Thursday, June 14, 2007

A pounding on the door in the middle of the night ...

Hmmm.

Didn't they assure us we didn't have anything to fear from the Domestic spying progam, warrant-less phonetaps, and the PATRIOT Act, and that there would never be any illegal or un-necessary personal information collected by government agencies?

I guess they weren't telling us the entire truth.

Ook ook

13 comments:

O' Tim said...

Where have you gone, Efram Zimbalist, Jr.? Our nation turns its apparently-not-as-lonely-as-we-thought eyes to you.

Ooh ooh ooh

Paula said...

I'm sure we'll hear the usual chorus of apologisists going, hey, you only have to worry if you're doing something wrong. Or if someone lies about you. Or if a record gets screwed up. Someone has the same name as you. Etc.

Falling on a bruise said...

As miz uv mentioned, if you question it the answer is always 'if you got nothing to hide etc..'.
This idea was always a bad idea sold under the banner of the 'war on terror'.

The Fez Monkey said...

Ah yes ... the old "if you have nothing to hide" argument.

Seems to me the whole point of our judicial and legal system, going back to the Magna Carta was Innocent until proven Guilty, not the Napoleonic opposite.

What was I thinking?

Ook ook

Anonymous said...

Wow, lots of posts suddenly. I may have to switch you to semi-monthly.

I'm amazed at the number of people that I meet who are still, after all they've seen in the news all their lives, willing to trust the government in this sort of manner.

It's weird that people are willing to let their phones be tapped for security's sake, but aren't willing to deal with passports, which have the same purpose.

The Fez Monkey said...

Joe, it's only been two and a half posts (that previous one doesn't count), so cool yer jets.

Anyway, you got enough of a kerfluffle going on elsewhere to start something here.

As to your comment, well, it's simple to understand. Phone taps do not inconvenience anyone. You don't have to apply for one, no need to get paperwork or approval, and certainly no lines. Americans may be warlike, but we are also hella lazy.

Ook ook

Cheezy said...

"If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here"

Pet Shop Boys, 2006

I'm pretty sure they were being ironic.

People who are confident that the information collected is only ever going to be used for benign purposes and they're not going to overstep their mandate really need to wake up.

Hello people! It's a government. Overstepping their mandate is what they do.

Anonymous said...

"Anyway, you got enough of a kerfluffle going on elsewhere to start something here."

Oh yeah? Want to meet outside the public library in Cedalia, Mo. and say that???

Anonymous said...

So, I recently came across an email that listed a website of mine (that will go nameless, thank you) was on a list because of 'terrorist activity'.
This website is an animal rights website.
I supported the Shac7 when they broke into a lab and stole beagle puppies that were being tortured and killed (or what the medical field likes to say, 'tested on').
Because I publicized it on my (use to be non profit) and sent emails about it, my website was added because I then somehow became a danger to society.

Nice.
I have no real proof that this is true or untrue..either way, I chose to take the information down.
Sigh,

The Fez Monkey said...

Cheezy: You mean to say, collecting personal dataisn't for our benefit? You are so paranoid.

Joe: Since MO is East of both you and I, perhaps I should swing by and pick you up on the way. We can cruise ole Route 66 before we engage in our duel.

Raejane: That is just freaking scary. Based on some things I've done, I am sure I am on a list as well, but it hasn't yet been confirmed. Still, points to you for being officially named as someone who threatens Prince George's Evil Palace!

Ook ook

Anonymous said...

Fez- sounds good, although I'll be surprised if Mo. even HAS a library.

Raejane - I can only imagine what list the "Asshole of the Year" picture in my sidebar has gotten me on! :-)

Falling on a bruise said...

I don't think you will be on the George Bush Christmas card list joe.

Anonymous said...

Well, since there's a war on Christmas it might not even happen this year.