The Cellar

The Cellar (http://cellar.org/index.php)
-   Politics (http://cellar.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5)
-   -   Now that all those NSA is eavesdropping on us (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=29214)

Adak 07-14-2013 03:17 PM

Now that all those NSA is eavesdropping on us
 
nightmares, are shown to have become true. (by Snowden)

How do you feel about it?

I have this unshakable feeling that if someone in gov't can press a few keys and call up every phone call, email, Tweet, and internet post that anyone has made - we can kiss Mrs. Liberty goodbye.

Time to say hello to Mr. Tyranny. Those keys will be well used.

I especially enjoyed the revelation that Microsoft was working with the NSA, to make it easier and more efficient for them to de-code encrypted Skype and email communications. Since MS, like Google, Intel, and every related company, is required to assist the gov't -- it's all very neat.

Our privacy rights have been yanked away from us, but the gov't has them in a swell looking box with very nice wrapping paper around it, and a substantial bow on it's top! :p:

sexobon 07-14-2013 04:44 PM

I have a subscription to Counterprism Online and for just $49.95 all records of my electronic communications are virtually shredded, to top secret classified information standards, for an entire year.

ZenGum 07-14-2013 08:35 PM

Well, that's what you're paying for, but is it paranoid to wonder if subscribing to that just gets you red flagged on the NSA computers?

Adak 07-15-2013 02:40 AM

Yes, for every dire emergency, our Congress will put forth another bill - not because we need it, or that it does any good - but just because "something has to be done", and their new idiot bill is "something". :p

One thing we need to change - I believe it's in the Patriot Act - is having this massive eavesdropping by the NSA, against US.

They have always worked OUTSIDE our borders, not INSIDE them. Any agency that needs to eavesdrop inside our borders, should present probable cause before a judge, not just press a few computer keys, with no oversight judicial oversight.

Griff 07-15-2013 05:25 AM

I've probably said it before but when it was decided to subvert the Articles of Confederation because it didn't create a powerful enough Federal government people wanted their rights guaranteed because the new Constitution was a naturally grasping document. Our present situation with the deterioration of the 4th Amendment smells like total state.

The NSA business outside our borders breeds the same sort of contempt for America that the Bush Administration didn't take into account before the Iraq debacle. Its a small planet and getting smaller.

ZenGum 07-15-2013 07:55 AM

Hey Adak! Guess what?

I agree.


Yah really.

glatt 07-15-2013 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adak (Post 870335)
Yes, for every dire emergency, our Congress will put forth another bill - not because we need it, or that it does any good - but just because "something has to be done", and their new idiot bill is "something". :p

One thing we need to change - I believe it's in the Patriot Act - is having this massive eavesdropping by the NSA, against US.

They have always worked OUTSIDE our borders, not INSIDE them. Any agency that needs to eavesdrop inside our borders, should present probable cause before a judge, not just press a few computer keys, with no oversight judicial oversight.

I also agree 100%, which is pretty rare with you, Adak.

Griff 07-15-2013 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 870346)
Hey Adak! Guess what?

I agree.


Yah really.

Imma go out on a limb and say its because you're all correct to be concerned.

Adak 07-16-2013 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 870346)
Hey Adak! Guess what?

I agree.


Yah really.

What?? :eek::eek::eek:

Have I entered into another dimension? Perhaps the Twilight Zone?

Aside from the obvious fact that our political leaders are largely idiots and liars, I doubt they would have the ability to turn the country into a tyranny, at this time.

That will eventually change, as the erosion of our rights continue.

And if we don't stop this erosion, it will be the end of our democracy. Oh, we will still have elections, they'll just be like the Soviet Union's were:

You have just one candidate that you can vote for.

ZenGum 07-16-2013 07:07 AM

This is indeed a disturbing thread.


The inevitable incompetence of all massive bureaucracies is our greatest hope. And it's a sad day when that is true.

Adak 07-16-2013 03:16 PM

Unfortunately, they have "volunteered" MS, Google, and many other competent experts to help them out - already with great results, according to the leaks from Snowden.

No chance it won't be a first class eavesdropping effort, I'm afraid.

xoxoxoBruce 07-16-2013 08:26 PM

1- Except for a brief statement, we don't know exactly what Snowdon was saying, or if it was true. We only get what other people thought he said.
2- We don't know what the NSA is doing with this supposed capability, only what people are speculating they can do.

infinite monkey 07-16-2013 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 870575)
1- Except for a brief statement, we don't know exactly what Snowdon was saying, or if it was true. We only get what other people thought he said.
2- We don't know what the NSA is doing with this supposed capability, only what people are speculating they can do.

sounds like the zimmerman trial, but jumping to the island of unknown conclusions was the cool thing to do in that case.

Adak 07-17-2013 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 870575)
1- Except for a brief statement, we don't know exactly what Snowdon was saying, or if it was true. We only get what other people thought he said.
2- We don't know what the NSA is doing with this supposed capability, only what people are speculating they can do.


The NSA director has stated that they are collecting "metadata" (date, time, callers phone numbers, names, etc.), on EVERY phone call, both from inside the USA, or calls going to or coming from, outside the USA.

Also, they are collecting every email (encrypted or not), every Skype call, etc., to or from, every person inside the USA.

All the above, and more, are being stored. At any time they want, they can recall and read every record they wish. They would not need, in practice, any judicial approval whatsoever.

We need to go back to the simple idea that the CIA and NSA work OUTSIDE the USA, not inside it, and nobody archives every form of signal (call, email, video, etc.), from every citizen.

xoxoxoBruce 07-17-2013 12:52 PM

We knew in 2007 they were monitoring everything going through the country, and everything coming in from, or going out to, other countries.

There has been a lot of cartoons, and comedians joking about the NSA listening to your phone calls but I think that has misled the public. As I understand it, they are only keeping what number you called and how long the call lasted, unless they are already on your ass for some other reason. If that's the case, nothing will stop them.

Undertoad 07-17-2013 12:59 PM

(music sting)

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.

PRISM tells us a story about the police.

Nobody has told a story about the prosecutors.

Griff 08-19-2013 07:12 AM

Now even Andrew Sullivan has come out against the surveillance state.

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/...eenwald-right/

Its too bad it had to be personal to get it through his head.

Lamplighter 08-19-2013 08:14 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Indeed.

Attachment 45162

Remember when Nixon was running for President the first time,
he used a campaign slogan "Bring Us Together",
and he did just that with Watergate ... everyone ended up hating him.

Unfortunately for Obama, I think PRISM is doing that too.
I have been very disappointed in Obama's public stance in defending it.

So ironically, maybe less polarization will be the result here also.

glatt 08-19-2013 08:27 AM

Heh. Yeah. I voted for Obama twice, and son, I am dissapoint.

But I still think he's much better than Romney would have been and probably also McCain. Not sure about McCain. McCain might have been ok.

I think Christie will be our next president. I wonder what he'll be like?

Lamplighter 08-19-2013 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 873748)
<snip>

I think Christie will be our next president. I wonder what he'll be like?

Oh, the horrors :eek:

Think of the children !

Griff 08-19-2013 06:55 PM

(Think of the children)
You don't think they'd let Christie reproduce?!


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:49 AM.

Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.