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Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

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Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#131

Post by temp453463343 »

fargolime wrote: post #22
b6 wrote: post #17

I'm a peaceful person, but this issue has been simmering in my head for years, and I find myself actually looking forward to some kind of meaningful conflict. I'm sick, sick, sick to death of the president issuing denials while they keep building more and more infrastructure against humanity. I think the article is right, that it'll get worse from here, and in a way, I'm glad.

"Looking forward to conflict" comment auto-logged, reference #391Z328. Report to the proper authorities within 24 hours for interrogation. You've been auto-added to the no-fly list. That's likely what will happen from here, because only a small percentage of American voters care about this issue.

Lol. I think it's telling of how non-serious this whole issue is - when the absolute worst the government can do is make it harder for you to fly.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#132

Post by Andrew_Quentin »

PavlovsCat wrote: post #24
whatevenisthis wrote: post #5

This whole thing is so bizarre to me. The NSA has been doing this sort of thing since at least the early 90s. Who knows, probably earlier. What exactly did people think the NSA was doing? The only difference is that, before digital cell service, it was more difficult to monitor phones conversations because the infrastructure simply didn't support it. Everyone's all riled up over a few PowerPoint slides (which may ver…

What's your question? How someone could possibly dare to care about something they did not care about before? How being pummeled 24/7 with reports about terrists and nucular mushroom clouds could possibly have lead to an atmosphere in which questioning the NSA was not an issue, what with starting wars all over the place and what not? And what's with "being surprised" somehow being the only time where people to be all…

It is a rhetorical tactic of whisking the issue away. Hey guys, this is old news, lets not talk about it.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#133

Post by jaynos »

bayesianhorse wrote: post #23

For me, this incident is an example where the U.S. democracy failed, pure and simple. Obama made campaign promises to not do surveillance. He was elected and then did it anyway. It's frankly impossible now to change this issue in a democratic fashion. From the outside it often looks as if American politicians are overly busy with a very expensive "game", rather than using the game for the greater good.

> From the outside it often looks as if American politicians are overly busy with a very expensive "game", rather than using the game for the greater good.

This is because the players (Booz Allen, Lockheed, etc) are major campaign donors with huge lobbies). I don't like the corruption of politicians, but I like to believe that if money and lobbying were not involved, Obama (and most of Congress) would do a fine job of looking out for the best interest of Americans.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#134

Post by temp453463343 »

pilif wrote: post #42
b6 wrote: post #17

I'm a peaceful person, but this issue has been simmering in my head for years, and I find myself actually looking forward to some kind of meaningful conflict. I'm sick, sick, sick to death of the president issuing denials while they keep building more and more infrastructure against humanity. I think the article is right, that it'll get worse from here, and in a way, I'm glad.

Last time people were looking forward to a meaningful conflict, it plunged the whole world into 4 years of war, followed by another 7. Be careful what you wish for. We need a peaceful solution for this. Vote these people away. Replace them by better people. Educate those who think they have nothing to hide.

It's the American obsession with the apocalypse. Conflict is "fun" and "cool" and gives people a way to amplify their voice disproportionately. Blow up a government building and you'll get more attention than someone who works peacefully a whole lifetime.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#135

Post by Nursie »

jafaku wrote: post #114
Nursie wrote: post #112

We can't... but we will. Never underestimate the apathy of the general public, their faith in authority, and their general willingness to write this stuff off as 'stuff that affects someone else'. Yeah I know, I'm a cynic.

How can apathy be cured?

I'm not sure it can. Human history is full of examples of people tolerating the most awful oppression from their leaders.

That said there seems to be less and less tolerance of this crap on both sides of the atlantic, I'm just not sure what can be done about it, as most people won't do anything other than have a bit of a moan, and then attempt to vote for the least-worst candidate again next time.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#136

Post by heynk »

oinksoft wrote: post #118
stcredzero wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IAH also happens to be the code for George Bush International Airport.

Sr. got an airport named after him? Reminds me when they renamed National to Reagan National. I thought Nixon National would be catchier if the bar's that low.

He also got the Center of Intelligence named after him:

https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/todays-cia/george-bush-center-...

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#137

Post by kllrnohj »

flyinRyan wrote: post #65
kllrnohj wrote: post #45

Of course we can go back to business as usual post-PRISM, because PRISM turned out to be absolutely nothing. It's a mundane, boring data storage & analysis system for data obtained through FISA requests about specific individuals. It's not a data dump from major tech companies, it's not a warrant-less spy program, etc...

You don't have a clue what it is. What you should realize, though is that a lot of people are up in arms about this. Do you think you're smarter than all of them? From this post alone, I see a resounding no.

Here: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/08/18850035-intellig...

The people up in arms aren't thinking logically, they are thinking emotionally. That's a terrible way to make any sort of decision.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#138

Post by heynk »

phryk wrote: post #94
jebeng wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's people have made these jokes online for as long as I can remember. It's sad that it's even remotely possible now that this might become a reality. And you wouldn't even know it.

Oh, you mean a bit like this? "He found he was unable to print out a boarding pass […] when he approached ticket agents, they were blocked from producing a boarding pass for him without first calling a Secure Flight number at the Department of Homeland Security. […] ticket agents told him he was on a federal watchlist." http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/11/hacker-border-searc... If it's not automated now it will…

Or a British individual who was detained and questioned for tweeting "Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Buntin...

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#139

Post by whatevenisthis »

ippisl wrote: post #69
mehwoot wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of people— sometimes the most technically competent ones— were busily telling them that wholesale surveillance was infeasible... greatly underestimating the available funding and ingenuity. The fact that this is happening to _everyone_... Has this actually changed? Is there any evidence that a U.S. citizen's gmail account, or skype calls, or yahoo searches, or facebook information, has been obtained without a c…

The NSA tried to force twitter the list of all the people who subscribed to wikileaks. Twitter refused, but similar requests to gmail etc were being done and probably were'nt refused.

You really believe that the NSA can't get into Twitter's servers if they want to? They just plant someone in security.

What's the easiest way to get into every consumer internet service? Just get someone there on the payroll. That's how it's always been done.

Re: Why we can't go back to business as usual post-PRISM

#140

Post by [deleted] »

onedev wrote: post #43
rurounijones wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Infrastructure Against Humanity"... That is a really really nice term for it. Also very memorable, I shall be appropriating this term for future use.

IAH (Infra Against Humanity) Nice, memorable, and accurate. Let's make it an official euphamism.

[deleted]
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