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[Wthermans]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

Not to mention what is he going to do about it? Complain on a message board? Write to his federal representative? Ultimately the people have no power to halt the government's wishes.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

Individually I think you're right. Collectively in regards to the citizens as a whole I believe it's absolutely our right to decide how far and how many freedoms we are willing to toss away in the name of "security".

I've said it before and will say it again: The threat of terrorism in the United States is overblown and exaggerated.

 

[spiderman123]

Meh.......let em I aint doing nothing wrong. Plus Im not American ;p

 

[el retorno]

Meh.......let em I aint doing nothing wrong. Plus Im not American ;p

So you should have no expectation of america respecting your privacy.

 

[Jex]

I see more and more comments on even liberal websites (not just tea partiers) for an American spring. Between this shit and the banks and everything else, I don't think America has ever been more unstable. How many more years of absolute dogshit government can this country take before something insane happens? Elections are not changing anything, same shit over and over.

When hundreds of thousands of people moved and marched against the Government in the 60's, those were unstable days. These days you'll find that most of the populous is somewhat more docile.

 

[magicstop]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

It's still a matter of consent, and regardless of what you've posted, I still don't. Not to mention that's untestable and unprovable logic. The value of that statement simply can't be tested, and as such, it's a very dangerous logic that can and is abused and used to justify the existence and operation of a police state/big brother.

The ultimate form of government, terms of efficiency, is a pure monarchy, and the ultimate form of protection/safety/compliance, in terms of efficiency, is big brother/police state/totalitarianism. It is necessary to introduce inefficiencies in order to insure the safety, empowerment, privacy, and well-being of the people involved in these systems. Democracy is simply a system of introducing inefficiencies to ensure a better, more egalitarian and fair system of governing. Mind you, I think democracy is broken, and I argue for a horizontally structured system free of all hierarchy. But that's another conversation. As far as the police state goes, I simply don't believe we need big brother. Does he makes us safer? Some of us, yes. Those who comply, who give up their freedoms, and who fit the current definition of who is acceptable. But for many, the world becomes less safe, particularly as they are subjected to racial and economical oppression and disenfranchisement, unfair sentencing, and other forms of persecution.

And if you think, "I don't have anything to hide. Just don't do anything illegal, and you'll be fine," I'd ask you to consider the fickle and rapidly changing state of affairs that is government, legislation and laws, etc. What you are doing today may wind up illegal in 10 years, and you may find yourself facing them same persecution. Besides which, congrats on being privileged enough that you don't have to face decisions and circumstances that put you in opposition to the state, but not all of us have that luxury.

This is wretched news, all the more alarming for all of the responses of "Duh, who didn't already know that." Apathy like that is dangerous. I understand why it exists, particularly as the forces working against autonomy and empowerment are so overwhelming and powerful, but it's fucking dangerous. And for those defensive posters ready to shout "What are YOU doing posting about it on a message board? Why aren't you out there doing something worthwhile?" the answer is, I am.

 

[timetokill]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

You could literally justify absolutely anything the government does in this way. It's a terrible argument because it basically just says that citizens are perpetual children that have to do what mommy and daddy government says "because I say so." There's not even a "you'll understand when you're older" because we're not allowed to understand, lest we become rebellious.

 

[Gallbaro]

The United States isn't unstable, it's led by buffoons who are more concerned about getting re-elected than passing meaningful legislation.

We have so many problems and no one is willing to stick their neck on the line. Thus we are left with this:

All those laws are cumulative! How many more can be needed?

 

[The Albatross]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

But wait, we have a largely civilian government.

wut to do.. Only the military can pass laws on public safety?

 

[ElectricBlue187]

I understand your position but as you are a civilian with no knowledge of what or how many planned attacks happen on U.S soil. You really are not qualified to make an informed decision of whether it's worth it or not. And I'm just being honest here.

I just want to know what the effectiveness is. If Obama says we've intercepted X terrorist communications using this system then ill be like, okay fine. I have a strong suspicion, however, that its just another waste of anti turrist money and violation of civil liberties that isn't even effective at its goal.