Tell me the truth, please.

[Heidi]

Hi, DUers,

I'm a new member: an American living and working for the past four years in the south of Switzerland. I haven't been "home" since 2000, and it seems that the country (country = people and culture) I love is becoming one frightening place. It's sad that I have to ask, as I spent 20 years as a journalist in the U.S., but just how much has life changed there since 9-11?

Am I the only person worries about "surveillance lists" and under-the-table oppression tactics? Am I the only liberal on earth who senses that we're becoming a culture of good-hearted, hard-working folks who now have to "be careful what we say and who we say it to"? Do you guys worried about your e-mail being monitored? Repercussions for saying what you believe? Fallout for criticizing the reigning tyrants?

Just thought I'd ask.

[redqueen]

1. You're not the only one worried.

You're worried for good reason.

edit: Almost forgot -- welcome to DU! :hi:

[leftofthedial]

2. fascism

makes everyplace a frightening place.

[slackmaster]

3. I always assume that everything that goes through the Internet

...is likely to be read by the National Security Agency, FBI, or some other police agency at some time, either now or in the future.

Am I the only person worries about "surveillance lists" and under-the-table oppression tactics?

Surveillance of selected individuals is not a new phenomenon. Police have been doing it since the first ones started patrolling the streets of London. The only difference today is the level of paranoia and the technology available.

I don't worry about speaking out and nobody should. There IS safety in numbers. They can't lock us all up.

[Stuckinthebush]

4. You wouldn't recognize the place...

It is scary. Things that you never thought could happen have happened. People don't think, they just act out of some perceived sense of "patriotism". They don't question. The aftermath of 9/11 was terrible. We found out what could happen when an immoral administration takes advantage of the country's fear and sense of community.

The good news is that people are waking up. I am proud to say that I was a 10 percenter - one of the few who always questioned Bush and his policies. Now, the 10 percenters are the 55 percenters and it is growing.

Be happy that you have been away, but be sad for your country. The founding fathers would be horrified.

[CrispyQ]

5. And if we don't get Bush out of the white house . . .

...in 4 more years you won't recognize this country. It's a crucial time for our democracy.

[Career Prole]

6. It is all that you fear and more.

Welcome, Heidi! Stay safe! :hi:

[arcane1]

7. you are most definitely not alone in that

welcome to DU :hi:

I have to fly in 2 weeks and part of me is already expecting to be flagged as a 'yellow' risk and be turned away from my flight...

I don't trust these bastards ONE BIT.

[Heidi]

8. This is sad.

I have to admit to you guys that I want to send Skinner a contribution in thanks for the public service I believe this forum provides, but I qualify for dual citizenship in February, and expressed to him my concern that such a contribution might mark me for "surveillance" by "the watchers." I will take my chances and send the contribution, PRIMARILY because Skinner and Co. provide a venue for people to share information freely.

I know my concerns may seem cowardly, as I am by no means a lawbreaker or outlaw, but I feel now that I can do more for my country as an "outsider" than I ever could have done as a mainstream journalist living and working among millions governed by such a seemingly cruel and profit-centered regime.

I guess we all can look forward to the group indictment of "us" as co-conspirators to tell and live the truth?

[liberalitch]

9. My thoughts...

First of all..... I don't blame you for staying away.... if my mom were not 74 I would have fled after the 2000 election.

After 911 many of my fellow Americans relinquished their spines and became solid Americans: you know stick together, don't criticize the president.... all of that stuff.
well, I didn't like him during the 2000 campaign and I liked him even less after 911.
Big stupid winged monkey frat boy that he is!
since 911 I have been sickened by the amount to kowtowing that people have done... We behaved in an obsequious manner.
Now that it is obvious that this man is an idiot and will lead to the ruination of us all.... people are trying to reclaim their.... BALLS... and it may be too late.
Never make nice nice....
I'm a bleeding heart.... not a dumb ass!

[RoyGBiv]

10. Let me put it this way...

In the last two years:

I've started using encryption programs when exchanging e-mail with certain people.

I've started saving every scrap of news and video I find that is in any way critical of Mr. Bush out of fear that it will disappear or be "sanitized" within days or hours after it first appears. (This kind of thing has been documented to have happened repeatedly.)

I've checked more than once to make sure I have not been "accidentally" removed from voter registration rolls. I will check again prior to November.

Even though I know modern methods of wiretapping don't necessarily do this, when I started hearing a strange clicking on my phone, my first thought was not that one of the wires in the handset had become loose, which is what it actually was.

I made sure my car insurance policy covered acts of vandalism before placing Democratic political stickers on it.

I'm not overly paranoid, but I'm paranoid enough that I take extra steps to ensure my safety and privacy, knowing all the time that if it came right down to it, none of it would do any good.

I truly fear that the Constitution is in extreme danger of being voided in the name of "national security."

BTW, welcome to DU. :hi: