Went for a 42 mile bike ride at break neck speed in an effort to make some sense out of this bill passed quietly in the House with only 6 rational dissenters. Our own Peter DeFazio voted yea by the way and I will waste no time finding out what the hell he was thinking.

(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization’ means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change. (emphasis mine)

`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

`(4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence’ means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual’s political, religious, or social beliefs.

The Orwellian implications are clear but the most scary thing about this is that ‘violence’ and ‘ideology’ are open to the interpretation of the government. Many people I have spoken with thought perhaps it was just a joke and not real, but evidently it is very real and you can see the vote results here.

A few months ago I listened to Peter DeFazio at a local townhall meeting in Bandon assert that our civil liberties meant nothing if we were dead. My mouth fell open, I was so shocked, appalled and hurt to hear this. Our forefathers, my son, millions have been willing to die to defend civil liberties, to defend the constitution. Our civil liberties have been worth dying for since this nation began and this bill smacks in the face of every patriotic American. I am disgusted.

Nothing is efficient in Oceania except the Thought Police….A Party member lives from birth to death under the eye of the Thought Police. Even when he is alone he can never be sure that he is alone. Wherever he may be, asleep or awake, working or resting, in his bath or in bed, he can be inspected without warning and without knowing that he is being inspected. Nothing that he does is indifferent. His friendships, his relaxations, his behaviour towards his wife and children, the expression of his face when is alone, the words he mutters in sleep, even the characteristic movements of his body, are all jealously scrutinized. Not only any actual misdemeanour, but any eccentricity, however small, any change of habits, any nervous mannerism that could possibly be the symptom of an inner struggle, is certain to be detected. He has no freedom of choice in any direction whatever. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside you skull.