RE: American Legislative Exchange Council. A perfect marriage of corporation and state.
I don't really know anything about American Legislative Exchange Council or what agenda they are trying to push or advocate. I need to dedicate a time just to read something about this so I will be able to make a comprehensive comment. But I'd like to share my thoughts about some of the statements in your post, @tawasi.
In an effort to classify activism as terrorism the American Legislative Exchange Council has been pushing legislation across the country which will stifle free speech.
Problem with politicians is that they're always trying to push their agenda to benefit themselves from the change in policies, laws or legislations. They will label an particular action as "terrorism", e.g. protest, so that whether it is nonviolent or otherwise, people will not be encouraged to engage in such protests for fear that they will violate the law which renders extreme punishment when committed.
Then, what happens now to the "Land of the free"? People won't even have the liberty or freedom to express their opinion even through peaceful assemblies they voice their opinion, for example, their objection to building new infrastructure, that will be labelled as a form of terrorism. Please correct me if I am heading towards the wrong train of thought.
We take actions which we know to be legal precisely because we know that our activities are closely monitored by law enforcement. The fact that these laws are being framed as protecting infrastructure from terrorist attack lets you know how upside down the politicians and media producers are.
Politicians are way too paranoid! They need to cover their bases, I guess, and protect their future projects from any obstruction.
Even when the legislation violates the constitution. Why? Because it’s all legal.
Legislators will even push forward amending and changing the constitution, if they find loopholes. But even if there weren't any loophole, they'll create one so they can change the constitution which the forefathers of the American Constitution meticulously designed and passed for all the present and future citizens of your "democratic country."
I believe we are well past the point of pretending we live in a free country. We live under authoritarian rule with the guise of capitalism.
Freedom is not absolute, unfortunately. Freedom of speech and even freedom of religion suddenly becomes compromised when it is contradicting the views of the majority.