Imagine...

(Previously posted on original "Tracy's Thoughts" in July 2013)

Imagine a US President that sanctioned, a quarter million strong with offices in 600 cities, of a group that carried government-issued badges while beating up dissidents and protesters and conducting warrant-less searches and interrogations.

Imagine a US President that would shut down newspapers and magazines at an astounding pace and any criticism of the government, even in your own home, could earn you a prison sentence.

Imagine a US President that thought that the individual should be willing to lose the sense of personal achievement, and should be content to realize his activity only in connection to the activity of the many.

Imagine a US President that thinks he must inflame their passions with little heed for the facts and that a "true leader" uses the masses like "tools.".

Imagine a US President who would demonized ethnic groups as enemies of the state, censor the press, imprison dissidents, bully political opponents, spew propaganda, and would often express contempt for the Constitution, approve warrant-less searches and eavesdropping, and pursue his policies with a blind, religious certainty.

Could never happen could it?

"I have today several hundred thousand private citizens... assisting the heavily overworked Federal authorities in keeping an eye on disloyal individuals and making reports of disloyal utterances." - US Attorney General Thomas Gregory, speaking about the American Protective League which was supported by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917.

THE AMERICAN PROTECTIVE LEAGUE OATH OF MEMBERSHIP

I,_____________ , a member of the American Protective League, organized with the approval and operating under the direction of the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation, do hereby solemnly swear:

That I am a citizen of the United States of America; and that I will uphold and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,and will bear true faith and allegiance to the same at all times as a true and loyal citizen thereof.

That I will give due time and diligent attention to such service as I shall undertake to render; and that I will execute promptly and to the best of my ability the commands of my superiors in connection therewith.

That I will in all respects observe the rules and regulations, present and future, of this organization; and that I will promptly report to my superiors any and all violations thereof, and all information of every kind and character and from whatever source derived, tending to prove hostile or disloyal acts or intentions on the part of any person whatsoever and all other information of any kind of interest or value to the Government.

That I will not, except in the necessary performance of my duty, exhibit my credentials or disclose my membership in this organization; and that I will not disclose to any person other than a duly authorized Government officer of this organization, facts and information coming to my knowledge in connection with its work.

That the statement on the opposite side hereof, by me subscribed, is true and correct. That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties, as a volunteer for the defense and preservation of the United States of America.

SO HELP ME GOD

Imagine a US President that would "employ" private US citizen to spy on others who were deemed disloyal individuals ...

But nothing like that could ever happen in this modern day and age could it?