"Patriot Act"

[tye stik]

I woke up tody to find myself in the middle of another stupid lecture in American Government class today... fortunatley my teacher caught my attention for this one.
The "Patriot Act" instated by Bush after 9/11 apparently dictates that, on the grounds of 'suspision of terrorism', your civil liberties can be bypassed. Uh, excuse me? Couldn't that tiny little piece of nonsence be open to interpertation?

What exaclty does this allow? Well, thanks to good ol' uncle Bush the government can ask for your library records without consent or probable 'cause AND prevent you from ever knowing... legally I might add.

"Sec. 201. Authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism." Hmmm, well if suspision of terrorism is open to interpertation dosen't that mean that they can 'intercept' your private communications based on bullshit? There is no 'internal affairs' for the NSA, and there is no higher athority to check what they're baseing they're accusations on.

"Sec. 204. Clarification of intelligence exceptions from limitations on interception and disclosure of wire, oral, and electronic communications." Let me rephrase that... "We can say that you said something based on other things that you've said, even though we don't have evidence for it."

Ben Franklin said, "a little revolution every once in a while is a good thing". Well, for the ppl who live in the US... its time to get out the tye dye and marijuana, we can't stand by and allow the government to blatantly step on our civil liberties. Terrorism or not, I will not allow my privacy to be handed over to the boneheads in the government.
By sitting down and allowing this to happen we are giving up our freedoms as a democratic people and basically screwing ourselves out of a free society. The war gave people something to bitch about while the government began its autocratic take over of the US population, terrorism is an exsuse for the government to squeeze out our rights as citizens of a free country. The war is not in Iraq, its right fucking here, and it isnt about terrorism, its about control. If that makes sense.

Maybe I'm just a paranoid stonerr... but this really scares me. I mean, it seems as though noone is listening, or looking at the situation with a critical point of view. Its like everyones so busy with whatever the hell they're doing that they dont see that there really is something fishy going on. DAMNIT! Someone sees this right???

If you love freedom you'll do something about this... if stupid lazy hippies could do it in the 70's then surely the information generation can do something too.

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

 

[t0rek]

No, other conspiracy poltical thread...

 

[smcd]

By sitting down and allowing this to happen we are giving up our freedoms as a democratic people and basically screwing ourselves out of a free society.

The U.S. is not, never has been and never will be, a democracy.

The war is not in Iraq, its right fucking here, and it isnt about terrorism, its about control.

That part I'll agree with though People have become too comfortable and are more interested in downloading the latest britney spears or 50 cent than making sure their government doesnt try to fuck them.

 

[tye stik]

Video games and music are like what religion was 1000 years ago, population control. It keeps us busy and gives us something to blame when something goes wrong.

As for the US not being a democracy, well, your right. The US is more like a Socialist country, but I'm sure that if you said that to most people they would call you a dirty commee 'cause of all the propaganda that theyve been fed with the cold war and the fall of the Soviet Union.

And damnit t0rek, your a slave to the government overmind. Thats exactly what you've been taught to think... whenever theres a *gasp* <i>conspiracy</i> or some novel idea like say life on other planets, its always like, that guys crazy or some naive crap. Open your eyes, boy. You need to think critically about things and keep an open mind.
Do you think the age of Enlightenment would have come about if no one had dared to think critically about religion and the world around us? It took balls to say that things could be explained by scientific reasoning and not only simply by God.

 

[t0rek]

And damnit t0rek, your a slave to the government overmind

You are wrong, I'm not an USA government slave

 

[ScottJC]

Video games and music are like what religion was 1000 years ago, population control. It keeps us busy and gives us something to blame when something goes wrong.

What? Population control... if that's the case then clearly we should all become mass-murderers after playing GTA SA, since we're being controlled so much.

Video Games and Music are Entertainment not control, Religion is still the same as it always has been. There is nobody forcing you to do anything.

Lets look at the definition of Control:
Authority or ability to manage or direct

Strange, after playing a game of Mario 64, I am no more compelled to just on the side of the wall to collect stars or save a princess... I seem to have returned to something called "Reality". The Government would work even if things like Televisions, video games and music weren't around... after all.. those are all things that were invented in the last 100 years!

I'd love to use your logic, because obviously busy means to be controlled, I can assure you... everyone is busy every day, minus the lazy ones.. who are too busy enjoying themselves. Also, i'm british... USA's government means nothing to me as does their patriot act.

 

[tye stik]

By population control I didn't mean killing... I meant keeping our minds occupied.

You Europeans should be worried too damn, Hong Kong is part of China again... the thing is, they've kept the right to freedom of ownership in Hong Kong. China has been a Communist state for quite some time, if its allowing democratic policies like that to seap in, you should be expecting it to become an unstoppable modern super power real soon (remember when the US became a democracy? yeah well imagine that success with 1,306,313,812 people behind it... 1,306,313,812 who will work for pennies at that).

They have different policies on the value of life, and probably wouldnt hesitate for globo nuclear war or some insane shit. We all need the christian based super power of the US to keep a sort of balance. At least the yanks can see eye to eye with the brits, dont expect that from China.

