What is Digg?663 Comments
- runrun401, on 01/05/2009, -18/+1002Let's face it, after the Patriot Act, the whole map might as well be orange.
- msaleem, on 01/05/2009, -23/+783In case this needs more clarification, here's a simple explanation:
Basically, it means that you can legally be stopped and/or searched for any reason (or even without reason) if you are within 100 miles of the coast or a US border, i.e. the constitution doesn't apply in these areas. - AnarchoGoth, on 01/05/2009, -4/+255Laws, like the PATRIOT ACT, are superseded by the Constitution.
Unfortunately, laws that are unconstitutional, are seldom (never?) declared so and removed until after they are tested in court.
This means that someone is going to have to stand up for themselves, possibly under the threat of great risk.
It is easy to talk tough, but following through when an armed agent of the government is facing you down. I honestly do not know how I would react, but you never know what you are capable of until something serious happens. Still, it might help to be mentally prepared before it happens. Maybe it never will happen to me, but if no one takes a stand then things will only get worse. - Bravedude, on 01/05/2009, -33/+229http://digg.com/politics/ACLU_2_3_of_US_population ...
Power user dupe of a 73 day old power user story?
Also, I didn't even search to find out, it was the first thing on the Related By Keyword section.
EDIT: Wait, even though the articles are different, isn't it still a dupe to repeat a story already made popular? If I am wrong, rightfully bury me. - equanimist, on 01/05/2009, -4/+164@msaleem
Hey, jack, I submitted this ages ago; wrote about it; it got picked up by Reuters
http://digg.com/politics/ACLU_reports_on_Constitut ...
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/politics? ...
And, if you didn't like the "original" ACLU site that I submitted and the article I wrote, somebody submitted an arstechnica piece that got hugely popular ages and a day ago.
http://digg.com/politics/ACLU_2_3_of_US_population ...
How's about we use the shout feature to alert our friends to interesting things that have already been submitted and discussed by others. - JenniferInMO, on 01/05/2009, -16/+170you are an idiot Alan. The ACLU is hardly a "left-wing" organization. Where did you hear that on Rush? Ask any Ron Paul supporter, member of the Libertarian party or other person who believes the Constitution should be protected at all costs.
You are buying the GOP talking points and you and those like you are exactly what has allowed our civil liberties to be eroded to the point where we are now. It is unthinking people who believe what they are told who allow their freedoms to be taken from them willingly. - thejimmyo, on 01/05/2009, -8/+123"After all, it was America that ended the 3,000 year-old practice of slavery"
Not quite.
"minorities in this country, gay and lesbian, women, handicapped, enjoy more individual liberties and protections than in any other country in the history of the world"
Thanks, in part, to the hard work and dedication of the good people at the ACLU. This doesn't however, mean that there isn't any more work to be done, or that there aren't serious civil liberties issues that pop up from time to time.
"any American who is unhappy ... has every liberty needed to exit the United States of America"
Unhappy Americans also have the liberty needed to work to make the United States of America a better place, and to comply with its own Constitution. - JenniferInMO, on 01/05/2009, -27/+132@Lone: the ACLU's purpose is to preserve our civil liberties where they are most likely to be abused. The Second Amendment has several organizations which are extraordinarily influential and powerful which lobby and fight law suits to protect it. The ACLU defers to the NRA and other organizations to take care of the Second Amendment.
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -69/+172I don't suppose the ACLU would care to add regions to that map where the Second Amendment is ignored.
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -7/+110I don't mind digging this repost.
- BullHunter, on 01/05/2009, -7/+97Oh don't we just love our human rights being violated... all the name of freedom of course
- lorem1000, on 01/05/2009, -4/+85"minorities in this country, gay and lesbian, women, handicapped, enjoy more individual liberties and protections than in any other country in the history of the world."
Laughing out loud.
I can assume two things: 1) You do not fall into one of those groups, and 2) You've don't venture often into other parts of the free the world.
Yes, every American has plenty of liberties to be grateful for (doesn't mean we just be complacent), but this idea that our country has the best forms of all freedoms and liberties and rights and [other glittering terms] is close-minded, unfounded, and frankly an unpatriotic thing to think. Those who want to improve America do not hate it. They are the ones that need to STAY, not exit. - ruler4, on 01/05/2009, -16/+97The map has at least one major flaw. "Within 100 miles of US land and *Coastal Boarders*." Last time I checked.., all of Lake Michigan was within the US border. That would leave Chicago and Milwaukee out of the orange area.
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -14/+95Here is the ACLU's position on gun control. http://www.aclu.org/crimjustice/gen/35904res200203 ...
