It can't happen here

and yet, it already did...

The Espionage Act of 1917 made it a crime to speak out against World War I if it be deemed that such speech hindered the success of the troops. (Sound familiar?) Within a year, presidential candidate Eugene Debs was convicted of "hindering recruitment" and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Act was ammended by the Sedition Act of 1918 which outlawed "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" directed at the government, the flag or the troops. (Are you sure you haven't seen this movie?)

Yesterday, George W. Bush signed an executive order (ie. crafted his own law) which authorizes the government to seize all the assets of any American who conspires to "[threaten] the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq" or "[undermine] efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq."

My, my... How far we've come. It'll be a bumpy ride back.