Perhaps, if one’s definition of a “bad guy” is so broad it becomes meaningless.

Among the findings in this must-read article recently posted at Washington’s Blog, Does the Government Only Label Bad Guys As Terrorists?, the following characteristics could get you labeled as a terrorist by the  government:

• Complaining about the taste of your tap water
• Having “strange odors” or “bright colored stains on clothes” (what if you eat mustard or ketchup?)
• Complaining about U.S. drone assassinations
• Expressing fears of big brother or of economic collapse … or otherwise believing that we’re in a crisis.  (Irony alert:  if you’re afraid of the government, the government might go after you?)
• Being young (if you live near a battle zone, you are fair game; and see this)
• Using social media
• Reporting or doing journalism (and here and here)
• Speaking out against government policies
• Protesting anything (such as participating in the “Occupy” or “Tea Party” movements)
• Questioning war (even though war reduces our national security; and see this)
• Criticizing the government’s targeting of innocent civilians with drones (although killing innocent civilians with drones is one of the main things which increases terrorism. And see this)
• Asking questions about pollution (even at a public Congressional hearing?)
• Paying cash at an Internet cafe
• Asking questions about Wall Street shenanigans
• Holding gold
• Creating alternative currencies
• Stocking up on more than 7 days of food (even though all Mormons are taught to stockpile food, and most Hawaiians store up on extra food)
• Having bumper stickers saying things like “Know Your Rights Or Lose Them”
• Investigating factory farming
• Infringing a copyright
• Taking pictures or videos
• Talking to police officers
• Wearing a hoodie
• Driving a van
• Writing on a piece of paper
• (Not having a Facebook account may soon be added)
• Being frustrated with “mainstream ideologies”
• Valuing online privacy
• Supporting Ron Paul or being a libertarian
• Liking the Founding Fathers
• Being a Christian
• Being anti-tax, anti-regulation or for the gold standard
• Being “reverent of individual liberty”
• Being “anti-nuclear”
• Believe that 9/11 was an inside job … or any other “conspiracy theories”
• “A belief that one’s personal and/or national “way of life” is under attack”
• “Impose strict religious tenets or laws on society (fundamentalists)”
• “Insert religion into the political sphere”
• “Those who seek to politicize religion”
• “Supported political movements for autonomy”
• Being “anti-abortion”
• Being “anti-Catholic”
• Being “anti-global”
• “Suspicious of centralized federal authority”
• “Fiercely nationalistic (as opposed to universal and international in orientation)”
• “A belief in the need to be prepared for an attack either by participating in … survivalism”
• Opposing genetically engineered food
• Opposing surveillance

As you can see the list is pretty long, but sure to get longer as the government becomes even more corrupt, ineffectual, and fearful of revolt. Having such a loose definition of “terrorist” will do nothing to make anyone any safer (except perhaps the wealthy elite). In fact, it will only discourage dissent and encourage obedience to the corporate state which ultimately endangers the health of society.