Recently I listened to an interview with the Vice President of the United States in which he explained the way in which the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 would be implemented. While he spoke of using it to target just a small number of individuals who are causing problems for citizens and hopeful citizens alike, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a justification I had heard mere days ago in a different context.
Just a couple of days ago the City Council of Eureka, California (where I live) brought an ordinance up for discussion again (read my initial thoughts here and my thoughts about the return here) which would have made sleeping a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail. The justification is that some people don’t know they need help and they must be threatened into enrolling in programs that can help them. It’s utter nonsense.
The most disturbing thing about it has become that this morning the manner in which the fascist Vice President was referring to other humans as needing to be removed from our country was eerily similar to the way some of our council members made reference to using this overly broad law to target “just a small number of individuals.” I am simply appalled by the lack of awareness of how this is coming off.
What made this more than just a coincidence was the condescending manner in which these leaders were couching the increase in law enforcement discretion to remove the worse offenders in some kind of “for you own good” language. The Vice President and our council members — playing the same song.
So much time is spent dealing with Liberals who have bought into the punitive system’s techniques that the fascists can laugh all the way to the bank. The truly small minority — the richest 1% — making life difficult for all living beings on this planet are never the target of the Liberal, just the folks with the biggest challenges to survive. It boggles the mind.
I continue to be reminded that the Liberals in the system must be understood as a distraction from the project of collective liberation. They can coalesce against fascism to a point. We just need to be clear when they will opt out and not count on them.
“Love Me, I’m a Liberal” by Phil Ochs
https://youtu.be/3cdqQ2BdgOA?si=sepWTC2UUH9YOoAw
Solomon Everta 