Got nothing to hide? Be very afraid.

[Katzndogz]

The government is taking all information that they can use anyway they want. It doesn't have to have anything to do with criminal activity. Depending on what kind of filters they put in, they can narrow a target group down to very few people. They can find every Christian in the country, including those who don't go to Church. Then they can narrow it to only those with two kids, who have red hair, who also bought a pressure cooker in the last six months.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Finally, nutters have come around to the liberal way of thinking about this matter. It only took 11 years and a couple of electoral ass-kickings to do it. Bravo!

How is spying on people (like Obama has done) the liberal way of thinking?

Try again, genius.

 

[whitehall]

The head of the FBI said he "wasn't familiar" with the details of the James Rosen warrant. We need to kick the whole stinking criminal administration out.

 

[LoneLaugher]

The head of the FBI said he "wasn't familiar" with the details of the James Rosen warrant. We need to kick the whole stinking criminal administration out.

What crime re you referring to?

 

[Erand7899]

The issue has nothing to do with whether or not anyone has ‘something to hide.’

1. Every American Is Probably a Criminal, Really

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, no matter how unfair the law may be perceived. But in order to indict the government must first obtain a warrant to investigate further possible criminal wrongdoing; the current surveillance programs likely don’t generate sufficient evidence for a warrant, much less an indictment.

2. The Federal Government Has Abused its Surveillance Powers Before

During the Vietnam Era surveillance activities were ‘analog,’ not digital as they are today. Opening one’s hardcopy snail-mail letter is clearly a 4th Amendment violation, as one as a reasonable expectation to privacy regarding such mail.

That may not be the case with wireless, digital communications used with smart phones and computers. This doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a reasonable expectation to privacy, it’s just that the courts have yet to make a determination. And until they do the government’s surveillance programs are legal, Constitutional, and do not manifest a privacy rights violation.

3. Government Is Made of People, and Some People Are Creepy, Petty, Incompetent, or Dangerous

True.

But anecdotal incidents of abuse by specific government employees does not constitute sufficient evidence to warrant the discontinuance of surveillance programs. If a citizen believes his civil liberties were violated by a given government employee per his execution of official government policy, he’s at liberty to file suit in Federal court, as was recently done by the ACLU.

In time there will evolve a body of case law establishing boundaries where one’s right to privacy ends and where the government’s right to surveil begins.

Until that time the current hysteria and hyperbole is pointless and counterproductive. To refer to the government’s policies as ‘Orwellian’ or ‘Big Brother’ is consequently unfounded, irresponsible demagoguery.

You appear to be deeply in love with the judiciary dictating public policy. We don't need to wait on case law, we need legislation, debated in the open, about what the government can do, and can't do, with our electronic communications, and we need it now. Then, we can let the judges determine whether that legislation is constitutional, or not.

I would recommend that we forbid the government from collecting and storing any electronic information. If that information is needed, the government can obtain the information from the companies that control the information, with a proper warrant. The only exception would be electronic monitoring of overseas communications with possible terrorists. If there is an internal connection to the terrorists, that information would be turned over to the FBI for investigation under our normal means of investigation.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Okay, just let the terrorists win.

How do the terrorists win if we refuse to let them change our way of life?

Maybe we should stop fucking with their way of life.

We? Do you have a mouse in your pocket? Why are you fucking with their way of life?

 

[The2ndAmendment]

Personal privacy is a thing of the past.

Get used to it.

Doesn't matter who is in charge they ARE going to snoop into our lives maintain dossiers on us too.

And not just the government, corporations will do that as well

Why?

Because they're in charge and because they can.

Sucks you say?

Everybody agrees with you -- right or left, everybody not in power agrees.

Except corporations can't deprive you of your life, liberty and property. However, because of Libtard Communism, governments and corporations are actually the same thing, so maybe they can...

 

[Quantum Windbag]

The issue has nothing to do with whether or not anyone has ‘something to hide.’

Isn't that what I said?

1. Every American Is Probably a Criminal, Really

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, no matter how unfair the law may be perceived. But in order to indict the government must first obtain a warrant to investigate further possible criminal wrongdoing; the current surveillance programs likely don’t generate sufficient evidence for a warrant, much less an indictment.

That used to make sense when laws made sense, but it is possible to commit a felony now without actually breaking a law.

By the way, there is no legal requirement for federal prosecutors to obtain an indictment in order to initiate a criminal investigation. Maybe you should read up on the ACLU position on the way the government makes it a felony to violate the terms and conditions of a website.

https://www.aclu.org/secure/ask-congress-to-decriminalize-internet-terms-service

Feel free to come back and pretend you never said that I was wrong.

