U.S. seen internationally as an ‘Endemic Surveillance Society.’
By on Dec 30th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
U.S. seen internationally as an ‘Endemic Surveillance Society.’
In the recently released annual survey of worldwide privacy rights by Privacy International and EPIC, the United States has been downgraded from “Extensive Surveillance Society” to “Endemic Surveillance Society.” As Glenn Greenwald notes, this is “the worst possible category there is for privacy protections, the category also occupied by countries such as China, Russia, Singapore and Malaysia.” In general, “the 2007 rankings indicate an overall worsening of privacy protection across the world, reflecting an increase in surveillance and a declining performance of privacy safeguards.”
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Impeach the traitors and try them all with treason against the USA!
December 30th, 2007 at 3:29 pmWe need to get back to protecting the privacy of citizens and removing the privacy of government and corporations.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:33 pmChimpy’a turned the US into the USSR in only 7 years.
-GSD
December 30th, 2007 at 3:36 pm“…an increase in surveillance and a declining performance of privacy safeguards.”
- - Or-well, that’s how it goes.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:41 pmLast I checked, we are also seen as the terrorist nation of the world.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:46 pmGeorge Orwell was truly a prophet for the ages.
How long will it be until taxpayers can receive a 5% discount on their bill if they install a 24/7 webcam in their bedroom?
Big Brother has arrived!
December 30th, 2007 at 3:46 pmMemo to Nancy:
Resign, so you can spend more time with your grandchildren.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:51 pmBesides spying on us for political blackmail and and to keep us in check until their goal is met, do you suppose the Bush Crime Family also gets a joy in watching our individual financial melt downs and crisis’s going on?
December 30th, 2007 at 3:52 pmFor a sneak preview of what lies ahead, you may wish to rent the following films:
Enemy of the State
December 30th, 2007 at 3:58 pmThe Lives of Others
In 7 short years, “We’ve” become “Them” - the communists whom we villified during the 50’s and during the cold war. The problem is that we’re still purporting to NOT be them which is where the incredibly hypocrisy comes into play. It’s an “Assault on Reason” as Al Gore says in his book.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:07 pmHad Enough: All good sociopaths revel in the decimation of other’s lives. You know they do!
December 30th, 2007 at 4:08 pmCurmudgeon: We’ve even managed to trump Big Brother - we should call it “Big Daddy” instead.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:09 pmI only pray that the people have their turn at reinstating our civil and constitutional rights with the simultaneous arrest of Bush & Cheney for “war crimes”, “crimes against the constitution (treason”, and “Civil Rights crimes”.
They won’t dare step into the State of Vermont or they’ll find themselves put behind bars; it’s time that other states take action like Vermont has - kudos to the people of Vermont on this one! If Congress will not do their job in bringing justice to the people, then each state can do so and thumb their nose to this fractured federal system of ours.
To the States goes the power!
December 30th, 2007 at 4:11 pmYou spineless Libtards just want the Islamofascists to win.
You won’t be happy until they end up nuking a US city.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:16 pmYeah, well… there were indications early on that something like this might happen. Too bad more people weren’t paying more attention.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:17 pmRe: Post #14 –
Rest easy. The christofascists currently hold a commanding lead.
And if you are thinking that we should be exacting revenge for the events on 9/11, remember that we were informed that the nineteen hijackers came from the following countries: Saudi Arabia, where the 136th beheading occurred in late November (15); United Arab Emirates, new home of Halliburton (2); Egypt (1) and Lebanon (1). So, just to teach those four countries a lesson, the United States attacks Afghanistan and Iraq, and is currently threatening Iran. How do you explain this?
Just in case you don’t believe the story about the beheadings in Saudi Arabia (i.e., long-time Bush family friends), you should take up the issue with Faux Noose. The article can be located at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312768,00.html
December 30th, 2007 at 4:30 pmNot being a huge history buff,I wonder if there are warning signs we are witnessing that are a prelude to civil war. What has been a common catalyst,if there is one,that has ignited civil wars in the past. Anyone have a clue? Thanks.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:31 pmOooo, namejacking. I _so scared_ of your jackbooted tactics, whichever one of the nameless fearless typists you are that posted this.
