NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY
I don’t know about you, but I am getting profoundly sick and tired of this game of chicken they are playing in the House of Representatives. Every time I turn around it seems the clock is ticking for another shut down. 750,000 government workers who need the money being laid off, as they may be by midnight tonight. National Parks and the Statue of Liberty closed. You know the drill. And this is just foreplay. Coming soon, the FEATURE ATTRACTION: Not raising the statutory Debt Limit on Oct. 17. Not paying our bills, destroying our credit and credibility! America the deadbeat!
I’m sure I speak for my fellow Justaminutemen when I say, what the fuck is going on here?
This kind of burn-the-house-down strategy is being waged by a group of dangerous extremists in the House of Representatives--called “terrorists” by the flaming conservative, Rep. Peter King--intent on cutting the throat of the country. Again.
Why, we the Justaminutemen are asking, are we being soft on these guys who are posing as patriots, mostly embedded in gerrymandered safe districts, and financed by un-American gold? Why are we letting these Benedict Arnolds plot to create total economic chaos, turn us into a Third, or even Fourth, World Nation?
It’s disgusting, obscene. Yes, but what can we do, concerned citizens might ask on their way to watching “Monday Night Football”? It all seems so hopeless.
Fortunately, there is a law already on the books dealing with such threats to internal security. I call your attention to Public Law 76-670, better known as the Smith Act (76th United States Congress, 3d session, ch. 439, 54 Stat. 670, 18 U.S.C. § 2385)
Dealing with subversive activities, Title 1, Sec. 2(a) states,
“Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or, whoever aids, abets, organized or helps or attempts to organize any society, group or assembly of persons, who teach advocate or encourages the overthrow or destruction; or becomes a member, or affiliates with any such society, group or assembly …
Shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following conviction.”
There is enough aiding and abetting in Smith to give teapartyniks and their fellow travelers reason to watch their step.
Now we realize the Smith Act of 1940 was designed to protect us from an earlier internal threats, such as communists real and so-called, who were plotting to destroy capitalism and change the form of government. Not in their wildest dreams did those Commie rats believe they could get to so close to shutting the country down like the Gang of 62 in the House today.
As I recall, the closest the Left ever got to control the levers of power in the House of Representatives was the election in the 1940’s of one American Labor Party member, Rep. Vito Marcantonio who represented the Barrio in Manhattan.
It’s time we stopped pussyfooting with these terrorists who once more are holding the country hostage.
The Justaminutemen suggest the following plan of action:
- Henceforth, Congresspeople in office shall be required to take the standard “Oath of Office,” where they do solemnly swear, or affirm, they will support the country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And uphold the nations laws. So help them God, or the Koch brothers, NRA or whoever the Higher Power they swear to. (We know they took it once, but they may have forgotten).
- During primary campaigns, all future candidates must answer the following question:
“Are you now, or have your ever been, a member of the Tea Party or any other organization seeking to undermine existing laws? - Under the Smith Act, the Attorney General should undertake appropriate legal steps, issue stop- and- desist orders, freeze bank accounts and take other necessary action against Tea Party front organizations with names like Freedom Works, Heritage Action for Americans and/or Tea Party Express.
Luckily, we have documentary evidence to indict offenders of the law. There is enough electronic chatter in the NSA repository of email, phone and wire taps to pinpoint the conspiracy theories and actions of those who aid, abet and make possible the nation hanging by the thumbs to send them Up the River or to Guantanamo Bay, whichever they prefer. So the much reviled surveillance program will not be a total waste of taxpayer money.
I will have more to say about the Smith Act as a tool for saving the nation from internal security threats.
In the meanwhile, the Justaminutemen urge cranking up the old House Un-American Activities Committee so it can once again come to the aid of the nation as it did by investigating subversive influence in the media, circa 1950-60. It would be performing a public service by conducting hearings on far right talk radio which provides the echo chamber that makes our extremists think they are speaking for all of us when they vote to take food stamps out of the mouths of the poor. A new improved HUAC might start with the voice of the people, Rush Limbaugh.
These are harsh measures I know. But it should be no more Mister Nice Guy with this collection of right wing nutters who have taken over the asylum.
Marvin Kitman
Sept. 30, 2013