The Four Freedoms Under Siege : The Clear and Present Danger From Our National Security State

The authors address the hard questions of individual freedom versus national security that are on the minds of Americans of all political stripes. They bring together the pivotal events, leaders, policies, and fateful decisions—often path-breaking, more often ending in folly—that have subverted our constitutional government from its founding. You reach the inescapable conclusion, the authors write, that the United States is a warrior nation, has been addicted to war from the start, and is able to sustain its warfare habit only by mugging American taxpayers, and believing in its mission as God's chosen.FDR's Four Freedoms—Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear—were presented to the American people in his 1941 State of the Union address, and they became the inspiration for a second bill of rights, extending the New Deal and guaranteeing work, housing, medical care, and education. Although the bill never was adopted in a legal sense in this country, its principles pervaded the political landscape for an entire generation, including the War on Poverty and the Great Society reforms of the 1960s. Furthermore, the ideas expressed in the Four Freedoms speech inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But since the late 1970s and early 1980s, these freedoms have been under assault, from presidential administrations of both parties, economic pressures, and finally, the alleged requirements of national security. After 9/11, this process accelerated even more rapidly. Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Foreword by Barbara Ehrenreich......Page 14 The Clear and Present Danger to Our Freedoms from Our National Security State......Page 18 Part One: Freedom of Speech......Page 28 1: The U.S.A. Patriot Act Vs. the U.S. Constitution......Page 30 2: September 11: A Golden Opportunity for Bush II Conservatives......Page 60 3: Lessons about Terrorism the Government Never Learns......Page 70 4: When Is Danger Clear and Present?......Page 80 5: Can the Homeland Ever Be Secure?......Page 92 6: The Right to Vote, the Right to Have It Count......Page 102 7: Do You Already Live In an Authoritarian State?......Page 114 8: Escape from Authoritarianism......Page 134 Part Two: Freedom to Worship......Page 152 9: Our Religious Sea Change......Page 154 10: Holier Than Thou......Page 170 11: Religious War without End: The Church Crosses the State Line......Page 176 12: How Silent Must Prayer Be?......Page 188 13: Faith, Science, and Rationality......Page 192 Part Three: Freedom from Want......Page 200 14: The Business of Hunger......Page 202 15: FDR’s Economic Bill of Rights......Page 216 16: The Haves and the Have-Nots......Page 222 17: The National Health......Page 230 18: Who Decides Who Gets Freedom From Want?......Page 242 Part Four: Freedom from Fear......Page 250 19: The United States Goes to War For Power, Peace, and Profit. Subverts Constitutional Government. And Makes Americans Fearful.......Page 252 20: Can You Sign a Separate Peace?......Page 288 Last Words: Ahead of History: Marcus Raskin and the Institute for Policy Studies......Page 300 “Staying the Course?”......Page 310 Notes......Page 312 Index......Page 350 The authors address the hard questions of individual freedom versus national security that are on the minds of Americans of all political stripes. They bring together the pivotal events, leaders, policies, and fateful decisionsoften path-breaking, more often ending in follythat have subverted our constitutional government from its founding. You reach the inescapable conclusion, the authors write, that the United States is a warrior nation, has been addicted to war from the start, and is able to sustain its warfare habit only by mugging American taxpayers, and believing in its mission as God's chosen. FDR's Four FreedomsFreedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fearwere presented to the American people in his 1941 State of the Union address, and they became the inspiration for a second bill of rights, extending the New Deal and guaranteeing work, housing, medical care, and education. Although the bill never was adopted in a legal sense in this country, its principles pervaded the political landscape for an entire generation, including the War on Poverty and the Great Society reforms of the 1960s. Furthermore, the ideas expressed in the Four Freedoms speech inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But since the late 1970s and early 1980s, these freedoms have been under assault, from presidential administrations of both parties, economic pressures, and finally, the alleged requirements of national security. After 9/11, this process accelerated even more rapidly. The U.s.a. Patriot Act Vs. The U.s. Constitution -- September 11 : A Golden Opportunity For Bush Ii Conservatives -- Lessons About Terrorism The Government Never Learns -- When Is Danger Clear And Present? -- Can The Homeland Ever Be Secure? -- The Right To Vote, The Right To Have It Count -- Do You Already Live In An Authoritarian State? -- Escape From Authoritarianism -- Our Religious Sea Change -- Holier Than Thou -- Religious War Without End : The Church Crosses The State Line -- How Silent Must Prayer Be? -- Faith, Science, And Rationality -- The Business Of Hunger -- Fdr's Economic Bill Of Rights -- The Haves And The Have-nots -- The National Health -- Who Decides Who Gets Freedom From Want? -- The United States Goes To War For Power, Peace, And Profit. Subverts Constitutional Government. And Makes Americans Fearful. Marcus Raskin And Robert Spero ; Foreword By Barbara Ehrenreich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [285]-322) And Index.