Remember the old Soviet Union?

[davidn3600]

142. But the US has it set up so that it doesnt take much to be convicted of a crime anymore

This lawyer here suggests that the average American commits three felonies a day because there are so many laws that are written so broadly.
http://kottke.org/13/06/you-commit-three-felonies-a-day

Our system also tends to target the poor and minorities. Look at the demographics of who makes up our prisoners. The system is also set up for people to be forced into plea deals. That's what was the issue with Aaron Swartz. The government was threatening him with 50 years in prison if he didn't cooperate with prosecutors. He ended up killing himself.

As far as political prisoners...we may not yet be as bad as the USSR as far as that is concerned. The Supreme Court has done a pretty good job over the centuries of safeguarding freedom of speech. Although Im seeing some troubling trends such as the current administration's intense hatred for whistle-blowers. There is also the crackdown against Occupy Wall Street. I do think our government creates lists. I think our government is monitoring things that we say and do. If you participate in protests or are politically active, the NSA and FBI very likely has a file on you even if you have done nothing wrong. That's not paranoia, this is based on the accounts of numerous NSA whistle-blowers....Russ Tice, William Binney, Thomas Drake, etc...

Look at the recent NYT article that talked about the guy that found out his mail is being monitored. Look at Obama's policy of wanting federal employees to spy on each other. Journalists have complained their computers have been hacked. We have become a surveillance state. And that's a dangerous precursor. All the government has to do now is destroy the first amendment and we will begin having political prisoners. And they can do that... freedom is an illusion. Look at the way the government has destroyed the 4th amendment. Our police are becoming militarized. People are going to prison for long sentences for petty crimes.

We are not there yet....but we are getting there. No question. Ask any former resident of the Soviet bloc and they will tell you our trajectory is incredibly troubling and dangerous.