"Then there are the conspiracy buffs. They distance the problem from the main stream audience even further ... And then there is Noam Chomsky. He looks at the situation from the orbit, comfortably snug in his multidisciplinary mental space station, focusing on the connections between events - rather than the events themselves."
Author, historian and political commentator Noam Chomsky. (photo: Ben Rusk/flickr)
Noam Chomsky: The Amazing Rise and Fall of Presumption of Innocence
19 March 13
he most bizarre part of Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is that almost no one has heard about it.
And whoever has heard about it, doesn't want to talk about it.
It's almost as if someone took Dr. Goebbels' "The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed" - dictum and mutated it into a 21st century super weapon:
"Tell the truth, but make it so shocking that no one wants to hear about it."
No one wants to hear about the military having the power to detain you on American soil, without due process, indefinitely, at the discretion of the President. It sounds too Stalin. It reeks of conspiracy theory. Besides, it's clearly unconstitutional. So let's go get some lunch.
That's why on December 4, 2012, the new NDAA passed the Senate with a 98-0 vote. Almost everyone was out to lunch.
Except seven individuals who decided to sue Obama instead. But other than that, the resulting rumpus was minor.
Since February 13th, "The Seven" are on their way to the Supreme Court. But no one wants to hear about it. A few individuals against the United States government sounds too Matthew McConaughey, unless you're a natural-born activist.
Chris Hedges, the leading plaintiff in the case against Obama and former New York Times war correspondent, writes about "NDAA and the Death of the Democratic State." But no one wants to really read about it.
Most aspiring journalists and independent minds who become curious about NDAA find that there is a deafening silence around the topic. When they try to raise questions, the silence deafens them further.
Then there are the conspiracy buffs. They distance the problem from the main stream audience even further. No one wants to be associated with folks who think that the President could be a reptile.
And then there is Noam Chomsky. He looks at the situation from the orbit, comfortably snug in his multidisciplinary mental space station, focusing on the connections between events – rather than the events themselves.
It's a long journey from the concept of "freeman" to "NDAA." And there is probably only one man who can explain it.
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Isn't it curious NDAA passed unanimously? It leaves you with the same question we asked after the overwhelming passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006: who would vote for this piece of plop, and why did everyone vote for it yet offer no explanation?
The other day I heard a guy say that after 99% of us are exterminated, a military tribunal form of world government will be implemented. You must admit, it all makes perfect nonsense.
I have a new theory of what's to come, pieced together from things people have told me, that is so far out it's a revelation. The good news is it doesn't include a justice system, especially a really ridiculous one like suggested by NDAA.
I, like you, seek truth, listen, question, then form theories of what's very likely to come. But, I confess, hope I still do that we the sheeple can and will evolve somehow into a Star Trek world, where greed and need for power and control over all has gone bye bye, and is replaced instead with virtue (i.e. humility) and assistance giving to any and all in need of assistance. More love, more caring, more giving, more sharing. And, to hell with evil greed and power addiction.
I do so hope, work and pray that NDAA will go away.
Made on a shoestring budget which makes its supposed filming by a British news crew almost believable, the movie follows a group through the "park" while another is filmed facing the tribunals that will determine their fate. Innocence is not an issue. Defendants are told that their guilt has been predetermined and that the only thing they are allowed to do is attempt to prove their innocence (without attorneys, preparation time, or evidence) or choose their punishment.
While dated in many respects, 42 years later the film looks suspiciously like prophecy. It has never been easy to find, but I highly recommend it. Should it vanish from store shelves or rental outlets....perh aps its grim predictions about the future of American authoritarianis m will indeed have come true.
Plus it is done in an interesting style...Watkins did similar in "The War Game" it may have been way ahead of audiences in 1971 - but it works nicely now. Now I have to look for his other stuff.
while the 'Good Germans' ignore what is being done to minorities and dissenters. Don't believe me? All just conspiracy theory? Wait!
I can agree international EU sex law agreement may allow extradition from UK to face trial on that and due process, but to answer mere suspicion investigators in Sweden is a no-no. They can go to UK to d that questioning on safer Ecuador amnesty land, as Assange has 0offered. Clearly Sweden is playing the USA summary murder game also. Just using rape fabricated charges to get custody falsely.
Ander that system No citizen of any country in any country is safe from USA breach of Magna Carta civi;l rights,
The two major parties have historically outdone one another with atrocities they've imposed upon the public.
Notice that Obama gets lots of former Clinton Administration revolving door specialists to help him follow & outdo Bush. And they seem to relish the work.
Teach logic, critical thinking and reasoning, objective analysis and related thinking approaches in our schools--every year, if possible. Otherwise, we'll all be led by drooling fanatics in the future. Let's face it, we've already had a taste of that, and the taste was wretched.
The problem with progressives and leftists is that they have to spend an inordinate amount of their time explaining that these things are happening. We are in a period of a-history, where the Civil War is whatever the guy on talk radio said it was. If we can't agree on what is fact and fiction, how can we agree on what is needed to revitalize the country?
DON'T COUNT ON A MYTHICAL GOD TO COME IN AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS..UNLES S YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GOD IS THIS WHOLE EXISTENCE AND WE ARE INCLUDED...NOT- TWO..IT IS WE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS AND IT IS OUR BEING UNCONSCIOUS AND ASLEEP THAT ALLOWED THIS COUNTRY TO GET IN SUCH A HORRIBLE SITUATION.
Are you claiming that the ugly things the government does happen merely by accident, rather than by plan? Fredboy says "intentionally dumbed down." Tell us, please, how he is mistaken.
has it become "darkness at noon" in amerika?
the rich get richer, the people suffer, and big brother gets bigger.
"war is peace. ignorance is strength. slavery is freedom."
did george orwell really mean 2013?
THE PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA HAVE BETTER WAKE UP...AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE REAL "PLANET OF THE APES!" AND THIS GOVERNMENT IS PROOF OF IT!
The presumption of innocence has all but disappeared not only in the high profile terrorist realm that only affects relatively a handful of people each year. It occurs to each and every one of us in our daily lives. Let me start with something that is also high profile but it potentially affects millions every year. It is now presumed that you are guilty of being an illegal alien and must prove your legitimate right to vote. Insurance companies every day ask you to prove that a claim for repayment is not in violation of law. And here is the presumption part, without providing any justification of their suspicions. NY City can stop anyone and frisk them without cause, Arizona passed a law that presumes you are an illegal alien. By the way these last police rights are almost always exercised against people of color. What a surprise! In business, the Sarabanes-Oxley act presumes every business is guilty and so must provide extra legal cover to demonstrate that something they do is legal.
Presumption of innocence is all but forgotten by the Right Wing, the Left Wing and a majority of Americans.
Corporations = death. Wake up, humans. The most flagrant example is Alberta's Oilsands. Likewise pipelines, such as Keystong XL--evaluate any relevant environmental impact study.
I am a proud member of Care2 site with 20million users daily who come to write their own headlines , leave petitions to be signed, and donate clean water thru acts of kindness. Our stories of success are published weekly.
Join us ... don't thumb your intellectual nose at us. We get things done and if you show up on this site you will have the world at your feet. I have always loved thee.
Say Ashley Judd should be Senator from Kentucky to watch Mitch McConnell pee his pants and write another anti Ashley Judd campaign. She never said she was running she just threw it in the wind and caught a landslide. Let us all chill and lighten up with doing what we can in our own way. With Love
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