You know what really twists my knickers?  If they’re going to curtail the 4th Amendment they should at least have the decency to do it in public so we can know who to thank.  The further irony is that the administration that wants full priviledge to know what you read thinks it’s an invasion of executive privacy for us to know who they conferred with for energy policy.

So to all you feds out there reading this free speech loking for terrorist plots… Fuck you very much!

Stay tuned for other disgraces against the Constitution and common rights.

I do support the current iteration of the Patriot Act, but i do not support its extension.  The Patriot Act was a sane, necessary, and fairly wise idea.  But, i think we need to now focus on different kinds, more pervasive forms of common-security.

I don’t think many people who opposed the Patriot Act fully appreciate the era in which we’ve entered:

[] We will, most likely, lose multiple cities to an attack by Islamic Extremists within the next 1-30 years.
[] A nation-wide, or at least multi-region biological attack (think viral in nature) will most likely happen within the scope of the current War.

Most Americans, unfortunately, believe that the lack of another attack on the scale of 9/11 somehow means that the Islamic Extremists are no longer capable of such.  This is painfully naive.

The next attack will, according to alQaeda propaganda, focus on multiple cities and be co-ordinated in multiple theatres, such as Europe, NAMerica *and* Gulf Region—all on the same day, same hour.  (This the hallmark of all alQaeda operations, hourly percision of multiple attacks.)

In the past i’ve been a strong advocate for widespread use of CCTV, surveilence cameras, phonecams, and personal-wearable-webcams.  I also believe that the constant archiving of public transactions in an anonymous fashion (except with a judge’s time-n-scope consent), and making them anonymously available to all, is a necessary, and beneficial, policy.  But, more importantly, i believe what you do within your home is strictly you and your co-habitants’ personal, hyper-private concern.

-- > In short, dramatically expand home-privacy while archiving all public actions and transactions.  Make this archive widely mineable by all, while preserving anonymity to all but a judge and his agents.

The Patriot Act in large part was about sending a message to Islamic Extremists that 1) we are governmentally capable of responding to their threat (they believed otherwise), and 2) we could do so without radically transforming our judicial and civil-security methods (e.g., martial law, temporary suspension of bill-o-rights, etc.—all typical euro/world responses to a scale of 9/11version1).  It also enabled various law enforcements agencies to circumvent the technology-advantage that the Islamic Extremists were so savvly using (e.g., buying disposable cellphones, webcafes) to organize and deploy their plots.  The message was sent (and recieved) and we were able to eliminate (and source and continue to track, even now) homeland-stationed terrorist cells via the Patriot Act.  But, just as the enemy changes methods, so must we.

Many the the Islamic Extremists now operating within enemy-states no longer use private methods of communication.  It’s all very, very public.  Emails? Text message? Cellphone call?  Nope.  You’d be insane, especially with all the Heavenly Giant Scoop.  They now rely upon markedly non-tech methods, like social-daisy-chains, dead-drops, and the guise of cultural-religious events to meet and pass messages and material.

This is why, barring a private home (owned or rented), all public venues (street, library, store, civic hall, church/temple/mosque, school, forest, and lonely valley) should be constantly monitored --- and publicly archived.

Additionally, transactions and purchases of all sorts should be recorded.  While this archive would be publicly viewable by all (for market research, interest, academic purposes, etc.) the actual transaction would be anonymous.  Meaning, while your face and actions would be open to all for viewing, your purchase of Big Titties at Larry’s Fun Parlor, 1552 Central Ave, Scarsdale, NY at 23:40 on 12/03/06 would be anonymous—to all but a judge and his agents.  This system would be a massively priceless resource to the public, but would also dramatically enhance common-security.

While a Timothy McVeigh could easily assemble his feterlizer bomb within the privacy of his garage, his purchase of so many precursors (vehicle rental, industrial size plastic vats, etc.) would have warranted more detailed scrutiny of his public transactions, and those of his associations.

If we’re gonna protect our public gatherings, we need to monitor both individuals and groups in the public sphere—in a massively widespread and detailed manner.

If we’re gonna protect our public gatherings, we need to monitor both individuals and groups in the public sphere—in a massively widespread and detailed manner.

Congratulations… You have just reinvented good old Soviet Union and East Germany with addition of China and North Korea!
Hitler, Mao, Stalin and associates would be proud of you.

Looks really like there are other President Clark,Earth Alliance/Nightwatch fans than Dubya…
http://www.infinicorp.com/VEX/organizations/nightwatch.htm

http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ns-attack.html

“If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever.”
“The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them”
-George Orwell

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
-Teddy Roosevelt

“Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy.”
-George Bernard Shaw

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
-Thomas Jefferson

The majority of the surveillance and information that can be gathered is no different under the Patriot Act than it was pre-9/11.  The biggest change is that now there is little judicial oversight required to do so...they need only claim “homeland security concerns” or “terrorist investigation” to get cart blanch access to library records, multiple phone taps and the like.  Just because they claim that level of unfettered access is not being abused is certainly no guarantee that it isn’t.

WOW, Rob! Have you read the Patriot Act?  It’s VERY scary (and long).  Civil rights don’t erode overnight (unless it’s martial law).  They erode gradually, bit by bit.  People give a little bit away each time so they can feel “safe”.  Today, it’s to save you from terrorists, tommorow it’s to save you from someone who speaks out against the government.  The government won’t protect you, nor will giving up your rights.

