05-15-2006, 11:15 PM
Evan,
The issue for me isn't between terrorists plotting suicide bombing and you begging for head from your girlfriend. It has more to do with non violent citizens protesting the government. If I could be assured that the NSA data mining is the ceiling and not the floor, I may be more open to the idea.
Research CoIntelOp if anyone gets the chance. The government invaded the private lives of citizens even Muhammed Ali was wiretapped. If we want evidence of the government going overboard, we only need to look at the 60s.
With regard to the protecting ourselves, that's a hard question. I don't know how to address that but if we're going to allow government surveillance, we must have oversight and controls.
Lastly, I read this awesome article in the New Yorker. The author argued that what we have to worry about now in the new century is not the military industrial complex, it's the information-intelligence complex. He argues that the private information sector will continue to come up with ne gadgets and services to feed the intelligence sector. It will play up fears and threats in order to secure more gov't contracts and lobby our congressmen to buy their wares.
Essentially, the thesis is that instead of Boeing selling fighter planes, the computer sector will attempt to selling new ways of gathering info on the modern threat whatever that my be.
The issue for me isn't between terrorists plotting suicide bombing and you begging for head from your girlfriend. It has more to do with non violent citizens protesting the government. If I could be assured that the NSA data mining is the ceiling and not the floor, I may be more open to the idea.
Research CoIntelOp if anyone gets the chance. The government invaded the private lives of citizens even Muhammed Ali was wiretapped. If we want evidence of the government going overboard, we only need to look at the 60s.
With regard to the protecting ourselves, that's a hard question. I don't know how to address that but if we're going to allow government surveillance, we must have oversight and controls.
Lastly, I read this awesome article in the New Yorker. The author argued that what we have to worry about now in the new century is not the military industrial complex, it's the information-intelligence complex. He argues that the private information sector will continue to come up with ne gadgets and services to feed the intelligence sector. It will play up fears and threats in order to secure more gov't contracts and lobby our congressmen to buy their wares.
Essentially, the thesis is that instead of Boeing selling fighter planes, the computer sector will attempt to selling new ways of gathering info on the modern threat whatever that my be.
Two feet.