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Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

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Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#61
post #2

I donate to EFF because of the many good projects that help all of us on the net. To donate now: https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button

Additionally, if you're an Amazon user, Amazon Smile allows you to choose the EFF to donate to. There are Firefox/Chrome plugins that redirect normal amazon.com links to smile.amazon.com links so you don't forget.

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm confused. Where did you get the idea "elites" need to handle everything? Parent simply stated unorganized groups with a non-unified message allows a single member to ruin the entire movement. So where do "elites" come into play? Edit: oh I see your account was created 15 minutes ago to just post bullshit. Sigh.

I think he got the idea that the "elites" need to handle everything, through having a sense of sarcasm.

It's deleted now but at the time when I read it it didn't appear sarcastic at all. I thought I was usually good at figuring out sarcasm on the internet so I'm going to blame their terrible ability to express it (if that was the case). :)

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#63
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy might be worth a look

The people in that subreddit didn't understand how things like encryption and TOR worked last time I was there.

Perhaps you could grace them with some of your superior knowledge.

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#64
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EFF is a liberal lobby. I'm very concerned they are being regarded as the gatekeepers of our freedom, be it online or offline.

There's nothing inherently wrong with a lobbyist. They're there to help inform representatives. As for being the gatekeeper, well, nothing is stopping you from making your own website or group and sharing your own views, or writing to and calling your representatives. They are likely really confused about the digital world and some might appreciate a call from any respectful fellow who offered to clue them in. I coul…

"There's nothing inherently wrong with a lobbyist. They're there to help inform representatives. "

You are naive.

"Intended as an internal document. Good reading to understand the nature of rich democracies and the fact that the common people are not allowed to play a role."

Crisis of democracy

http://trilateral.org/download/doc/crisis_of_democracy.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Democracy-Governability-Democra...

Our brains are much worse at reality and thinking than thought. Science on reasoning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmi0DLzBdQ

Manufacturing consent (book)

http://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing-Consent-Political-Econom...

Protectionism for the rich and big business by state intervention, radical market interference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHj2GaPuEhY#t=349

Manufacturing consent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwU56Rv0OXM

https://vimeo.com/39566117

Testing theories of representative government

https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/fi...

Democracy Inc

http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Incorporated-Managed-Inverte...

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#65
post #6

I wish the EFF would explain more clearly why digital rights for users are important. Technology in the hands of the few and powerful can lead to authoritarianism, which is part of what makes their work so important. Right now their site only explains that digital rights promote human freedoms. Maybe they don't want to sound too "radical," but for people looking to donate, shouldn't they explain why better privacy, f…

I agree. And I think your point touches on one of the problems I have with EFF. I think they're too adverse to upsetting right leaning libertarians by sounding "radical."

But the problem with that is you kind of have to sound radical to explain to people why digital rights are important.

Frankly, it's marginalized groups that have the most to fear. Groups that by nature are unpopular. But once you're positioned as defending unpopular groups well then, that may make your more conservative donors uneasy...

Honestly, I just personally don't have a lot to fear from state and corporate power. But the Muslims who live across the street? Or the queer couple on the next block? Yes, those folks have some very legitimate reasons to fear surveillancs.

I guess I could sum up my problem with EFF by saying that they look and act like people like me. Indeed my social circles intersect with quite a few EFF employees.

But people like me really aren't the first targets of authoritarians, so it's going to be hard to get beyond an abstract, theoretical fear of privacy violations.

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why the EFF (and ACLU for that matter) are considered liberal. Aren't they libertarian, if anything? Don't conservatives care about privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, religious freedom, and other civil rights? Rejecting the EFF and ACLU looks to me like partisanship over country or principle: We don't care what they are doing, we're going to reject them because there is some asso…

The ACLU is also a liberal association[1], although I agree liberals and conservatives work together in some issues. There's no doubt about it. And yes, I think it's okay to reject them, because I am afraid of them gaining affection from everybody just to push an agenda later. If they wanted to herald digital freedom, they should have remained completely neutral in political issues, but they chose not to... [1] https…

I don't buy Wikipedia editors' version of a political debate. I don't see the ACLU take political positions; can anyone name some (based on something besides Wikipedia)?

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#67
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why the EFF (and ACLU for that matter) are considered liberal. Aren't they libertarian, if anything? Don't conservatives care about privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, religious freedom, and other civil rights? Rejecting the EFF and ACLU looks to me like partisanship over country or principle: We don't care what they are doing, we're going to reject them because there is some asso…

The ACLU specifically was on the opposing end of plenty of Bush-era legislation and got labeled as such. My childhood memories are pocketed with soundbites of Bill O'Reilly denouncing the ACLU as a bastion of American liberalism.

> The ACLU specifically was on the opposing end of plenty of Bush-era legislation and got labeled as such. My childhood memories are pocketed with soundbites of Bill O'Reilly denouncing the ACLU as a bastion of American liberalism.

They've been labeled as such for much longer than that. My point is, the label doesn't make sense. Bill O'Reilly doesn't like them because they are a threat to some of his political causes, like civil rights for people he doesn't like (prisoners, alleged terrorists, illegal immigrants, etc.). The ACLU opposes the much of what every President does - that's the main threat to civil liberties - including Obama's surveillance programs, for example.

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#68
post #6

I wish the EFF would explain more clearly why digital rights for users are important. Technology in the hands of the few and powerful can lead to authoritarianism, which is part of what makes their work so important. Right now their site only explains that digital rights promote human freedoms. Maybe they don't want to sound too "radical," but for people looking to donate, shouldn't they explain why better privacy, f…

I agree. And I think your point touches on one of the problems I have with EFF. I think they're too adverse to upsetting right leaning libertarians by sounding "radical." But the problem with that is you kind of have to sound radical to explain to people why digital rights are important. Frankly, it's marginalized groups that have the most to fear. Groups that by nature are unpopular. But once you're positioned as de…

I don't actually agree; looking at the recent history, and even current events, the intelligentsia and non-aligned influential people have always been targeted. Their position might grant them more "deference", but on the other hand, they are also more likely to have surveillance used to discredit them.

You even have a recent case of a Ron Paul-admiring right-wing libertarian being convicted of "domestic terrorism by trying to devalue the currency": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_von_NotHaus

Re: Launching the Electronic Frontier Alliance

#69

Here's some other ways to support: To donate: https://supporters.eff.org/donate/button To Learn: https://www.youtube.com/user/EFForg To call your representatives: http://TryVoices.com

You can also donate by making your Amazon purchases through http://smile.amazon.com and picking the EFF as your charity of choice. I believe they get 0.5% of each purchase.
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