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Is AMERICA in DANGER of becoming a POLICE STATE?

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In the wake of last year's terrorist hijackings, the U.S. federal government has assumed even more power than it had before. Secret trials by military tribunals with no right of appeal. Close monitoring of telephone and Internet communications, banking and medical records, and credit card purchases. A president who can wage war without the approval of Congress. The threatening of those who dissent from any of the president's policies. A new "Homeland Security" cabinet post whose very name recalls a preoccupation with "The Fatherland." As you respond to these questions, consider the following from Butler Shaffer: "Let me direct your attention to a most revealing book, written by Milton Mayer, titled _They Thought They Were Free_. In the late 1940s, Mayer went to Germany and got to know a number of German people quite well, actually living with some. These people had not been government officials or Nazi party leaders, but just the ordinary men and women who do the productive work in any society. "He eventually began asking them questions about what it was like to have lived under the Nazi police state, to have endured tyrannical practices. Their virtually unanimous responses, as indicated by the title of the book, were that there had been no loss of freedom in Germany that, indeed, they had considered themselves 'free' at all times!"
(1) Do you think America is in danger of becoming a police state?
Yes, I am strongly concerned that the country is headed in this direction.
Maybe, but so far there have been no strong indications of it.
No, it's highly unlikely that this could happen to America.
I don't have enough information to say.
(2) (For those living in the United States) If America did turn into a police state, do you think you would notice?
Yes, I know my rights and could tell if government tried to take them away.
Maybe -- I might not notice unless I was personally affected.
No, unfortunately I would probably be like the "good Germans" who saw nothing.
(3) How much would it bother you if the United States became a police state?
It would be horrible, like losing a loved one or worse.
I wouldn't like it at all, but life would go on.
It wouldn't particularly bother me unless I was personally inconvenienced.
I'm not sure.
(4) (For those living in the United States) Which of the following do you think you would most likely do if you decided that the United States had become a police state?
Go underground, join a militia and take up arms against the government.
Try to escape to another country.
Engage in nonviolent peaceful protest.
Pretend to continue with your life as before but secretly work for the resistance.
Cooperate with the government as much as necessary to keep on their good side but no more.
Try to take advantage of the situation for personal gain.
(5) Which of the following do you think most Americans would do if the United States became a police state?
Go underground, join a militia and take up arms against the government.
Try to escape to another country.
Engage in nonviolent peaceful protest.
Pretend to continue with life as before but secretly work for the resistance.
Cooperate with the government as much as necessary to keep on their good side but no more.
Try to take advantage of the situation for personal gain.
(6) What in your opinion is the best way for individual Americans to stop the United States from becoming a police state?
Take active measures against the government using any means necessary.
Train to fight and keep your powder dry, but don't go further unless things get radically worse.
Fight for freedom non-violently by supporting the Libertarian Party.
Work within mainstream political groups like the Republican Party or the ACLU.
Do not directly seek political change, but cooperate with government as little as possible.
Do nothing differently - there is no risk of the United States becoming a police state.
(7) Which of the following describes you?
I live in the United States and am a citizen.
I live in the United States as a resident or non–citizen.
I live outside the United States but used to live in the United States.
I have never lived in the United States.
This poll was created on 2002-11-20 06:06:01 by Starchild