Editor,  Since 9/11, our federal government has significantly destroyed many of our rights under the pretense of stopping terrorism. Most Americans are unaware that because of these unconstitutional acts, we are becoming a police state.
Both Congress and the president are responsible. However, the ultimate responsibility rests with us because we are not paying enough attention to what our elected officials are doing.
The 2006 Military Commissions Act grants the president power to suspend habeas corpus, the right to face criminal accusations in a court of law. If the president designates a citizen as an unlawful enemy combatant because of opposition to his policies, habeas corpus could be suspended. This means that the citizen is not entitled to a speedy trial, a lawyer, bail, the charges against him, and visitors. The citizen can even be kept in a foreign prison.
This is just one example. There are many others such as torture, secret evidence, warrantless seizes and searches. Go to www.thenewamerican.com for details.
Fortunately, Congressman Ron Paul has introduced H. R. 3835, the American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 in the House of Representatives. If passed, it would repeal the unconstitutional destruction of our rights.
Concerned citizens should contact their congressional representative to support this legislation and urge their two U.S. Senators to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.