Besides, “terrorism” is a relatively new concept to Americans.  Others around the world (Isreal & Ireland are two SMALL examples) have been dealing with this for years!  Maybe we should have looked to the international community for examples far before 9/11 happened.  Maybe 9/11 wouldn’t have happened had we not been arrogant enough to think that what happens in someone else’s backyard, wouldn’t happen to us.  Or maybe it wouldn’t have happened, had our international agenda been made up of more than “stop the Soviets at all costs” for 40+ years.  It’s a conglomeration of those things that really got us where we are today…

Pay attention to what is really happening, not what the media tells you is happening.  Be informed!  Look at what other agencies (news, etc) report OUTSIDE of the US.  See where things start overlapping.  Look at what your legislators are proposing and what they are voting on.  Keep an open mind and put it together for yourself.

Here is a few quotations that put my feelings better than I can myself:

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

—James Madison

Liberty has never come from government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of government. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of government power, not the increase of it.

—Woodrow Wilson, in a speech in New York City, September 9, 1912

The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.

—Edmund Burke, letter, April 3, 1777, to the Sheriffs of Bristol.

No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him. ...the idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural rights.

—Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Francis W. Gilmor, July 7, 1786

The history of Liberty is a history of the limitations of governmental power not the increase of it.

—Woodrow Wilson

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

--- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

-- William Pitt, 18 Nov 1783

And to sum it all up:

What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that they don’t like something to saying that the government should forbid it. When you go down that road, don’t expect freedom to survive very long.

—Thomas Sowell

Fuck The Government!

WOW, Rob! Have you read the Patriot Act?  It’s VERY scary (and long).  Civil rights don’t erode overnight (unless it’s martial law).  They erode gradually, bit by bit.  People give a little bit away each time so they can feel “safeâ€?.  Today, it’s to save you from terrorists, tommorow it’s to save you from someone who speaks out against the government.  The government won’t protect you, nor will giving up your rights.

Yes, i’ve read the (whole) Patriot Act.  While i do not support renewing the Patriot Act, as i took pains to say, i do, however, think it was a good idea for its time.  It was a stop-gap measure.

I now believe regulated surveilence technology is the best idea.  Just so you know, i don’t know any major highway or street in ANY American city that is not monitored by CCTV, private or public. In fact, most are private.

I’d like to regulate these.  I’d also like to make their feeds publicly accessible to all, ditto with their archive.

Additionally, this would happen with all “transactions”, as i described.  Again, publicly accessibly to ALL citizens.  So, if you want to research which demographics are buying both Hummers and Viagra in Texas, this would be freely open to all.  But, if you want to know their names and other identefiable details—only a Judge could sign such a warrant.

As i’ve said in the past:  This is already happening, just that it’s private corporations running the show.  Go ahead, fear the government, but you got the wrong satan in your heads.

We own the government, we don’t own LexusNexus.
And you sure don’t control them (without government).

Control the beast before its too late.

Wow you guys are scary.  Maybe I just think about this stuff in a different way.

The current administration is killing people, both citizens and foreigners.  Murder seems a little more serious in my humble opinion.  What more evidence is required? Soldiers are ordered to kill foreign citizens, soldiers are ordered into places where they are in danger.  The world has not supported the US to conduct a “lawfulâ€? war.  So, the removal of Saddam and installation of the in-term government before elections was just as illegal as Iraq invading Kuwait.  It still comes down to a foreign country invading.  How is it different?  Was it because of the weapons of mass deception? 

I am sure people will attack me for not supporting national security, In a single act of terrorism 2996 people died.  5000 people die each year of food poisoning, that is each year! (20,000 people have died of food poisoning since 911).  Do the math people, the money spent on the war and on national security could be far better spent on national policy, food preparation, and food inspection.  Yes it is argued a future attack “couldâ€? be worse, yes foreign policy makes the US a target, but 5000 people WILL die of food poisoning where would you gamble?  For that matter, what is the real agenda here, we all suspect oil profits, but even that seems simplistic.

The perception of your security and safety comes from the media.  Why is there fear that the “big bad” will attack again?  It amazes me how far we have all come, when the KGB kept track of who bought blue jeans the US was outraged and the bad soviets were held up in contrast to how free the US was.

I included notes from CDC and a victims group so you know I’m not pulling numbers out my ass.

“To better quantify the impact of foodborne diseases on health in the United States, we compiled and analyzed information from multiple surveillance systems and other sources. We estimate that foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Known pathogens account for an estimated 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths. Three pathogens, Salmonella, Listeria, and Toxoplasma, are responsible for 1,500 deaths each year, more than 75% of those caused by known pathogens, while unknown agents account for the remaining 62 million illnesses, 265,000 hospitalizations, and 3,200 deaths. Overall, foodborne diseases appear to cause more illnesses but fewer deaths than previously estimated.â€?  ( http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no5/mead.htm )

“CONFIRMED DEAD: 2948 • REPORTED DEAD: 24 • REPORTED MISSING: 24 • TOTAL: 2996� ( http://www.september11victims.com/september11Victims/victims_list.htm )

Dude, don’t look at me. I’ve been opposed to this stupid war since before it ever got started. I’ve just stopped harping on it because I’m wasting my breath at this point. Bush got away with it and it appears unlikely he’s ever going to see any repercussions from his actions.

In the past i’ve been a strong advocate for widespread use of CCTV, surveilence cameras, phonecams, and personal-wearable-webcams.

1984 was not a recommendation.

Bush got away with it and it appears unlikely he’s ever going to see any repercussions from his actions.

We can always hope that there really is a God, and a Hell. :0