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Raisethefist.com Update
d33l0w3 writes: "It looks like Sherman Austin is off the hook for now. For those of you who missed the previous slashdot posting, Sherman was arrested on Feb. 2 for the contents of his website raisethefist.com. This comes as more of a surprise than the FBI raid on his house." Just a couple of days ago, the government was planning to transfer him to California to face charges there, but now according to Newsbytes, those have been dropped. Read that link I just gave - there's quite a lot of interesting information that came out during the hearing. The attorney's concern about Austin being jacked around in "detention" for an indefinite period of time says a great deal about our judicial system.
Oh, you're represented alright...
By the best government that money can buy!
Oh, the nefarious things polititions do. Did you notice that the campaign finance reform bill passed by quite a wide margin? Hmmmm. It seems as though when it was clear that it would pass, many "changed" their vote to seem more acceptable to voters. They didn't support it publicly, and used every back-room maneuver to keep it off the floor and out of the light, then when it appears and is going to make it, we just jump sides and vote for it.
And Georgie... He's doing lots against the bill(s) in private, but says - Oh, I'll sign it when it arrives I don't like it, but I won't oppose it either - what a crock.
Campaign contibutions are investments by those giving - esp when they're large. If you don't produce a good return (without being to obvious) you'll loose out as an "investment" vehicle.
The representation of us the people is a sham. Sure, if you are unopposed by a monied interest, you'll get some representation.
Just this week, I had a chat with the staff at a congressman's office. He claimed since Enron failed, it didn't get any special favors. [Sheesh, don't get me started on the falicy of this thinking..] He also thought that the prosecution of MS caused the crash of the NASDAQ! Finally, he totally misrepresented the bill in the house that incidentally passed!
I've posted this before, but basically, if you were a friend of the King (i.e. Brought him lots of wealth and power and priestiege) you got lots of representation. The same is true now. It just looks different. Politics, now like always, is ruled by money and power. Occasionally, in history, there is such upset and anger, things change, but not often.
It's funny how we see the "terrorists" who did the Boston Tea party as different than those who committ other acts of vandalism to bring attention to what they see as oppression. Either there's some justifications, or it's always wrong. If the latter, just label the Boston Tea Party participants as EVIL TERRORISTS. Otherwise use reasonable judgement in viewing the acts of others, rather than saying they broke the law and are wrong. Sure they might be wrong, but not just because they broke the law.
Lastly, doesn't it seem like the "police state" is a bit out of control. The protesters arrested during the Republican convention were held on one million dollars bail ($1,000,000). They were awful threats to the state, the prosecution would have us believe, at least to justify bails at such levels that rapists and murders don't see.
What happened? Oh, the charges were dropped! So was the individual a serious risk or not? That's blatant false testimony. Did the FBI etc get slapped for it? Not that I'm aware of?
Basically, in the relation to this whole thread, I find our law enforcement more focused on their well-being, not ours.