2. The Federal Government Has Abused its Surveillance Powers Before

During the Vietnam Era surveillance activities were ‘analog,’ not digital as they are today. Opening one’s hardcopy snail-mail letter is clearly a 4th Amendment violation, as one as a reasonable expectation to privacy regarding such mail.

That may not be the case with wireless, digital communications used with smart phones and computers. This doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a reasonable expectation to privacy, it’s just that the courts have yet to make a determination. And until they do the government’s surveillance programs are legal, Constitutional, and do not manifest a privacy rights violation.

Why the fuck not? What makes an email an less private than snail mail, especially when you factor in the fact that it is actually illegal for me to read your email by hacking into your account.

3. Government Is Made of People, and Some People Are Creepy, Petty, Incompetent, or Dangerous

True.

But anecdotal incidents of abuse by specific government employees does not constitute sufficient evidence to warrant the discontinuance of surveillance programs. If a citizen believes his civil liberties were violated by a given government employee per his execution of official government policy, he’s at liberty to file suit in Federal court, as was recently done by the ACLU.

Recently? What the fuck do you mean by recent? The ACLU has filed suit over this since the PATRIOT Act was enacted in 2001.

In time there will evolve a body of case law establishing boundaries where one’s right to privacy ends and where the government’s right to surveil begins.

Until that time the current hysteria and hyperbole is pointless and counterproductive. To refer to the government’s policies as ‘Orwellian’ or ‘Big Brother’ is consequently unfounded, irresponsible demagoguery.

Why the fuck should I have to wait for case law before I protest? Should the government be able to ignore the Constitution just because you think it is constitutional to do something until a court says it isn't?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Finally, nutters have come around to the liberal way of thinking about this matter. It only took 11 years and a couple of electoral ass-kickings to do it. Bravo!

Just because you are a hack does not mean I am.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Personal privacy is a thing of the past.

Get used to it.

Doesn't matter who is in charge they ARE going to snoop into our lives maintain dossiers on us too.

And not just the government, corporations will do that as well

Why?

Because they're in charge and because they can.

Sucks you say?

Everybody agrees with you -- right or left, everybody not in power agrees.

Wanna bet?

https://www.hushmail.com/

 

[Anitabeme]

Okay, just let the terrorists win.

They already have. Look at how the sheeple live in fear every day. A boogeyman under every bed. I'm sure they're laughing their asses off.

 

[Anitabeme]

Okay, just let the terrorists win.

How do the terrorists win if we refuse to let them change our way of life?

They've won. Our way of life is already changed. Drastically.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Got nothing to hide? Be very afraid.

Being afraid is the worst thing one can do.

Learn and understand the laws, what they authorize and do not authorize. Monitor privacy rights cases as they make their way through the courts.

Ignorance is the greatest threat to Americans, not ‘terrorism’ or government ‘spying.’

 

[Anitabeme]

the government’s surveillance programs are legal, Constitutional, and do not manifest a privacy rights violation.

To refer to the government’s policies as ‘Orwellian’ or ‘Big Brother’ is consequently unfounded, irresponsible demagoguery.

This is the biggest stinking pile of bullshit I've seen today. Are you a shill for the US government??

 

[Anitabeme]

Personal privacy is a thing of the past.

Get used to it.

Doesn't matter who is in charge they ARE going to snoop into our lives maintain dossiers on us too.

And not just the government, corporations will do that as well

Why?

Because they're in charge and because they can.

Sucks you say?

Everybody agrees with you -- right or left, everybody not in power agrees.

Wanna bet?

https://www.hushmail.com/

Don't forget this...

https://www.torproject.org/

Or this...

Fix Tracking!

 

[dilloduck]

Okay, just let the terrorists win.

They won already. Look at what has happened to America since 9/11.

 

[dilloduck]

Got nothing to hide? Be very afraid.

Being afraid is the worst thing one can do.

Learn and understand the laws, what they authorize and do not authorize. Monitor privacy rights cases as they make their way through the courts.

Ignorance is the greatest threat to Americans, not ‘terrorism’ or government ‘spying.’

LMFAO---understand the laws ? Hell our government doesn't even know what they are.

 

[Anitabeme]

Got nothing to hide? Be very afraid.

Being afraid is the worst thing one can do.

Learn and understand the laws, what they authorize and do not authorize. Monitor privacy rights cases as they make their way through the courts.

Ignorance is the greatest threat to Americans, not ‘terrorism’ or government ‘spying.’

LMFAO---understand the laws ? Hell our government doesn't even know what they are.

They know, they just don't care to follow them.

 

[Crackerjaxon]

So having some clown peeking in your windows is fine as long as you're behaving like the Waltons.

I see.

 

[sitarro]

Okay, just let the terrorists win.

How do the terrorists win if we refuse to let them change our way of life?

Maybe we should stop fucking with their way of life.

Your hypocrisy smells, smells bad.