Bush to Ignore Posse Comitatus Act

An article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, written by a professor at George Mason University, examines the Posse Comitatus Act, and several references made by President Bush that he would be willing to ignore that act. The Posse Comitatus Act was passed during the Reconstruction era, in order to severely or completely limit the government’s ability to use the national military as a law enforcement utility. The article points out that twice now, once to contain an outbreak of avian flu, and previously in regards to the aftermath of Katrina, the President has said he would be willing to use the military as a national police force. The writer then points out how Americans have been softened up over the years to easily and blindly accept anything that has been “legalized” regardless of their own beliefs or constitutional rights. He then takes a shot at the “American Sheeple” and our inability to go against anything that has been deemed “the law”, pointing to the start of the American Revolution, and the colonists decision to reject the Sugar and Stamp acts. Finally, he points out how the President’s use of troops in any domestic situation would simply be unconstitutional, specifically regarding Section IV, and the 10th Amendment.

I chose to highlight article because the idea behind it scares me. Personally, I have read and researched dozens of incidents where the Posse Comitatus act, not to mention the Constitution has been completely ignored, with troops being used for any number of things. President Bush even alluding to the idea of entertaining the thought of ever considering using the military in a domestic situation is so blatantly unconstitutional and indicative of a police state rule that it makes me sick at my stomach. Imagine, just for example, an anti-war demonstration in your home town or city. The people involved are being peaceful, respecting the law, but exercising their right to protest free speech. However their numbers grow too large for the local police force to “control.” If the President decides to ignore the Posse Comitatus Act, as well as the Constitution, and use troops against the protesters, they would be able to force them at gun point to either give up their protest and go home, or stay confined to a particular area. This in itself does not sound that bad. However, it is not a stretch, once the barrier is broken, to see the President using troops for any number of public control issues. That is the definition of a police state, more popularly known as totalitarianism or fascism.