Creeping Totalitarianism

...but I didn't speak up, for I rarely traveled by air. Then they came for drivers suspected of drinking too much, but I didn't speak up, for I rarely drink. Then they came for the subway riders, but I didn't speak up, for I rarely ride the subway. Of course, when they eventually come to for me, there will be no one left to speak up for me. Meanwhile, however, they've taken … [Read more...] about First they came for the air travelers…

How about you go fuck yourself? How about that? Sincerely, An American Citizen. [end of letter] From an AP wire story: Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before being used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday. The object is basically public relations. Domestic use … [Read more...] about Dear Michael Wynne,

Item 1: One of the things bouncing around the libertarian blogosphere is Radley Balko's recent whitepaper for the Cato Institute called Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America. It's about the absurd creation of SWAT-style teams for seemingly even the smallest towns. These teams often create violent confrontations where they appear not to have been necessary, … [Read more...] about SWAT CounterAttack

You're the principal of a high school on graduation day. Students are supposed to arrive at 5pm for the 6pm ceremony, and the rules say nobody will be admitted after 5:55. The senior class vice president shows up late and is turned away by the guards at the door. Somehow, she manages to get inside anyway to catch the end of the ceremony, although her parents are still stuck … [Read more...] about You Be the Principal!

Here's something that will keep me awake tonight: The Consumer Product Safety Commission conducts SWAT raids. Their target? A seller of chemistry sets for kids. Between fear of terrorist bombings and fear of meth labs, you can get arrested these days for having Pyrex glassware. … [Read more...] about First they came for the exothermic chemists…