 

[smcd]

Yes the PATRIOT act does conflict directly with established laws/rights. The only thing is... try to tell it to someone who can change it and you'll see it doesnt matter

 

[tye stik]

I know what you mean seth. Even if the "Patriot Act" goes against our constitutional rights, it dosen't seem to matter to the big wigs. But isn't democracy suppose to be 'sovereignty' of the people? We have the power to change it... I just need to find more people who will be proactive with me, to make a stand. Like the Hippies vs Nixon.

Its funny how they call it the "PATRIOT" act when it is the undoing of what the patriots sought to create.

As for you Brits, I'm sorry you dont care... but if I knew of some political injustice in the UK I'd say something about, and use the international country that is the internet to discuss it.

 

[WhiteX]

Also, i'm british... USA's government means nothing to me as does their patriot act.

Last year a brazilian writer (quite rich) was too tanned and unshaved when going to NY, he was confused with a terrorist (any mid-eastern is just fine) and got 2 MONTHS
in the can, so it affects us all.

but if I knew of some political injustice in the UK I'd say something about, and use the international country that is the internet to discuss it.

that thing of getting inside other countries business´tha got the US on all this mess in the first place, let ppl govern themselves, if a dictator rises, let the ppl get stronger and toss him out this kind of policy made us all soft and weak, for believing that
always someone will do smth to help us, like... "no,son the gov will not try a coup de etat, the US will not let them", BS.
We must be free to rule our own countries.

 

[smcd]

that thing of getting inside other countries business´tha got the US on all this mess in the first place, let ppl govern themselves, if a dictator rises, let the ppl get stronger and toss him out this kind of policy made us all soft and weak, for believing that
always someone will do smth to help us, like... "no,son the gov will not try a coup de etat, the US will not let them", BS.
We must be free to rule our own countries.

YAY! Too bad 90% of the US doesnt see it this way We have enough problems of our own to be worrying with other peoples (and causing more).

 

[DuDe]

The Patriot Act is four years old, ain't it? Good job on raging against the machine four years too late.
Also - I think that some of you people should serriously consider laying off the weed. I generally have no problem with stoners, but when you start believing that video games are a means of public control, then the chemicals have definitely fucked up some brain cells.

P.S :
ZOMG RAEG
RAEG
AMERIKKKA
RAEG

 

[ScottJC]

Heh, I know America's government effects us all, I just don't give a crap about it... "means nothing to me" means that I litterally do not care about it. Had I said "USA doesn't effect me, oh no sir" you'd have the grounds for correcting me... thanks for the idiotic counter-arguments.

 

[zAlbee]

You Europeans should be worried too damn, Hong Kong is part of China again... the thing is, they've kept the right to freedom of ownership in Hong Kong. China has been a Communist state for quite some time, if its allowing democratic policies like that to seap in, you should be expecting it to become an unstoppable modern super power real soon (remember when the US became a democracy? yeah well imagine that success with 1,306,313,812 people behind it... 1,306,313,812 who will work for pennies at that).

They have different policies on the value of life, and probably wouldnt hesitate for globo nuclear war or some insane shit. We all need the christian based super power of the US to keep a sort of balance. At least the yanks can see eye to eye with the brits, dont expect that from China.

I like how this random paragraph has nothing to do with anything.

 

[tye stik]

The reason I brought up the Patriot Act now is 'cause its about to be renewed by the senate this year. I guess I forgot to mention that...

I like how this random paragraph has nothing to do with anything.

Lol, uh, yeah I just thought I'd put it in there you know. Seriously, China is on the verge of massive prosperity... no empire lasts for ever, the civilized world as we know it today is but a small fragment of humanities history. Our cultures will turn to dust as all others have. Chinas resurgence will completely rewrite the way we live.

Oh, and remember, you dont have to be brownie muslim to be considered a terrorist... remember the UniBomber? Yeah, us little stoner white kids can be taken away by the NSA also..... so if i disapear, perhaps someone is listening.

Um, I didnt mean to say that this all some grand conspiracy where video are created to busy our minds... its just the society we live in to today has benifited those who seek to take control. Its just convieniant for the government to have people sitting at home infront of a 'color box' playing on their emulators instead of going out and protesting. I dont think they thought of that before hand.

 

[WhiteX]

Heh, I know America's government effects us all, I just don't give a crap about it... "means nothing to me" means that I litterally do not care about it. Had I said "USA doesn't effect me, oh no sir" you'd have the grounds for correcting me... thanks for the idiotic counter-arguments.

i was thinking of starting a flame right now but your avatar really got me turned on:alien2:, see ya!

 

[tye stik]

hmmm, zAlbee's avatar kinda turns me on...

 

[zAlbee]

hey hey, hands off!

i've got my name on that.

 

[smegforbrain]

The Patriot Act is something that all in the US should be concerned about.

It also appears as if most, if not all, of the Anti-American... err, Patriot Act is going to be passed... permanently.

IIRC, of the original 17 points, 14 were built in with "sunset" clauses, meaning that they had to be renewed.

This includes the bits about being able to get anybody's library records, without the individual knowing.

This stuff isn't about the war on terror. It's as was stated - control.

 

[General Plot]

One more way for the government to let you know that they can f**k with you any time they want. And people wonder why politicians can't be trusted.........