atheistwoody

I think this bloke is talking about the martial law act, am i right in saying its only been used once before in the US?

tresha

Is that the title to an actual song?

I seem to recall as we were approaching former President Clinton's last year in office this theory being batted about then too. That he would declare martial law and deny the elected officials the office due them.
Oh! I think it might have been with everyone freakin' out about Y2K.
Anyway.
Hard to imagine what I would do.
My first impulse would be to run like hell for Canada and take a convoy with me. (My Sweetie would understandably not wish to leave her three kids, which means their dad would need to come... so his GF and her kids...I'd need my closest friends and their kids there...wouldn't be a hard sell..damn, gonna need an RV...oops, shouldn't drink before I post, sorry)
Then again, this has been the first election in eons that I have felt, gotta say it, hopeful and if President George Freakin W Bush were to fuck that up....I might have to forgo the RV and look for the revolution.

It's been joked about for years amongst my friends that "come the revolution" I'm in charge of communications cause "Damn Tresha, you'll just talk to anybody won't you?"
Un-huh.
And I'd find out where the weapons are stored, where the best fighting places are and who's in charge of the food stash.

Really hope it doesn't happen.
Either scenario would totally suck.
Although, I believe many, many of our basic civil liberties have been taken from us already and I'd sure like to see something happen to bring those back.

__________________


"If you can't do something smart, do something right."

Freedom Rider

Yep - by Warren Zevon.

As for this particular conspiracy theory, I very, very seriously doubt that it will happen...the American people are too smart for this.

If it were to happen though, I'm not sure what I'd do. For the most part I feel that "the pen is mightier than the sword", and think that it would be best to participate in whatever peaceful resistance I could (protests, petitions, getting as much info circulated as possible, etc, getting people riled up and exploring every legal means of redress possible). However, depending on the situation, I'd be willing to sacrifice myself for the ideals on which this nation was built. (uh oh - I shouldn't have said that...now I'll be one of the first ones that they round up and put in one of those detention camps which Halliburton is building!)



I do halfway expect Bush to bomb Iran before he leaves office though, and fully expect him to keep giving away rights to public land to corporations, etc.

Smith,Winston

As if we need to plan our own attacks! Plenty of folks out there willing to do it for us.

However, I have been hearing about hundreds of camps being built by FEMA -which could potentially be used to round up those who do not agree with the plans and policies of those in power -and as that seems to be the majority of the people, there might be apoint at which we say "no more". I haven't seen them, but, apparently, they are manned by private corporations, of course, and are presently used to detain persons in relation to immigration issues, etc... though there is already controversy as to the treatment they receive -the legality thereof, etc... It seems an employee of a corporation -or a corporation -under government contract cannot be sued -as they are considered government agents -but in such cases the suit would be against the United States -and when they act for the military are not subject to international law, etc... or whatever -seems like a win-win situation for everyone except maybe -the people they affect. They answer to no one.

Sorry -I know this was meant to be a "what if" and just-for-fun thread, but widespread civil unrest is a very real possibility -due to any number of factors -potential economic breakdown, perceived inequality in governmental representation, rejection of the will of the majority, etc... not to mention a widespread smash and grab which might accompany another large-scale terrorist attack. We did quite will in managing the "freak-out factor" after 9-11, but the more we lose confidence in those who govern us, the more likely civil unrest becomes, and all the more difficult for those in power to manage -short of martial law and large-scale incarceration.

More immediate questions I was thinking about were... how would those of draft age react to a draft in the next few years? Are we willing to fight their fight right now(I might be too old, but then they might change their policies)? Do we agree with it enough to tolerate non-volunteer military service? Why or why not? What can be done to give us confidence in our leadership again? What are the main issues?

LiveUninhibited

I'd move to Canada if possible, surprised that wasn't a choice.

FRYandBENDER

Lol, my bad.

__________________
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

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