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Originally Posted by politicophile
The term "slippery slope" appears in my old logic text book under the heading "Informal Logical Fallacies". The government has, as you said, given an inch. You now fear they will take a mile. That rationale has been used in a variety of contexts, with poor results. (Ask about its usage in Frederick Douglas' autobiography if you want a good example)
You seem to be implying that everyone prosecuted under the Act is a terrorist because the name and primary purpose of the Act relate to terrorism. Hence, the fear that federal agents enforcing legitimate patent laws might turn into the secret police torturing people who get multiple parking tickets.
Forgive me if I see this argument as a slippery slope. Neither of us wants to live in 1984. However, giving law enforcement more tools with which to pursue people breaking laws that are already on the books just sounds like good policing policy to me.
I simply don't buy the "This statute has TERRORIST in the title and therefore must only be used for terrorist-related prosecutions" argument. Nor do I buy the "They told us this wouldn't happen" argument. Neither of these tactics explain why it is dangerous or undersirable to use the Act in this way.
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It is dangerous to use it for this because one branch of government is coming in and acting as judge, jury, and executioner. No hearing or trial or anything, the feds just come in and force compliance even though she's not even infringing on the copyright. US citizens are supposed to get trials or due process before they are deprived of their rights.
Also, it is dangerous because it was sold to us as a terrorism prevention bill and is being used for regular crime.
The simple fact that DHS has the ability to strike this kind of fear in a person,
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"I was shaking in my shoes," Cox said of the September phone call. "My first thought was the government can shut your business down on a whim, in my opinion. If I'm closed even for a day that would cause undue stress."
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despite doing nothing wrong, is a tell-tale sign of the police-state we are living under.