There have been many accusations of treason arising from both sides of the aisle, but it’s hard to find a more disloyal bunch that the vulture capitalists that rule the Republican Party. This is because they want to enjoy all the benefits of a free society without bearing any of the cost, and to that end, they seem happy to enslave the rest of us.
…Suppose a small group of extremely wealthy people sought to systematically destroy the U.S. government by (1) finding and bankrolling new candidates pledged to shrinking and dismembering it; (2) intimidating or bribing many current senators and representatives to block all proposed legislation, prevent the appointment of presidential nominees, eliminate funds to implement and enforce laws, and threaten to default on the nation’s debt; (3) taking over state governments in order to redistrict, gerrymander, require voter IDs, purge voter rolls, and otherwise suppress the votes of the majority in federal elections; (4) running a vast PR campaign designed to convince the American public of certain big lies, such as climate change is a hoax, and (5) buying up the media so the public cannot know the truth.
Would you call this treason?
If not, what would you call it?…
Inserted from <Robert Reich>
Everything Reich said about the 1% Republicans is true, and if by asking if we would call this treason, he is implying that it is, I disagree. That is probably the first time and last time I will disagree with Robert Reich.
Treason is the only crime specifically defined in the US Constitution.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
In order to levy war against the US, adhere to enemies, or give aid and comfort to enemies, there must be a formal state of war. That’s the rub. Congress has not declared a state of war since WWII. Ever since, Congress has given Presidents authorizations to use military force that have fallen short of a declaration of war.
So what would I call it? I would call it sedition, which is similar, but lacks the requirement of war, and I would call it Republican.
20 Responses to “Would You Call This Treason?”
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I agree with you, Tom. It is not Treason according to the Constitution. But, it is closer to sedition.
definitions ~
treason
1: the betrayal of a trust : treachery
2: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family
sedition
: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority
Thanks Patty.
Right on, Tom, sedition is much more accurate.
Thanks John.
You are right TC – sedition it is – and utterly criminal.
Thanks, Pat.
If we are to have another revolution – it's best to know why and to have the criminals aptly accused!
Hopefully a revolution with ballots, not bullets.
I think it comes down to the definition of war. RepubliCONs are killing us, but off camera & with a silencer. Their War against the elderly, disabled, immigrants, all people of color, education, and Women in general, but especially the poor (which they create more of every day) IS killing, maiming, and destroying America from within. It's just the prelude to the UnCivil War that they are chomping at the bit for! Controlling & greedy is the RepubliCON platform and the Basis of all the "undeclared wars" that America has fought since WWII!!!!!
I agree, it is war, it is simply not declared. Any attack on the people and governmant of the United States is War.
Welcome, Jerry! 🙂
You are correct, but to meet the legal definition for war, Congress must declare it.
Yvonne, I agree, but since I support opposing them by all legal means, the Constitution remains the standard.
Yes, there was a reason why the Founding Fathers so restrictively defined treason. For one thing, they did not want to split the country before it even got started. But there was, I believe, also a reason why Presidents since WWII have not asked Congress to declare war. No war, no treason. CYA.
And, of course, legally treason is whatever a country defines it as. Did you know (I didn't) that in WWI, that's ONE, as in the Kaiser, not Hitler, Germany defined treason so that anyone who happened to be anywhere they could get their hands on them, without regard to citizenship, nationality, or allegiance, was a traitor if they did anything to aid and comfort, not "The Enemy," but any person of an enemy nation? Several Brits and other non-Germans were shot specifically for treason. Espionage wasn't a good enough charge for them.
I agree, Joanne, bujt unless we change the Colnstitution, it sets the standard for how we define things in the US.
It is TREASON OF AMERICA!
Welcome Billy. 🙂
Would you care to explain what you mean?
I guess, by definition, it is sedition instead of treason, but they are definitely trying to destroy this country from within and if more people don't wake up and pay attention, they will succeed.
Edie, I agree.
I agree it is sedition, but then I learned the difference between sedition and treason from you over a year ago.
Poppinjays like Adam Kokesh have all but declared war on the US government, inciting others to use violence to take down the government. However the Congress has not declared war and won't since Kokesh etc is one of their own. If he did declare war on the US, it would be a civil war, an internal war similar to war of secession that we know as the Civil War or the war between the states. With the rabidness of the white nationalists, Tea Party etc, a civil war is more likely what would be seen, but I sure hope this rabidness does not go that far. Such a war would be catastrophic for the entire country, it's economy and its reputation amongst the rest of the world's nations.
PS Teabaggers are not welcome to colonise Canada.
Thanks, Lynn, I agree, ecxept for one thing.
If we get your dirty tar sands oil, you get out Teabaggers! 1 Bagger/barell is a fair exchange rate.