NDAA: Worst Thing Since the Alien and Sedition Acts -- In the Best Possible Sense

The National Defense Authorization Act is the most unpatriotic, freedom-slashing, anti-American piece of legislation since the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Of course the, AASA worked out pretty well.

When the US government was young and fearful for well-propertied life, Congress passed and President John Adams signed a group of laws designed to protect the baby nation from the anarchy of the French Revolution or, as it was then known, Occupy the Champs Elysees.

The AASA made it illegal to, among other things, publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" or put another way, anything worth reading. It's also the only kind of news that makes money.

The acts were hugely controversial at the time. Adams' own vice president, Thomas "Where da black women at" Jefferson denounced the Sedition Act and joined James Madison to co-author the Kentucky and Virginia Resolves, which declared the AASA unconstitutional. Had I been around back then, and not held captive on somebody's plantation, I'd have thrown completely in with Jefferson. I'd have been in the streets screaming, "The Federalists have their wigs on too tight!" and, "These guys have inhaled too much face powder." I'd have been absolutely sure that once given the power to jail its critics, no government would EVER give it up.

I would, of course, have been wrong. In 1802, just four years after its passage, President Thomas Jefferson oversaw the repeal of the Sedition Act, making it once again legal in the United States to spread "false, scandalous, and malicious writing," aka, everything we read.

 

Comments

[itiswhatitmaybe]

12:33 PM on 01/21/2012

NDAA INFORMATION:

THE YOUNG TURKS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gstBozWfhQ&list=UU1yBKRuGpC1tSM73A0ZjYjQ&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IeuE16LLDY&list=UU1yBKRuGpC1tSM73A0ZjYjQ&index=3&feature=plcp
ACLU
http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/NDAA
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/trust-me-is-not-enough-of-a-safeguard-says-amnesty-international-as-president-obama-signs-the-ndaa-i
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/12/14/us-refusal-veto-detainee-bill-historic-tragedy-rights
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD
http://www.nlg.org/news/announcements/nlg-condemns-ndaa-provisions/
JONATHAN TURLEY
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/16/indefinite-detention-of-citizens-a-response-to-senator-carl-levin/#more-44023
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/02/final-curtain-obama-signs-indefinite-detention-of-citizens-into-law-as-final-act-of-2011/
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/12/15/obama-breaks-promise-to-veto-bill-allowing-indefinite-detention-of-americans/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR7aIzII5LU&feature=player_embedded
GLENN GREENWALD
http://www.salon.com/2011/12/16/three_myths_about_the_detention_bill/
THE NEW YORK TIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/opinion/guantanamo-forever.html?_r=1
JUSTIA
http://verdict.justia.com/2012/01/02/the-ndaa-explained
DEMOCRACY NOW
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/17/journalist_chris_hedges_sues_obama_admin
NATURAL NEWS
http://www.naturalnews.com/034538_NDAA_American_citizens_indefinite_detainment.html

[dranyamelknur]

08:01 AM on 01/21/2012

This is no time for optimism. We cannot have confidence in Obama as he lied about wiretapping, war and Guantanamo. Remember his Rezco roots. We cannot trust any of the Republican gang either except Ron Paul and the power structure will try to block him. Although I blame Ralph Nader's third party candidacy for getting us into this long, long nightmare, I think it is time to consider Ron Paul, Jesse Ventura, Dennis Kucinic, Diane Feinstein and others who show they take their oath to uphold the Constitution seriously. At the time of the Alien and Sedition Acts there were no FEMA camps, a huge secret government or international corporations.

[JWillis]

04:14 AM on 01/21/2012

Great article! Thanks for sending a little optimism my way; it's in short supply these days.
"Scare up some hope, you're gonna need it just to cope..." ~Bad Religion
RP2012

[eyedunno11]

07:16 AM on 01/21/2012

Great song; I don't know why they didn't choose to make "Before You Die" one of the singles, though New Dark Ages was legitimately great.

[Stop Running]

04:11 AM on 01/21/2012

Heh, there are still some people at a certain website who believe the NDAA doesn't apply to Americans. I swear, the blind faith people put into this administration is exactly the same as the people who believed Bush had their best interest in mind. It's bizarre how people think in this country. Things are only bad when it's their political party is not in power, and when it is every thing is peaches and cream.

[Qingyuan Li]

03:25 AM on 01/21/2012

Is ron paul the only guy fighting against this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg69QM1yXQQ

[lrneedham]

06:41 PM on 01/18/2012

Just as the Alien and Sedition Acts were repealed, we can also move to repeal the NDAA and protect the Constitution. Take action with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee! bordc.org/ndaa

[Try Freedom US]

04:18 PM on 01/18/2012

So, essentially your argument is that it's not such a big problem because last time it worked out okay?

How about this - we follow the Founders' example and make Obama a one-term president and his successor repeals this tyrannical act along with Obamacare? Sound good?
http://www.tryfreedom.us/2012/01/01/today-america-died-the-national-defense-authorization-act-and-you/

[afreeman3]

06:39 AM on 01/19/2012

Sort of. It is obviously a very big deal but my point is it ain't then end of the world or democracy as some of us (certainly me) can feel like it is. Over the long run things have gotten so much better in the world it is hard not to be optimistic.

[rkl32159]

08:41 AM on 01/19/2012

Still - where is "Thomas Jefferson"? Why isn't there someone calling the President out on the carpet on this issue. Up until last night I had no idea about NDDA and I feel that I am informed but with constant celeb gossip, minor disasters and slight of hand reporting of other legislation filling the news channels, I completely missed this one. I agree this isn't the end - we're about to have an election and things can change as they always do come 4 to 8 years.

[ih8teapartiers]

10:10 AM on 01/19/2012

enough with the obama care bs! you right-wingers are a blemish on our country and should be popped.

[JWillis]

04:11 AM on 01/21/2012

Wow! Stunningly logical argument you've got going there. Not surprising that you advocate initiating force against those who disagree with you, since you don't mind robbing your neighbors at gunpoint (by proxy, of course) to force them to pay for something you think is good.

[Suzanne Noel]

03:10 PM on 01/18/2012

The Nationwide NDAA 2012 Congressional Protest is Feb. 3ed. Please spread the word!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/335643799778967/

[itiswhatitmaybe]

11:23 AM on 01/18/2012

“one of the greatest rollbacks of civil liberties in the history of our country”

-- Jonathan Turley
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/02/final-curtain-obama-signs-indefinite-detention-of-citizens-into-law-as-final-act-of-2011/