We Live Under a Total Surveillance State in America by Fred Branfman (#NDAA, #NSA)

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, September 25, 2013
September 29, 2013

Image by Isadora Ruyter-Harcourt via Flickr

“Knowledge (of) the scale of our capability would raise public awareness generating unwelcome publicity for us and our political masters.” — Classified UK NSA document

“To approve such a program, the Court must have every confidence that the government is doing its utmost to ensure that those responsible for implementation fully comply with the Court’s orders. The Court no longer has such confidence.” — U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Order, p. 12, 3-9-2009

The Biggest Assault on Our Democracy Is Coming from the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government by Fred Branfman

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, September 4, 2013
September 7, 2013

Image by Mayu ;P via Flickr

The Executive justifies its actions, like all authoritarian institutions, on the grounds that it is protecting us. We must reverse the tide.

“America no longer has a functioning democracy. This invasion of privacy has been excessive, so bringing it to public notice has probably been beneficial —President Jimmy Carter

Millions of Americans will face a basic question in the coming decade: how much loyalty do we owe a U.S. Executive Branch which extracts huge sums from us to spy upon and lie to us, on the false grounds that doing so is protecting us? Or do we owe our moral allegiance to the ideal of democracy, which requires us to fight the Executive which is its enemy?

One Key To Executive Power Is Its Secrecy and Deception by Fred Branfman

Image by Mr ATM via Flickr

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, July 18, 2013
August 12, 2013

I learned firsthand about the realities of executive branch power 40 years ago, when I discovered that a handful of U.S. executive leaders from both political parties, liberals and conservatives, had secretly destroyed the 700-year-old Plain of Jars civilization in northern Laos without congressional or public knowledge, let alone consent.

Why the U.S. Executive Branch Is a Clear and Present Danger to Our Democracy by Fred Branfman

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, July 16, 2013
July 21, 2013

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Edward Snowden’s revelations have illuminated the most critical political issue facing America today: how an authoritarian U.S. Executive Branch which has focused on war abroad for the last 50 years now devotes increasing resources to surveillance, information management, and population control at home, posing a far greater threat to Americans’ liberties than any conceivable foreign foe.

Fred Branfman: Excesses of Executive Branch Eroding Democratic Institutions

Image by Stephen D. Melkisethian via Flickr

with Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
July 20, 2013

TheRealNews on Jun 22, 2013

Fred Branfman: Excesses of Executive Branch Eroding Democratic Institutions. 

America’s Most Anti-Democratic Institution: How the Imperial Presidency Threatens U.S. National Security by Fred Branfman

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, June 9, 2013
July 19, 2013

It’s evil, lawless and authoritarian. And as NSA leaker Snowden has shown us, its aims are to be all-powerful.

Many have expressed surprise that under President Obama – a former Constitutional Law Senior Lecturer who promised transparency, protection for whisteblowers and respect for international law when running for office – U.S. Executive Branch agencies have:

World’s Most Evil and Lawless Institution? The Executive Branch of the U.S. Government by Fred Branfman

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, June 26, 2013
July 1, 2013

Image by Franco Folini via Flickr

Executive Branch leaders have killed, wounded and made homeless well over 20 million human beings in the last 50 years, mostly civilians.

America has a secret. It is not discussed in polite company or at the dinner tables of the powerful, rich and famous.

Parents do not teach it to their children. Best-selling authors do not write about it. Politicians and government officials ignore it. Intellectuals avoid it. High school and college textbooks do not refer to it. TV pundits do not comment on it. Teachers do not teach it. Journalists from the nation’s most highly regarded TV news shows, newspapers and magazines, do not report it.

When Chomsky wept by Fred Branfman

Sent to Dandelion Salad by the author.

Image by thelastminute via Flickr

By Fred Branfman
Salon.com
June 17, 2012

 I first met Noam Chomsky, in Laos, where I showed him the devastating effects of U.S. air raids

Forty-two years ago I had an unusual experience. I became friendly with a guy named Noam Chomsky. I came to know him as a human being before becoming fully aware of his fame and the impact of his work. I have often thought of this experience since — both because of the insights it gave me into him and, more important, the deep trouble in which our nation and world find themselves today.