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The deadline of yet another, and perhaps the most insidious, element of the post-9/11 initiatives (a partial list of which includes the establishment of the Transportation Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and a never-ending international war against a nebulously-defined, noncorporeal enemy, "terror") is less than one year from coming to fruition. Beginning no later than October 1, 2020, citizens of all US states and territories will be required to have a Real ID compliant card or US passport to board a commercial plane or enter a Federal government facility. Pundits citing the inevitability of what amounts to a national ID card have, regrettably, been vindicated.
https://www.aier.org/article/while-you-slept-government-created-internal-passports/
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday November 06 2019, @03:40PM (9 children)
Um, no legal nor political science expert here, but USA is a republic, not a democracy, in spite of what is commonly said even by major political figures. Read older political works, speeches, etc.- they always talk about "our republic".
Sometimes I wish USA was more of a democracy, and we occasionally have referendums. But sometimes I think it goes very wrong. Here's an example of where I wish we did not allow the public to decide:
I read where yesterday Pennsylvania had a referendum about "victim rights" which passed overwhelmingly. Most of the provisions seem obvious, and I'm surprised they weren't already in place.
But one provision seems very contrary to "due process": the accused no longer has the right to "discovery". So if someone accuses you of something you did not do, you have no opportunity to prepare a defense. You have to guess what evidence they may have, even if it's flawed, fraudulent, or just plain wrong, and you have to hope you've guessed correctly, and/or that you and/or your attorney are quick enough to figure out and defend it in oral argument (court).
So now more innocent people will be thrown in already cruel and overcrowded prisons, and they'll rot there while hoping for an appeal.
Point is: general public often vote on emotion. That referendum should never have passed. It further chips away at "innocent until proven guilty".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 06 2019, @04:23PM (1 child)
A nation being a "republic" simply means that the head of state is not a monarch. The United States has an elected head of state called the President of the United States, so indeed it is a republic. It is also a democracy due to the election bit.
Of course the older speeches from the founders made a big deal about "our republic", because they were Seriously Pissed™ at the British monarchy and wanted nothing whatsoever to do with it.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday November 06 2019, @07:27PM
Agreed, except, again no expert, but I thought "republic" meant we have representatives (and senators), rather than "direct" democracy.
And in USA case, the representatives are "democratically elected"*.
*Is there any other kind of election? OK, maybe one where the already in place officials elect new ones?
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Wednesday November 06 2019, @06:57PM (3 children)
And one has the right to challenge the law in the judiciary. If it indeed removes discovery, then it will be a due process violation and it is only a matter of time until it is struck down. Anyone convicted in the interim where the law change may have played a factor will be turned loose once the law is overturned.
Now if it were nothing but a republic (or a pure democracy) then there could be no judicial review. So maybe it's best that we have the system we do.
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday November 06 2019, @07:30PM (2 children)
Well stated. I'm always worried when I hear of laws that remove basic rights, due process, etc. I don't like that the police will drag someone away in handcuffs solely on one person's say-so, for example. You've given me some hope, thank you.
(Score: 2) by Nobuddy on Thursday November 07 2019, @03:22PM (1 child)
Gitmo.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Saturday November 09 2019, @11:06PM
Aaaaand, right back to depressed about the govt.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Reziac on Thursday November 07 2019, @03:09AM (2 children)
In the 28 years I voted in California, a state with many ballot referendums -- I saw exactly two that were not either destructive of liberty or functionally a tax hike to give money to some special interest. Yet about half of these passed. Most voters vote with their feelz, and are easily swayed by mudslinging (not so much by hard cold facts).
So, yeah.. I thought power-to-the-people via referendum was a dandy idea... until I saw it in action, over and over and over.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday November 07 2019, @03:35AM (1 child)
> Most voters vote with their feelz, and are easily swayed by mudslinging (not so much by hard cold facts).
Yup. Sad but true. "Never let the facts get in the way of a good (news) story."
"Popular Misconception" drives much of society's thinking and voting. People are too quick to believe what they hear in the news- they should be more skeptical. We need more Rosanne Rosanadana newscasters.
In the news recently: CA proposition 47, which has resulted in a huge upswing in crimes of theft, shoplifting, etc. Brilliant!
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Thursday November 07 2019, @04:51AM
Apparently the next natural step for a fullblown liberal democracy is to vote yourself into chaos.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.