I think my topic this week is going to be that lovely word "preemption." Since the current occupant of the oval office is almost universally known as a plain-spoken person, isn't it just a bit strange that he's so attracted to this word that hardly anyone seems to know the meaning of?
When we consider that one of the most fundamental principles of our society is strict adherence to the conviction that every person is "innocent until proven guilty," then the doctrine of preemption has to be considered an aberration. Because, what "innocent until proven guilty" means in every day terms is that society will not interfere with an individual unless and until it is certain that he has done something wrong.
The doctrine of preemption turns this principle upside down. Because what it says is that society will interfere with individual rights BEFORE the individual has an opportunity to act.
Now, most people will probably respond that the doctrine isn't being applied to individuals at all. It's just self-defined groups, who have proclaimed themselves as terrorists and certain states we may not like, whose ability to do their thing is going to be preempted--i.e. prevented.
I know it looks like a good idea on paper. But, how do we know what anyone is going to do before he does it? Are we going to act on mere suspicion? That's what we are bound to do, if we act before anything untoward has happened.
Again, people might answer that it is just unfriendly groups and states who are going to be interfered with. But, as today's news reports indicate, that's not the case. That's because the current administration has just announced a whole new program to interfere with millions of individuals, both adult and children, by making them submit to tests for mental illness BEFORE there's any indication they might need it. In other words, people's right to freedom of speech and action is going to be preempted in order to make sure they aren't in anyway inclined to behave in an obstructive manner.
The next thing you know, individuals are going to be tested, BEFORE they are even born, to find out if they are fit to be citizens of these great United States. And if the tests show that they're not? They're going to be preempted, or prevented. Choose whatever word you want. It's about the only choice you are going to have left.