Yes, I shake in my “libtard” boots at your tactics. Hyar hyar hyar.
Guess I hit a nerve, didn’t I?
December 30th, 2007 at 4:33 pmChimpy’a turned the US into the USSR in only 7 years.
-GSD
he looked into puty’s eyes and figured out how to do it…
December 30th, 2007 at 4:35 pm…
Re: Post #14 –
While you are at it, perhaps you can explain how George W. Bush’s reduction in funding to secure loose nukes in the former Soviet Union is helping to keep us safe?
In case you need references…
http://www.boston.com/ news/ globe/ editorial_opinion/ oped/ articles/ 2004/ 10/ 26/ for_nuclear_safety_the_choice_is_clear/
or
http://www.mikehersh.com/ Why_would_anyone_vote_for_Bush_and_Cheney.shtml
December 30th, 2007 at 4:38 pmAnd yet the laws remain cemented in dealing with threats to privacy rights using the technology of the 1800s - 2 centuries ago.
Although I can buy a surveillance camera and recorder at Walmart for $100, and can easily hook it up to the internet (for that matter, even some cheap cameras come with software to allow internet connections), and the news media (without any legal rights to do so) follow the police around and follow police (who have warrants) into private residences and tape the inside for “reality” programming, and someone being arrested is totally defenseless against a camera in their face which will show their image for entertainment…..
Our legislators, in one famous episode, only know the internet as a series of tubes and our president uses “the Google” as the peak example of his technological prowness.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:39 pm#17 - If we had just let the south suceed last time we would be dealing with a more manageable number of wingnuts now - just sayin’
December 30th, 2007 at 4:41 pmWait!…if you turn that list up side down…we’re #1..USA USA USA.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:41 pmThis is the result of cowardly scare tactics. All of the people who can’t take care of themselves or think for themselves fell right into the trap.
They can’t even question anything that their fearless leaders do.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pmOddly enough, this seems to be an issue which liberals, traditional conservatives, and libertarians should be able to agree to (the only difference being in how far we should go to the other way).
What are they going to do about it ?
December 30th, 2007 at 4:48 pmSorry to triple post, but another aspect:
It isn’t only the government. Business collects massive amounts of personal data. If (or rather, *WHEN*) someone breaks into these databases and takes personal data - which may be used for many things including theft, identity theft, false identity (including for terrorist purposes), they aren’t considered responsible for the full brunt of resolving any negative events for the individual.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:52 pmYou spineless Libtards just want the Islamofascists to win.
Comment by BernardQuatermass
I like the Steelers better.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:58 pmWe might do well to consider the following quotes:
“All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it… Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.”
“The efficiency of the truly national leader consists primarily in preventing the division of the attention of a people, and always in concentrating it on a single enemy.”
“The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of a nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies, but would be ashamed to tell big lies.”
“What luck for the rulers that men do not think.”
The source for all four preceding quotes — Adolf Hitler.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:58 pmGuess I hit a nerve, didn’t I?
Comment by bernard quatermass — December 30, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I wondered about a comment on another thread…
Nice work pissing off the trolls!
December 30th, 2007 at 5:04 pmAnd isn’t it interesting that:
1. Bush’s warrantless wire-tap program was started BEFORE 911.
-What motivated him/them to want to do this? Who exactly were they watching?
2. Bush’s warrantless wire-tap program did not help thwart the 911 hijackers.
-How is it a crucial tool if it didn’t help detect the 911 plot?
-Why didn’t George listen to the heated warnings from the LEGAL intelligence sources if he already had his ear to the ground for terrorist threats?
Tell me!!