Looks to me that the right to keep and bear arms is one the ACLU would rather did not exist. - meruru, on 01/05/2009, -2/+74My entire state is a constitution free zone =(
- JenniferInMO, on 01/05/2009, -6/+66@ lone: as much as I hate to admit it, I had to digg your comment. You were civil and provided a good link.
The ACLU has to prioritize its cases. There is probably more money poured in the NRA than the ACLU. I would prefer the ACLU stay out of it. On the other hand the NRA is SO pro gun that is is probably good to have someone challenge those staunch views of the NRA so that we end up with good law in line with what the Constitution intended.
You may disagree with the ACLU's position on the Second Amendment, but they work hard to make sure SWAT teams don't ascend on your home while you sleep without a warrant, they work hard to make sure our rights to speak out remain in tact and they fight tooth and nail for religious freedom and separation of church and state. They take cases of vile criminals whose due process has been violated and which might end up creating a dangerous precedent which would affect us all.
I was disgusted with the ACLU when they took on cases from groups like the KKK, but after thinking about it if one person's right to speak out is violated my rights could be next. I was thankful for that. No one else would have taken the case. - thejimmyo, on 01/05/2009, -4/+62"gay and lesbian ... enjoy more individual liberties and protections than in any other country"
This isn't quite true, either. They don't enjoy full marriage and partnership rights in the United States, unlike Spain, Canada, Belgium, South Africa, etc. The practice of homosexuality itself was even outlawed in some regions until recently, when the ACLU successfully stood up and fought for the rights of gay and lesbian people. - oldhick, on 01/05/2009, -5/+60Twice, and you?
- equanimist, on 01/05/2009, -3/+58@bownasterm,
What happened to, 'A hundred guilty men should go free before we imprison even one innocent man'?
This is the US. Nobody should be denied his or her Constitutional Rights! Not if you don't like them or their ideas or their culture or their race. Not now. Not ever.
That a framework may exist to routinely do so is unacceptable. It might be that we don't see more of it because outfits like the CBP are awaiting the outcomes of pending cases. It might be that some future administration uses the authority more frequently.
Whether or not it is "widespread" now hardly matters. The US legal system is based on precedent. Maybe you're a good person. I don't know. But, damn, wake up! - JekJob, on 01/05/2009, -1/+54I always look to this quote, because it comes from someone who helped build this country:
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin - mechfluff, on 01/05/2009, -5/+55what a ***** of *****
- Acrobeles, on 01/05/2009, -2/+51As I understand it, the U.S. was not a leader in abolishing slavery... we were decades behind Great Britain and the south was VERY reluctant. And having more liberty than someone else does not mean that there is not more work to be done.
- equanimist, on 01/05/2009, -3/+51Read the ACLU blog and the Washington Post articles written about pending cases and watch the videos before you comment. Eh? These powers are much broader than you think.
- cyrusuncc, on 01/05/2009, -4/+49Michigan got screwed on this one
- Vektuz, on 01/05/2009, -2/+45That's unfortunately not how digg works.
Instead, it works by the top diggers resubmitting stuff and then having their 1000 friends digg it. - lornefs, on 01/05/2009, -5/+45Land of the free my ass.
Sorry but in my opinion the terrorists won, what an overreaction. - RogerStrong, on 01/05/2009, -4/+42The US only ended slavery in the US. In much of the rest of the world it ended long before.
- drmangrum, on 01/05/2009, -3/+40Your rights are only good if you exercise them. The Patriot Act can not supersede the constitution.
If you know your rights and let "authorities" do what they want, that is YOUR fault.
If you don't know your rights, that is YOUR fault.
For instance, the answer to the question "Do we have permission to search your vehicle?" during a routine traffic stop is "No." People seem to be suffering under the delusion that law enforcement has a free pass to do what they want. While it's always best to comply and then seek litigation after the fact, you do have the right ( and obligation ) to stand up for yourself. - homer4199, on 01/05/2009, -0/+37Everyone gets screwed on this one.
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -9/+46Spoken like a true ignorant American Redneck.
- Navicerts, on 01/05/2009, -5/+41So ANY law is OK as long as it does not effect you right? How nice.
- PhillAholic, on 01/05/2009, -7/+43while I see your point, and agree that the NRA does a fine job, I believe the ACLU should represent the second amendment as well in order to be considered a completely fair and balanced organization.
- munawarali2, on 01/05/2009, -2/+37"American who is unhappy about their coastal borders and imaginary "Constitution-free" zones has every liberty needed to exit"
Why? Why are dissenting voices told to leave? Dissent is as American as Apple Pie. - jgzman, on 01/05/2009, -3/+38Based on my quick understanding of this, the area around Lake Michigan is interdicted because Terrorists could potentially use a ship to land there without first encountering any kind of security. In other words, I am reading "Coastal Boarder" as a place where someone could first step onto American Soil from an oceangoing vessel.
