Winston Smith Lives!

[exedir]

Or not. So, the national government surveils, nothing new here, nothing to see, everyone knew about it, its legal, move on.

And as to proof of the effectiveness, massive surveillance, we have not had a redo of 9/11 by terrorists. And yet, many are disquieted by all of this, the reach of surveillance, much less the cause, and who's in charge here, what happens to all this "stuff" at the end of another day of watching. Is privacy really private and if not, who decides what is yours and what is someone else's to have and use about you and anyone you know and deal with at home or away.

We are subject to a new age, a new age of what can be used because today we live as "1" and "0" not as people just speaking and writing amongst ourselves but as computer/cell phone/internet avatars in machines that can move and store everyone and everything we do to those that can see and watch what it is we do, where we are and with whom we deal. And yes, it is legal, maybe, and the consequence of how we live today, without, in the most part knowing what that living in the computer/cell phone/internet age means as to who and what can see us and hear us.

"Can you hear me now?" We sure can and so can those that want to listen can to, Mr. Smith.

[LoveLife&Laughter]

I'm sure it's legal; The Patriot Act.  Now that the War on Terror is over, maybe it's time to get rid of the Patriot Act.

[DragaoDHJ]

Hmmmm? I don't think the war on Terror will ever be over.

[exedir]

Neither was the war with Eurasia....oh....ah, that was Eastasia ...always has been Eastasia, never was anyone else....

[Dennis Barsten]

The only good thing to come from the Patriot  Act (Pat-riot act) was letting all government agencies to communicate with each other, where before it they could not...

The rest of it is a how do we screw our people act...

As long as we have nut cases we will have acts of terror, home grown or international...

[LoveLife&Laughter]

[exedir]

Actually civil liberties have been mugged a number of times beginning with the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, that took away the right of free speech.

This recent stuff has been apart of what does free speech mean and how does that relate to transparency and truth speaking by those inside the government, the whistle blowers in particular.  The Johnson administration's had done a secret analysis of the Vietnam War that was held by the Pentagon until it was "leaked" by Daniel Ellsberg to the New York Times as the "Pentagon Papers".  As a result, the White House's concern with political leaks lead to the creation of the "Plumbers" to find and stop leaks which included a break in to tap the DNC offices which was bungled and started the "Watergate" scandal.

There has always been a tension of who is to know what and when vs. from who, what and when inclusive of what is covered by the 1st and 4th amendments as to the rights of free speech and privacy. However, there is the added problem by what is included in the Constitution and the oaths of every public official  to ...

.... support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God

[Dennis Barsten]

That's when your elected..."discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter"...

[P.A.]

I do not believe all of that oath is in the constitution.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Article II Section 1

[LoveLife&Laughter]

...stop national Security Leaks,  or were they just typical Republican dirty-tricks committee  to Re-Elect the President (CRP), i.e. to re-elect Republican Richard M. Nixon.  

 The White House’s Special Investigation Unit, nicknamed the “Plumbers,” had been established to prevent information leaks from the White House... and were also involved in various activities perpetrated against Democrats and antiwar protesters.   One of the arrested plumbers identified his occupation as "anti-communist." 

Sure sounds like today's typical tea bagger; Michelle Bachmann?