Dirt on the Coffin

Two major events took place this week in the United states that, in my semi-humble opinion, throws yet another shovelful of dirt on the lowered coffin of the free democracy we once held so dear.

First is the 47 Guantanamo Bay inmates. These POW's or enemy combatants or whichever name of the day they are being called, have been found to be too dangerous to be set free and should be held indefinitely without trial.

These, more appropriately labeled people, men, are to be imprisoned by the U.S. for the rest of their lives, as the notion of putting them on trial for their accused crimes is too risky. The evidence against them is too flimsy, or they have been tortured and any confessions they have made inadmissible in a court of law.

As the supposed world leader in the realm of justice, this judgment tears open the infallible exterior and shows
the ugly truth of that institution. The real face of american justice is that of fear, paranoia, and megalomania. The rules that the justice department makes, the laws that are passed, can be bent and broken if the government so decides.

And we the people sit and allow it.

These men, who have been jailed for years already, should be sent back to their country of origin for trial.
If these prisoners truly have no country to extradite them back to, then they should be tried in an International Court.
They will never get a fair trial in the U.S. and our humanity, if there is any left, should offer these men the same rights as any other accused criminal.

Second is the Supreme Court ruling that corporations can spend as much money as they like in support of political figures. This basically gives corporations the exact same rights as private citizens. I'm not entirely versed in constitutional law, but I can't recall seeing anything the founding fathers wrote that gave multi-billion dollar internationally owned and run conglomerates the right to free speech. I am pretty sure that was reserved for U.S. citizens.

The end result of this ruling will be that, in time, we will see candidates for the senate sponsored by Pepsi or Sony. Lapel buttons, ball caps, and pin-striped suits with corporate logos on them will be next. And I predict that down the road there will even be a custom paint job on the presidential limo touting Wonder-bread, Home Depot, or Exxon as the official endorser of the commander in chief.

The voice of the common man has finally been silenced.And the coffin that holds the faith, hopes and dreams of american justice and american freedoms is buried and forgotten by the masses.