December 30th, 2007 at 5:06 pmRe: Post #28 –
One additional quote should have been included:
“You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.†— George W. Bush, spoken at a Washington Dinner, March 2001
December 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm#30 - Because religious fanatics are GWs friends and progressives the enemy he is really fighting.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:16 pm…perhaps you can explain how George W. Bush’s reduction in funding to secure loose nukes in the former Soviet Union is helping to keep us safe?
Comment by curmudgeon @ 4:38 pm
reminds me of something i heard today on an AirAmerica repeat…
that, during talks in ReykjavÃk, Iceland, REAGAN and GORBACHEV
came extremely close to an agreement to eliminate nukes… totally…
REAGAN… St.Ronnie… the patron saint of STAR WARS…
the transcripts were recently released… the information was kept secret and hidden until now…
can’t imagine why…
December 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm.
Re: Post #34 — Good catch, katy.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:39 pmRe: Post #33 —
Although the question you posed was quite likely rhetorical, the following quote from the past may be instructive…
“In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” — Franklin Delano Roosevelt
December 30th, 2007 at 5:50 pmAnd all of these so called “Libertarians” (who are nothing but right wingers that are afraid to properly identify themselves) have been completely silent while Bush has desecrated the Constitution and stolen our mandated rights.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:51 pmBut while Clinton was President, these “Libertarians” couldn’t see enough black helicopters and they saw a conspiracy to destroy the Constitution around every corner.
curmudgeon -
December 30th, 2007 at 5:51 pmwell, it certainly surprised me!
can’t remember who the book author was, and i think it was laura flanders’ show… but, the fact that such an agreement was even THOUGHT about… what a changed world we would have now…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVtKLmoNNsw
December 30th, 2007 at 6:28 pmAnd all of these so called “Libertarians†(who are nothing but right wingers that are afraid to properly identify themselves) have been completely silent while Bush has desecrated the Constitution and stolen our mandated rights.
But while Clinton was President, these “Libertarians†couldn’t see enough black helicopters and they saw a conspiracy to destroy the Constitution around every corner.
Comment by OxyCon
NEOCONNED! Part 1 of 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aewpvcxAwTk
December 30th, 2007 at 6:29 pmYou spineless Libtards just want the Islamofascists to win.
You won’t be happy until they end up nuking a US city.
Comment by BernardQuatermass
You war-mongering Rightards just want the Fascists to win. You won’t be happy until you have completely shredded the constitution and put everyone who doesn’t agree to become a Fascist in prison.
BTW, how are the so-called Islamofascists (the stupidest made-up word ever) going to nuke us? Do you really believe you can fit a nuclear weapon in a suitcase?
December 30th, 2007 at 6:31 pmYou spineless Libtards just want the Islamofascists to win.
You won’t be happy until they end up nuking a US city.
Comment by BernardQuatermass
Is a case of “name jacking”.
December 30th, 2007 at 6:43 pmGeorge Orwell was a prophet. It took a little longer than he thought, but it has come to pass. I wonder if Bush ever read 1984?
December 30th, 2007 at 7:33 pmI wonder if Bush ever read 1984?
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 30, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
I doubt he can read at all but, if he read 1984, he thought it was a book of the Bible.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:38 pmAnyone calling Islamists fascists knows not what is fascism.
Anyways, we created Communism and Islamism. We did not create Fascism, that was Mussolini, admired by GWB’s grand-daddy and a number of other Americans, and so welcome to American Bush Fascism. Already there economically, are pretty much there politically with the merging of the Democratic and Republican party into the Corporate Party.
Socially, fascism will come during the next depression which will hit in 2008 or 2009, and Blackwater will help out with Martial law since we already pretty much killed off the National Guard over Iraq. Concentration camps are already built. Surveillance systems in place. Means to restrict travel- check. Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act-almost. Ability to suspend Habeus Corpus - check. Bill to disarm returning veterans-check, Torture ok-check. Personal Property Confiscation Allowed-Check. And the good thing is, with all the Laws and Executive Orders passed over the years, everything will be done legally. And if they bend or break the law, well, they own the judges and the MSM.
