Hüsker Dü
DA
Remember all those militias and self-proclaimed Second Amendment “patriots” who spent years telling us they needed to be armed because someday they might have to stand up against government overreach?
Well, guys, the other team is on the field.
Except apparently a whole lot of you JOINED THEM.
Turns out the principle wasn’t really “government shouldn’t abuse its power.” It was more like “government shouldn’t abuse its power against people like me.”
Because when government agents detain people, intimidate people, disregard due process, interfere with constitutional rights, or use overwhelming force against people they perceive as undesirable, suddenly a whole bunch of the people who spent decades warning about tyranny are cheering from the sidelines.
Apparently government overreach is fine as long as the target is an immigrant. Or a protester. Or a journalist. Or somebody from the wrong political party. Or somebody with the wrong skin color, religion, accent, identity or viewpoint.
That isn’t standing up for liberty.
Liberty means defending rights when the person whose rights are being violated is someone you DON’T like.
The Constitution doesn’t say the government has to respect your rights only if the majority approves of you. Due process isn’t reserved for popular people. The Fourth Amendment doesn’t have an exception for people somebody thinks look suspicious. The First Amendment doesn’t protect only speech you agree with.
For years, some of these militia types fantasized about the day government overreach would arrive and they would bravely stand against it.
Then government overreach showed up wearing a uniform and targeting people they already disliked.
And instead of standing against it, they grabbed a jersey and joined the team.
Funny how quickly “DON’T TREAD ON ME” can become “TREAD ON THEM.” Texas Reporter
Well, guys, the other team is on the field.
Except apparently a whole lot of you JOINED THEM.
Turns out the principle wasn’t really “government shouldn’t abuse its power.” It was more like “government shouldn’t abuse its power against people like me.”
Because when government agents detain people, intimidate people, disregard due process, interfere with constitutional rights, or use overwhelming force against people they perceive as undesirable, suddenly a whole bunch of the people who spent decades warning about tyranny are cheering from the sidelines.
Apparently government overreach is fine as long as the target is an immigrant. Or a protester. Or a journalist. Or somebody from the wrong political party. Or somebody with the wrong skin color, religion, accent, identity or viewpoint.
That isn’t standing up for liberty.
Liberty means defending rights when the person whose rights are being violated is someone you DON’T like.
The Constitution doesn’t say the government has to respect your rights only if the majority approves of you. Due process isn’t reserved for popular people. The Fourth Amendment doesn’t have an exception for people somebody thinks look suspicious. The First Amendment doesn’t protect only speech you agree with.
For years, some of these militia types fantasized about the day government overreach would arrive and they would bravely stand against it.
Then government overreach showed up wearing a uniform and targeting people they already disliked.
And instead of standing against it, they grabbed a jersey and joined the team.
Funny how quickly “DON’T TREAD ON ME” can become “TREAD ON THEM.” Texas Reporter
