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posted by
martyb
on Sunday December 04 2016, @03:56AM
from the lets-start-the-monitoring-with-all-those-in-power dept.
from the lets-start-the-monitoring-with-all-those-in-power dept.
The FBI, National Security Agency and CIA are likely to gain expanded surveillance powers under President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress, a prospect that has privacy advocates and some lawmakers trying to mobilize opposition.
Trump's first two choices to head law enforcement and intelligence agencies -- Republican Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general and Republican Representative Mike Pompeo for director of the Central Intelligence Agency -- are leading advocates for domestic government spying at levels not seen since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Police state surveillance is only bad when the other party does it.
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FBI and NSA Poised to Gain New Surveillance Powers
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I don't want a pickle,
I just wanna ride on my motorsickle.
And I don't want to die,
I just want to ride on my motorcy.
Cle.
-- Arlo Guthrie
(Score: 4, Informative) by quintessence on Sunday December 04 2016, @04:44AM
And this right here is probably going to be the most bitter aspect of a Trump presidency. Civil rights are going to nosedive, and with the expanded power of government may never recover.
And unfortunately what should have been an easy coalition is now confounded by the deep divides in the country, and equal suspicions that comrades today maybe amassing power to do the same once their guy gets into office.
The political football of power probably needs an overdue examination at this point, as the billyclub of government more than ever is going to rip this country apart.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @05:07AM
And this right here is probably going to be the most bitter aspect of a Trump presidency. Civil rights are going to nosedive, and with the expanded power of government may never recover.
Apparently you missed history class. This happens in every country's history. It doesn't matter who's in power-- that's the illusion of choice. It's a slope up to Authority, and a crash back to Anarchy. "One imagines Sisyphus happy." - that's the story of Us.
(Score: 2) by quintessence on Sunday December 04 2016, @05:26AM
And apparently you missed Steven Pinker's work that this is largely the most free, non-violent period in human history, even with Stalin and Hitler. The arc of liberation has generally moved forward, which will make it even more devastating when it falters, and I'm not willing to sacrifice that unless it is for a greater peace and prosperity.
Appeals to Murphy's Law may appeal to the sense of nihilism, but I think it actually gives more reason to re-examine our institutions and forge a better way forward.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @06:04AM
Anarchy? When? When has the government not violated our fundamental liberties and the Constitution? They violated our rights in different ways over the course of history, but never did they stop violating our rights.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @08:23AM
When you GOT rights in the 1st place maybe? I know it says they're "God given" or "self evident" but... lolz
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @09:58AM
God literally says we're all slaves, but only to him, and we should murder and raze those who would enslave us or beholden us to a false god.
So basically our rights are self evident: We have no rights other than those God gives us, so if Trump is taking them away from us, and God hasn't told us to revolt, ergo he must be God's envoy and we must continue under the burden of enslavement and rights he deems to give us.
Makes you wish more people were atheists so that sort of mentality, whether Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Shinto, 'Communist' or innumerable others didn't continue to believe that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @10:24AM
You're probably more wanted in the Handheld Tesla Coil Gun thread where you can thump your chest at your accomplishments at what you choose not to believe, and how superior you are especially in relation to a rocket scientist taking the time to educate people.
Given a choice between that or you, I'll take the Christian every day.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @03:30PM
Believe what you want, no problem here. But please realize a not insignificant portion of Christians do go in for the doomsday / kill the heretics type stuff. If you can't see how religious institutions manipulate people into doing evil (historically, and not all of them) then you need to do some reading!!!
With the anti-muslim rhetoric of the GOP backed by religious leaders I can totally imagine a slow slide into horror. Its an uncomfortable fact I'm sure that this wouldn't be so easy with a bunch of atheists, they won't sit down and listen to authority figures tell them what to think every week. This isn't meant as a personal dig, lots of religious centers are great.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 06 2016, @11:53AM
People who believe, but believe because they have thought it out themselves and have never been to church or been influenced by others, sure.
If they've been to church and have had that organisations teams than to them, no.
Religion is fine: ORGANISED religion is death. Just ask anyone who has been persecuted, tortured, raped, etc by ORGANISED religion. ORGANISED religion is DEATH.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 06 2016, @12:38PM
Wow, autocorrect sucks
"Have had that organisations teachings taught to them, no."
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @05:12AM
Maybe you MummyGuv lovers shouldn't have pushed so hard and so hard to "give" said powers to said government. You got all worked up over the idea of clubbing your opponents in the face with "your" new bat - but someone else up and took the bat away from you.
If the whole situation wasn't so stupid and dangerous, I'd be laughing in your face until my sides ached.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @06:13AM
Who are you talking to? Are you sure the guy you're replying to ever advocated for unconstitutional surveillance?
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday December 04 2016, @10:12AM
Stay salty, insignificant country. USA is the king of the world, and will continue to be for some time. USA! USA! USA!
(Score: 2) by tisI on Sunday December 04 2016, @01:04PM
Yep
We're pretty much self destructing as a civil society.
sign of the times
"Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 04 2016, @07:13PM
When will they start demanding crypto backdoors, like the clipper chip?
The UK already has demanded it.
People give up so much for conveniences, if not just out of ignorance.
I keep hoping the zombie apocalypse is quick, yet I still feel the need to take precautions, even if zombies in jackboots still will eat my brain when the time comes.