Like Huey Long (or someone ) said 70 years ago, “When fascism comes to America it will come wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross, and called anti-fascism”. Maybe he was tipped off?
December 30th, 2007 at 7:50 pmNEOCONNED! Part 1 of 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aewpvcxAwTk
Comment by ggibson1 — December 30, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
So gibbon, how long are you going to spam TP with your Ron Paul links? They are off topic and most people here don’t have much use for Ron Paul since they are smart enough to really look into what he believes in. If you think Ron Paul is who should be our President, you definitely are not a liberal or a progressive.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:13 pm“Yeah, but you see, they’re republicans and so am I, so it’s all right.”
December 30th, 2007 at 8:29 pmBTW, how are the so-called Islamofascists (the stupidest made-up word ever) going to nuke us? Do you really believe you can fit a nuclear weapon in a suitcase?
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 30, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
19 or 20 of them will hijack a B-52 Bomber with box cutters, and since NORAD won’t shoot it down, drop a Nuke on Bismark, North Dakota.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:16 pmSpoken like a true Moonbat Surrender Monkey.
Comment by Libtard — December 30, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
spoken like a true republiscum tool.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:40 pmAnd sorry ass trolls suck this up, thinking that they are being kept safe in their lil fascist womb.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:42 pmNeither Democrats nor Republicans have comported themselves very well. Here we have all the Republicans lockstepping with Bush/Cheney when it comes to invading our privacy…but wait! There’s Harry Reid–the Democratic Leader in the Senate–doing everything in HIS power to ramrod through telecom amnesty: in other words, letting Bush off scott-free. There are a few exceptionally honorable men and women, but in my opinion, almost all have to be voted out, Democrats and Republcicans alike. If they’re not screaming, “Foul!” right now, they should go. If we could get 20% of the House and the Senate voted out of office, it might scare the rest of them into doing what the public wants. I don’t know what else we can do at this point.
December 30th, 2007 at 10:49 pmWe’ll get our privacy back. One way or another.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:59 amAll this surveillance is not worth preventing another 911.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:07 amPandemic surveillance of a society is, of course, a staple of a fascist takeover. The years 2000-2006 were obviously the Republicans’ attempt at a fascist shift in America. But they botched it, just as they botched everything.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:58 amThe years 2000-2006 were obviously the Republicans’ attempt at a fascist shift in America. But they botched it, just as they botched everything.
Comment by Perry logan
I don’t know about that. It seems to me that they have been very successful. They have gotten pretty much everything they wanted thanks to the lock-step lemming Republiscums and the spineless Democrats. When is someone going to stand up for “we the people”?
December 31st, 2007 at 11:00 amSunday night, ABC reran “Sound of Music“, and I was struck by the scene towards the end where Captain von Trap was outraged that the Nazi’s read his mail:
“I was under the impression that the contents of messages were still private in Austria!“, he snapped at the mustachioed Gestapo Agent.
December 31st, 2007 at 11:16 amSorry folks, this one can’t be entirely blamed on Bush. Granted, he’s certainly exacerbated the problem; but the “War on Drugs” was the real beginning of intrusion into our private lives. We accept it as normal now, but there was a time we didn’t have to pass a drug test to get a job. Our kids’ school lockers were not routinely searched. Homes weren’t being broken into by cops, in the middle of the night, because they suspected drugs were being made or sold there. Long ago, the Supreme Court declared that simply driving down the street is “probable cause” for cops to search our cars, without a warrant. And so on.
Bush’s expansion of government power to snoop on us is being used as much in the WOD as on the GWOT. And don’t think the next election is giong to reverse this trend, regardless of whom we elect.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:54 pm#8 - the plural for “cirsis” is “crises”; just for your information.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:08 pmSo when do we IMPEACH these Nazis?
Tell Rep. John Conyers to get off his butt and do something. Whatever they are blackmailing him for, we forgive him in advance.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:52 am