Now we are bailing them out. That's right when the dance ends you and me Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Right, Left, Conservative, Moderate, Liberal, Black, White, Asian, Indian, Muslim, Jew, Catholic, Christian, Buddhist, Seek and Hindu will all be on the hook. Matter of fact our currency is inflating and it's value is deflating as we speak. Thanks to bail outs for the super rich of the world. As people go into Foreclosure and loose their homes the great Barack Obama and Congress show up for whom other then the super rich and super well connected. While your home forecloses. These are the same characters whom helped created this mess with changes in the laws and regulations that were as we thought or were promised would protect us. Our industrial base continues to go into countries like India, Mexico, China, and Europe. And as the world continues to catch on that America is a house of cards who else will be holding worthless Federal Reserve Notes. And don't forget this kind of stuff can't happen here in America we have laws to protect us against that. So what happened with the housing collapse and the Savings and Loans Scam what happened to the regulators and our congress then? Don't forget it can't happen. The Congress elected by the people for the people so that is what we are told are doing the exact opposite of what the people want yet again. Health care? Forced health care? Free People? We are free? The elected few are not working in our interest. They are giving our interests away. Other then a few who sit in Congress. We the people are so focused on our day to day that slowly he whom we elected to protect us has become non other then our enemy. These puppets work for the ruling powers. Guess what it is time to do as brother Malcolm did. We are not White Americans, Black Americans, Asians Americans, Indian Americans, Catholic Americans, Jewish Americans, Buddhist Americans, American Muslims. We are not the American Left, American Right, Conservative Americans, Liberal Americans, Moderate Americans, or Crazy Conspiract Nut Americans such as myself. No WE THE PEOPLE ARE FREEDOM LOVING, FREEDOM FIGHTING, and FREEDOM ENFORCING AMERICANS. WHOM WILL AT ANY PRICE ENFORCE OUR FREEDOMS AGAINST FRIEND AND FOE ALIKE! TRILIBERTY!

Posted 11/29/09 11:39 AM CTLovesNathanHale Atlanta, GA

It is very important that we understand that sociopaths are incapable of having a change of heart and becoming honest people. There is no cure for sociopaths. Meese may very well be a sociopath, which begs the question of his relevance and motives. The ACLU is a foundation front organization which has as its real sole purpose the destruction of civil liberties. I'm not surprised that Meese and the ACLU want to bed down together. Never trust discredited individuals and organizations. We don't need them working against us from within our tent. There are over 300 million Americans, and it makes no sense to buy into the phony change of heart stories peddled by Bob Barr and his ilk. Barr's change of heart gutted the Libertarian Party and gave him a platform to savage Ron Paul -- get it?

Posted 11/29/09 12:09 PM Glenn Cumming, GA

Thank you, Doug, for the link to the article. It is timely as I have learned that there is an injustice occurring this very moment. For those of you familiar with Martin Armstrong's case, he is scheduled to be illegally moved to another prison tomorrow(Monday). I have been reading his articles produced from prison on cycles and his Economic Confidence Model. If anyone is interested in standing up for the rule of law, please read this article: http://economicedge.blogspot.com/2009/11/martin-armstong-forced-to-mov e-to-high.html More information can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/kzuur58 Basically, we are being asked to contact via phone, fax, and e-mail the warden and other people in the Board of Prisons to let them know we are aware of their attempt to skirt the law. Thanks for your help.

Posted 11/30/09 05:08 AM Witness Matthias Pasadena, TX

I read somewhere that the U.S. conviction rate is at 96%, and that Nazi Germany had a conviction rate of 83%. Does that mean an American is hated more by the U.S. government than Jews were hated by the Nazis? Scary.

Posted 12/01/09 1:23 PM Glenn Cumming, GA

***Martin Armstrong Update*** http://www.scribd.com/doc/23382491/Announce-and-Thank-You-11-30-09 Thanks to all that helped stop his transfer.