Liberty Lost
With Patriot Act

The Constitution of the United States was signed 220 years ago on Sept. 17, 1787. Hand written on four sheets of parchment, it established our rule of law and with its Bill of Rights was designed to protected the people from the tyranny government could impose.

Over the years Americans have become complacent regarding liberty, believing our leaders upheld their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution.

On Oct. 23, 2001, 43 days after the 9/11 tragedy, HR-3162 was introduced in Congress and three days later signed into law. The Patriot Act was born. Within those three days our legislators read and reviewed the 300-plus pages of the Act that changed our nation from a constitutional republic to a fascist state. One stroke of the president’s pen and we lost our liberty.

Our children have been significantly dumbed down by the government education system sheltering them from the importance of the Constitution and its preservation of liberty. They will probably accept the lack of liberty as normal, never being aware of their entitlement.

Law enforcement no longer needs a warrant to search and seize property. If they seized it in error, what is the chance of its return, expensive litigation?

Can we speak out asking a Senator questions without law enforcement personnel beating, tasering and or incarcerating us?

Soon we will get our national I.D. card. Having one would give the government the right to take it away, should we not follow regulations. We will lose our right to travel freely.

We can be jailed at the whim of the government without an indictment, having to prove innocence, at considerable expense.

A New Hampshire couple, that believes there isn’t a law requiring payment of tax on wages, were found guilty of breaking a law which apparently doesn’t exist and sentenced to five years in prison.

Incarceration for an undetermined time, and intimidation of innocent people for visiting with non-taxpayers and confiscating their property without just cause is common practice today.

The right to assemble peaceably is inhibited with threats of incarceration.

Vehicles stopped for sobriety checks for blood and saliva samples to be taken from occupants, by a private company making a study, occurred recently at five check points in Gilpin County, Colo. While compliance was voluntary, travelers complained, having been unduly detained by the police.

The foregoing is a sample of civil liberties being taken away, due to panic crisis and demonstrates how our Constitution is being eroded from within.

Seventy-four years ago in Germany, the Reichstag, like the Twin Towers, mysteriously burned and was considered an act of terrorism. The German president issued an "emergency decree" at the behest of Chancellor Hitler, for the protection and safety of the people.

Stay tuned folks, history is repeating itself before our very own eyes, in living color.

Stewart Skrill

Randolph