Emerging Police State

While religious fundamentalists on both sides of the border whine and cry about "hate crimes" laws and rights for GLBT citizens - claiming that it infringes upon their religious freedom, the mere act of political criticism is becoming grounds for someone to be investigated:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - An elderly man who wrote in a letter to the editor about Saddam Hussein's execution that "they hanged the wrong man" got a visit from Secret Service agents concerned he was threatening U.S. President George W. Bush.

The letter by Dan Tilli, 81, was published in Monday's edition of The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. It ended with the line, "I still believe they hanged the wrong man."

Even in my wildest imaginings, I can't derive a threat from what Mr. Tilli wrote - but apparently the Secret Service in the US is so paranoid that they are knocking on the doors of people that write letters to the editor that might contain a germ of hostility towards "The Decider"(tm).

Somehow laws that protect the rights of citizens to live their lives in peace are a far lesser threat to life and liberty than police organizations taking it upon themselves to implicitly threaten people for criticizing their political leaders.