http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/11/nsa-americans-personal-data-israel-documents I don't think I'm exactly shocked, but this is pretty egregious.
American citizens deserve privacy. If it means we're a little less "safe", it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make. People need to go to jail over this stuff. Enough.
Imagine how I feel as someone who questions the policies of this Administration on the internet. You don't think the IRS gets forwarded those names? Make no mistake there is a permanent governing class who are intent on keeping their places. It's why President Obama didn't have to tell the IRS to give certain organizations/individuals a harder time; they would do it anyway as a matter of course. People who want limited government aren't just viewed as enemies by this Administration, but by the governing class. It's A Brave New World.
I personally think my only options are to grumble about government, or accept that I can only believe politicians will do close to what they say they will do.
And this is what happens when there are no real "checks and balances" to ones power. We saw it happen with the Bush Administration and we see the same thing with the Obama Administration, its nothing new and will continue to happen in then future, if its not in the public eye and goes on behind closed doors then no laws or rights violations are going to stop these backdoor deals that strip us of our basic liberties without our knowledge or consent. Its scary to think of the world we live in evolving to the point were we have to give up our rights to use electronics that access the internet. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
I get accused all the time of being a Republican on this board, and your post is the reason why I am not. In fact, the only party with which I ever registered was the Democratic Party, and that's just when I was young and stupid. Experience has shown me both parties are corrupt and serve a different master than the people they claim to represent. The only change that will come where we recapture the idea of limited government is a change outside of the two systems. A pox on both their houses I say.
This. I've had the same experience here. Through everything over the last few administrations, people don't understand when you choose each issue separately, rather than sitting entrenched on one side of the fence or the other.
That's certainly not how you come across. Your comments are directed against a specific President/Administration/Party. You think this shit wasn't going on before Obama took office? Or that it'll end when his term is up? Or that he had ANYTHING to do with ANY of it? All of these agencies are insulated from the minor differences between the political parties and carry on year after year, decade after decade, regardless of which party is "in control". They don't answer to anyone in any meaningful way.
Your ignorance is not my problem because you have obviously missed my criticisms of the Bush Administration and the feckless Boehner-led house. Then again, you've been around only since 2012. Which party holds the Presidency and Senate? In retrospect, of course it was occurring. It's why I've always been against the Patriot Act. And I do blame both parties as everyone in the NSA and CIA serve at the pleasure of the President.
It's naive to think this shit is somehow new to the Obama administration. The duopoly that runs this country are both complicit in gutting the Constitution. Obama just had the bad luck to get caught red-handed.
I don't think "Obama" and "bad luck" have ever really crossed paths. That guy is the luckiest person I've ever seen.
I guess we'll see what the long-term fallout over all of this unconstitutional behavior is ... if it all fades into the background noise of twerking, boy bands, TMZ, Duck Dynasty and all of the other trivial bullshit we seem to be obsessed with in this country, then you'll be proved right.
It's naive to think office changes of politicians and their administrations has any effect on the actions our government takes. Our government and all it's branches, especially the military, is controlled 100% by big business. Always was. Always will be. Washington DC is the world's largest dog and pony show, and nothing more.
Why would you say "especially the military" as if the military industrial complex has some extra special muscle in Washington that has allowed them to run roughshod over everything else. Look at facts: the U.S. military budget used to be 50% of the entire federal budget. What percentage is it now? Is that kind of "power" in line with your statement?