Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson, (1892-1954), U. S. Supreme Court Justice

Justice Robert H. Jackson Quote

“I cannot say that our country could have no secret police without becoming totalitarian, but I can say with great conviction that it cannot become totalitarian without a centralized national police.”

Justice Robert H. JacksonJustice Robert H. Jackson
~ Justice Robert H. Jackson

The Supreme Court in the American System of Government, 1955

Ratings and Comments


Joe, Rochester, MI

These police forces exist in the form of the CIA, FBI, NSA, IRS, Secret Service, state and local police, and other unconstitutional agencies. If we don't take a stand now, we are doomed.

Mike, Norwalk

He cannot say it because it would be hazardous to his health. I personally know political prisoners in the U.S. that were put through kangaroo exercises without as much as a grand jury hearing. The appeals were ruled frivolous, never able to be brought up again. This one personal experience is enough to prove a totalitarian police state, even if it didn't happen all the time.

Mike, Norwalk

As a P.S. One friend that is in prison is a Christian Pacifist believing in non-violent reform. His only crime is a family feud between his father and a government official that lived in the neighborhood.

Mike, Norwalk

The statement on its face, as a stand alone conceptualization is accurate enough. As I said before, the black robed high priest Justice Jackson cannot say that our country could have no secret police without becoming totalitarian because the totalitarian Police State (having secret police) that he passes laws for would make sure some accident befell him or, some disease would pop-up or, . . . if he were to say such a thing. The centralized national police that now exists (and are growing) is evidence absolute that Amerika is a totalitarian Police State. The history of police in the de jure States united was local policing departments were considered a department of a standing army with prowess to implement a foreign despots will. With courts supporting political prisoners, placed in domestic prisons, without benefit of their day in court, the national secret police in this totalitarian Amerika do as they please.

E Archer, NYC

Forget about the right vs. the left -- it is but a distraction. It is totalitarianism vs. liberty. It is high time that individual states throw out the feds. Who cares about having to keep millions of government police forces employed? We don't need it. 'Law Enforcement' -- the very words should send chills down one's spine -- think about it. You don't need a single dictator to have a dictatorship -- when the government dictates what you must do, then you have dictatorship. End the wars! They are concocted to grow the police state, and the liberals and conservatives BOTH have furthered perpetual war. I thought Bush Jr was bad, but Obama has done NOTHING to reverse the growing police state. I am tired of hearing that we need more cops on the street -- we do not! End the drug war and watch the black market drug trade disappear. Stop bombing the Middle East! The sole purpose is to keep that wound open (and of course to protect the heroin production in Afghanistan). When will enough be enough?

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