[wordup] ever feel under appreciated for spreading the word?

[Adam Shand]

Dan writes "The politech list is getting to me.  I'm turning out like this
guy ;-)"

Via: Daniel Hasenstaub <danielh at spack.org>
From: http://www.theonion.com/onion3731/government_encroachment.html

Government Enchroachment on Individual Liberties At All Time High, Says
Guy At Party

ANN ARBOR, MI--Individual freedom is ebbing in the U.S. due to steady
government encroachment, Ann Arbor resident and camera-store employee Adam
Britt told guests at a party Tuesday.

"Our way of thinking has shifted so that the individual, not corrupt
private and public institutions, shoulders the blame for society's ills,"
Britt told fellow partygoer Jim Kass while helping himself to raw
vegetables and dip. "The accused drug dealer is incarcerated without
adequate due process under a mandatory-sentencing law, yet the corporate
polluters get off scot-free."

Britt added that, ironically, much of this encroachment is the result of
government deregulation throughout the '80s and '90s.

"Deregulation has meant the loss of accountability and obligation,"  said
Britt, raising his voice slightly when a nearby stereo was turned up.
"As constraints on corporations loosened in the early '80s, and the
culture of greed intensified, individual rights took a drubbing. What's
more, an American's basic right to a fair trial was undermined by
skyrocketing attorney's fees and overburdened caseloads in courtrooms
across the country. This meant that poorer Americans could not afford to
adequately defend themselves or challenge others."

Britt was briefly interrupted by loud cheers, prompted by the sight of two
burly young men carrying a full, untapped keg of Rolling Rock into the
house. When the cheering died down, Britt returned to his point, noting
that Americans may feel safer than ever, but that the price for such
so-called "safety" may be too costly.

"Airport security areas, even in the smallest airports, resemble Iron
Curtain checkpoints, yet no one ever complains about their excessiveness,"
Britt said. "I've seen children's Mickey Mouse suitcases inspected for
bomb-making materials. People say they're willing to pay a high price to
ensure their safety. But how high? Where do we draw the line?"

Turning to 23-year-old Alyssa Behrens after Kass went to the porch to "get
some fresh air," Britt said that the 2000 presidential election was one of
the most egregious examples of the government's disregard--and downright
disdain--for the will of the people.

"The campaign had already been debased by the fact that the agendas of
both major political parties were determined by corporate interests, not
the voters," Britt told Behrens, whose escape plan was to finish her beer
and get a refill in the kitchen. "Then Florida happened. Granted, the
Democrats bear some blame for not insisting that the whole state be
recounted, rather than just a few Democrat-controlled counties. But the
Supreme Court's insistence that 'rule of law' must prevail even though
serious doubts remained about the accuracy of the final count was a snow
job that should rank with the Dred Scott decision for pure judicial
arrogance."

Jon Light, one of the party's hosts, said he was only marginally
acquainted with Britt, inviting him after Britt had given him a helpful
crash course in film speeds at the camera store the day before.

"He seemed like a pretty nice guy when I first met him," Light said.
"But I had no idea he was one of those political guys. Actually, I didn't
find out until the morning after, when I talked to [roommate] Tim [Hecht],
who said he got cornered by him for almost an hour."

"I saw the guy talking to Tim for a long-ass time, but I guess I figured
he was going off about snowboarding or maybe that Gorillaz CD that was
playing," Light continued. "Apparently, though, he was droning on about
the government's restriction of individual liberties. The only individual
liberties I saw restricted last night were poor Tim's and whoever else
that guy managed to corner. Christ."