Hi,
Americans
generally believe our governmental system embraces certain
characteristics such as individual liberty, freedom of speech and
association, the rule of law, a market economy, etc. However, during
times of stress (usually at times of war) our government has strayed
from these customs. Thankfully these departures have been few and, for
the most part, not habitual.
When
the ink on the U.S. Constitution was hardly dry, Congress, fearing an
impending war with France, passed the Alien and Sedition Act which
forbade criticism of the government. Among others, a congressman was
found guilty and was forced to run for re-election from a prison cell.
Prior
to the Civil War Lincoln had the members of the Maryland legislature
arrested and jailed to prevent them from voting to secede. During the
war he suspended Habeas corpus and closed down over 300 newspapers.
Following
our entrance into World War 1, Congress passed the Espionage Act under
which over 2,000 people were imprisoned. One of these was a candidate
for president, Eugene Debs. This law (amended) is still on the books.
During
War War II Roosevelt interred over 120,000 Japanese- Americans in
concentration camps. One of the worst parts of this action was that
before the people were herded into the camps they were given just 48
hours to dispose of their homes and businesses. It obviously was a
buyers' market.
Less than
two months after 9/11 Congress passed the Patriot Act. We still are
finding out what mischief the NSA and FBI can commit under it.
Now,
we are under the arbitrary provisions of Shelter in Place. It depends
on what state you live in, but people are being arrested for walking
their dog, going to church, playing pitch with their daughters. In
Michigan you can go to the store, but you can't buy paint, plants or
seeds.
Once this
is over we will have an opportunity to look back and reassess what
should have been done and, most importantly, what should not have been done. Perhaps we won't be so quick to suspend so many of our cherished core values next time.