- PIPBoy2000, on 01/05/2009, -5/+40Its like someone just outlined a border, and said "Here, this is fact"
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -1/+34The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
- gemlarin, on 01/05/2009, -6/+38This was on digg about a year ago. Normally I would cry dupe, but I know many people probably missed it and it is a pretty important topic. Thanks for bringing it back.
- Tenbatsu404, on 01/05/2009, -3/+34Don't question, just obey, amirite?
- inactive, on 01/05/2009, -4/+34"how many times have you been illegally searched in the past 8 years?"
4 times, but I attributed that to driving while black. - Navicerts, on 01/05/2009, -4/+34I think you are missing the point if you evaluate how much authority the government has by your daily experience. Let me give an extreme example.
Let's say the government changed the constitution so that the president has the authority to shoot any US citizen on sight for no reason at all. after this law is passed would you say that it is OK based off the fact that you have not yet been shot (or know someone who has been)?
Granted that may be an extreme example but it applies the same logic you use in the "I haven't been searched yet" argument. Laws ARE important regardless of what you may think. - dshPls, on 01/05/2009, -2/+32"Where did you hear that on Rush?"
Rush Limbaugh has been defended by the ACLU, see: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108140,00.html
They've also defended Larry Craig, the bathroom sex dude.
"We believe the sting operation used to apprehend Mr. Craig was unconstitutional. The statute the government is relying upon makes it a crime to use certain offensive words," said Anthony Romero, the executive director of the ACLU."
So no, I don't think it's fair to say the ACLU is a leftwing organization at all... - JimmyTheKid, on 01/05/2009, -6/+35Well, I was smacked down with a flashlight and dragged off of my front lawn on christmas because I was inebriated and smoking a cigarette outside; afterwards arrested for PI, public disturbance and resisting arrest (due to the fact that I tried to go into my house).
I guess that's not illegally searched, but it's pretty illegal behaviour in my book.
True story and I still have the open wound on the bridge of my nose to prove it. Although before it happened to me personally I would have never believed my own story because I had faith in the legal system. - LenBaird, on 01/05/2009, -2/+29If they ask for consent for anything it means that they don't have the right to do it, and are trying to get you to waive your right. If they have cause for a search, they won't ask, they'll just do it. Therefore, for me(and I'd recommend it to others) anytime they ask for my consent for anything the answer will be no.
Flip camera's are cheap, get one and stand up for your rights-another of which is to film a public servant in a public place. - john2kx, on 01/05/2009, -4/+30So it's alright, as long as it's only happening to other people?
Please get the ***** off the internet. - Speed, on 01/05/2009, -6/+32The ACLU is considered left-wing because it's generally the right that want to strip people of their rights. For some reason, it seems to be a very conservative thing to do to want to strip people of their rights or deny new rights, whereas it seems to be liberals who want everyone to be free, even if it means we are less secure.
- catbeller, on 01/05/2009, -1/+26Berlin, Germany, 1944: In todays news: only ten Jews killed in prison. Most notice no difference in their daily lives.
- RogerStrong, on 01/05/2009, -1/+26The border patrol recently granted itself the right to search and seize peoples' laptops, cell phones and PDAs, for an indefinite period of time, without probable cause.
http://www.itworld.com/legal/54007/us-border-agenc ...
With the border effectively extending 100 miles inland now, does that give them the right to search and seize the laptops of 2/3 of the population? - catbeller, on 01/05/2009, -1/+26Yes.
- normlsparky, on 01/05/2009, -3/+27@Volleydogg
The video in question was put up on several websites that are usually very credible. I doubt you personally debunked the video with your superior RESEARCH skills. There are numerous other articles right here on Digg that have actual photographic evidence of innocent civilians and children being injured and killed, so I'm not sure what your point is.
It is clear that you don't understand the basic concept of liberty. Ron Paul had a huge following because he did. He was the only republican running in the primaries who understood that concept. McCain even attempted to get Paul to endorse him because he desperately needed the extra votes from Ron Paul's followers. Of course, Paul refused and McCain lost. - catbeller, on 01/05/2009, -2/+26What terrorists? What the hell is a terrorist? This is protecting us from the undefinable yet omnipresent, eternal, undefeatable Enemy. A war without rules and budget restrictions that can never be won, fought, or defined. A forever war that has made a ***** of men rich and has turned us into a police state by any definition.
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