Comments on: Want to Overthrow the Government? $5 Please

By: Bicycle Bill

Bicycle Bill — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:03:36 +0000

I personally know at least two people who purchased those California drug stamps for their stamp collections. They classed them as “revenue” stamps, similar to the US Govt-issued stamps that used to be on playing cards, bottles of booze, and so on.

-”BB”

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:35:10 +0000

Boy did I pick the wrong article to read during a bout of misanthropy…

By: Chance

Chance — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:55:38 +0000

If everyone would please take a minute to read the following article, it will clear a few things up:
http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/02/1182300/sc-bill-would-get-rid-of-filing.html
As Ben says above, this is actually a law enacted in 1951 that bloggers – and now Mental Floss – have mistakenly reported as recent legislation. In truth, the only recent legislation on the issue involves removing this archaic rule from the books.
Ms. Harness, please be more thorough in your research.

By: hockey zombie

hockey zombie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:30:04 +0000

It reminds me that Al Capone was arrested on tax evasion charges. It’s a way to bust people who the cops aren’t good enough to catch wrong-doing

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:41:35 +0000

I recently moved from Louisiana to Ohio, and was shocked at the amount of silly paperwork that I had to fill out for the Department of Education to obtain an Ohio teaching license. One of those was a “Declaration of Material Assistance to Terrorists” form. Question 1 – Are you a terrorist? yes or no. I think it had 8 questions, all centering around – are you a terrorist or have you knowingly (or unknowingly) provided assistance to terrorist groups.

It’s probably the dumbest form I’ve ever filled out. What terrorist would actually say YES on that form? It’s the biggest CYA (cover your a**) paperwork I’ve ever seen. “We didn’t know he was a terrorist, Your Honor. He said he wasn’t when we hired him.”

By: Traci

Traci — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:12:17 +0000

from the law:
“every corporation, society, association, camp, group, bund, political party, assembly, body or organization, composed of two or more persons, which directly or indirectly advocates, advises, teaches or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States [or] of this State.”

Each local government is a group that practices conducting the government.
Therefore, the government must register as subversive. Assuming that the governmental agencies did not register themselves, it is fair to state they are all criminals.

By: VM

VM — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:50:28 +0000

Risible as these kind of laws seem, they do serve a sneaky purpose: to provide a simple charge that’s easier to prove and to convict on. Don’t forget that Al Capone only got put away because he was convicted of tax evasion.

By: PartiallyDeflected

PartiallyDeflected — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:42:16 +0000

Do you get a certificate or license or anything?

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:21:20 +0000

You’re sadly late to this party. This law was enacted during the communist hysteria half a century ago.

By: 8rustystaples

8rustystaples — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:55:20 +0000

If I were still a resident of SC, I’d make it a point to register, just in case.
I have no current plans to overthrow the government, but who knows where the country will be 10-15 years from now?
I mean, if there’s a sudden influx of registrants as a revolution is brewing, all it’s going to do is tip off the government. I think it’s best to plan ahead. And at only $5, being a revolutionary has never been so affordable.