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by Nathan_T from South Austin

Last Post 418 days, 5 hours Ago


Who is really getting protected?
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:39 PM
Category: Political
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President Bush is sharpening his Veto Quill yet again. This time he wants the "Protect America Act" to give retroactive immunity to telecoms that have helped the intelligence community to spy on it's own people. The bill in the House leaves that portion out. I think the only thing his version of the bill protects is his hide and the megacorps who funded his campaigns.

Look, this bill fundamentally gives the government the green light to spy on anyone of us. "Sure," you say,"but I have nothing to hide!" It's not that they want to spy on you, but get you used to the fact that you may be monitored at any time. A frog put in a pan of water will not notice the heat until he is dead as it's too gradual to be apparent.

One of our founding fathers knew what would happen in this country in time, Thomas Jefferson:

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. "

"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."

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LambChopSushi read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 9:23 PM

Interesting blog post. :)

Do you suppose we Americans have been spied on BEFORE Bush took office? I mean, it is interesting that drug busts gang busts, etc. have been taking place long before Bush took office and long before Bush implemented the Protect America Act.

Whether or not the American People back the President on this matter, I do believe we Americans will be spied upon. It's just the way of our world today.

England's had big brother in their homes long before we have and now, we're just like them, except we haven't yet lost our right to bear arms, like those poor ole chaps.
Nathan_T read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 9:26 AM

I think the main difference between then and now would be that then there were checks in place to ensure that the authorities did not abuse the power. Law enforcement outside of "terrorism hunting" still requires a judge to sign off on surveillance. To allow anyone in our law enforcement or government to listen in on conversations or read e-mails without someone to keep an eye on will only spread paranoia and the fear-mongers who capitalize on it. Remember the dog and pony show of McCarthyism? It spread fear and paranoia to the point that people would lie about someone else being a communist just so they wouldn't be accused of it.

And don't worry, our right to bear arms will disappear as soon as every other freedom has been whittled away, all in the name of protecting us. Sometimes I think that V for Vendetta was more of a documentary than a piece of fiction.
jamesryan read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 5:19 PM

Big Brother has existed in this government for awhile, just ask Richard I'm not a crook Nixon
I think the FBI has to pick up calls on people who are terrorist. You saw what happen to the twin towers, we can't let that happen again.
Nathan_T read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 8:04 PM

How much freedom are you willing to give up in the name of freedom?
jamesryan read my blog view my photos
Oct 12, 2007 | 5:20 PM

I don't like giving up anytype of freedom. But
the government at any time can watch you. I believe that freedom doesn't have the same meaning like it did 50 years ago. I do believe
that in today's world we have to watch out for the terrorist as much as possible otherwise the twin towers incident will look like a minor blow to the U.S.
LambChopSushi read my blog view my photos
Oct 14, 2007 | 12:35 PM

jamesryan - the twin towers were just the begining. Al Qaida has much bigger plans. Muslim EXTREMIST want to have the entire world under them, that's not some mumbo jumbo napoleon complex chatter from a group of little twits either; it's a serious threat made from men who take their religion to a level most Americans can not understand.

When Timothy McVeigh bombed Oklahoma, he did so because he believed as a "solider," it was his place to punish the government ( for killing innocent ppl in WACO TX). These AlQaida people are on that same playing field, except of course, they're muslim extremist, but you get the idea, right?
LambChopSushi read my blog view my photos
Oct 14, 2007 | 12:40 PM

We have cameras on every corner just about.

I believe we will always be spied upon, at local and national levels. :)

Have a good week Nathan.
jamesryan read my blog view my photos
Oct 14, 2007 | 5:29 PM

Yes I do LambChopSushi. My sister sent me an email. It was a message from a muslim cleric who visited a prison in the U.S., his message was simple one to all muslims kill all the infidels and you will go to heaven. So, I think it's time all the protestants, catholics, hindus, budhists start watching these people a lot closer, they mean what they say.
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Nathan_T

I am a MyFoxLocal user who is tired of seeing that I haven't yet written a bio. I grew up in RR but moved to the southside as soon as I could. Things are a little less hectic here, and that's what I like. I also enjoy spirited debates, mostly political and am more than willing to change my views when evidence says I should. No, I'm not a flip-flopper. I actually weigh all evidence to an outcome that I believe is the most sound, and evidence can sometimes change just as people can as well.

Member Since: 10/9/2007


 

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