Lost Liberties: Ashcroft and the Assault on Personal Freedom

Book Overview

In the wake of September 11, John Ashcroft's Justice Department has presided over an unprecedented assault on the civil liberties established in the Bill of Rights. Enacted in haste and, at times, in partial secrecy, the legislation and orders have not been carefully examined, and their implications are only now beginning to surface. Not since the internment of Japanese Americans during the 1940s have we witnessed such abridgment of American rights. While the loss of liberties has been met with apathy by the press and public alike, the lawyers and analysts in Lost Liberties provide a detailed, comprehensive look at the USA Patriot Act, chronicling the destructive impact of crackdowns on thousands of Americans and revisiting the ugly history of political repression in times of crisis. Featuring original contributions from David Cole, Michael Tomasky, Nancy Chang, Kenneth Roth, and Anthony Romero, Lost Liberties will be a critical text for those who want to know in advance the long-term implications of these drastic measures.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565848292
• ISBN13: 9781565848290
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Human liberties

The best compilation regarding the liberties lost by human beings, particularly women through mighty thought unipolar world system. " The Bush Administration's binary logic of the "either you are with us or against us "echoes the false dichotomous choices forwarded by fundamentalists who by engaging in essentialist politics of identity ,are bent upon denying ordinary people right to choice.

Unnecessary Evils

- Do you think Americans should be able to publicly criticize their government? - Do you think our government should be able to persecute Americans who dare to do so? If you've ever been a victim of U.S. authorities (for embracing policies in opposition to the new right), this book will help you understand why it is now perfectly legal. This book is well written and provides vital scrutiny of questionable incursions by the Bush Administration. It outlines specific issues where Ashcroft and Bush have injected their personal theologies into public policy under the guise of public safety. The attentive reader recognizes it's underlying theme; when morality is mandated, morality looses it's merit. Sanctioned morality is oppression. If you are alarmed by our government's persecution of American citizens who dare to criticize their hidden agendas, you will enjoy this read.

Great Writing

Every once in a while a compilation will come out that is an actual literary work. Whether you agree or not with the content, the writing is excellennt. Well writen, informative and intelligent. Now for the content. "These events have taught us the not altogether surprising lesson that when the government is allowed to avoid the safeguards designed to protect the innocent, many innocents suffer." There are a few good examples of history when the US has pushed the boundaries and has paid the price. These lessons learned are discussed and analyzed with our present situation. There are good examples and explanations of certain sections of the Patriot Act and what the possible ramifications are. While I agree the scrutiny to our security is important it is increasingly important that the checks and balances put in place by the people who learned the lessons of the past are used to protect the innocent fish pull up by the gill nets.

John Ashcroft and the war on the US Constitution.

Why does John Ashcroft hate the constitution? Could it be because it guarantees freedom of religion, when Ashcroft would prefer an evangelical Christian theocracy? Could it be because it guarantees freedom of speech, and Ashcroft feels speech should be reserved solely for those who donate to the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign?Could it be because the constitution doesn't differentiate based on sex, class, or color, when Ashcroft differentiates based on each of these categories?Could it be all of the above? Of course it could. And it is. Four more years with Reich Minister Ashcroft as our attorney general, and the constitution could be reduced to a modern version of the Nuremberg laws.Boy, would he love that.