Snowden's NSA leaks truly are the gift that keeps on giving.
US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
11–20 of 53 posts
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#12At least in the Uk, there seems no democratic lever to adjust to change this. I don't know of a single national party that wants to roll back the surveillance. Following Russel Brand's interview about why there's no point in voting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell... ... all parts of the establishment rallied around, saying how people had fought for years for the right, and how important…
Politicians do look at how people vote. This is why UKIP has such a disproportionate influence on the policy of the current government. "Alternatives" to democracy aside, you should vote every time, even if it's for a throwaway candidate that you believe in but think will never get in.
Could you expand on why it's important to vote, because at the moment I can't see it. Arguably, lots of voting has got us to where we are now.
The main problem I see is that the winning party uses voting numbers to claim a mandate.I'm currently reaching the conclusion that the only way to get meaningful change is for enough people to avoid voting that any idea of mandate becomes ludicrous and the disillusion has to be addressed directly.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#13At least in the Uk, there seems no democratic lever to adjust to change this. I don't know of a single national party that wants to roll back the surveillance. Following Russel Brand's interview about why there's no point in voting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell... ... all parts of the establishment rallied around, saying how people had fought for years for the right, and how important…
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Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#14Fiveyesia. Effectively operating as one bloc when it comes to security and domination; at war with whatever parts of Eastasia or Eurasia seem threatening. And the security of that bloc trumps the personal rights of any of its members who aren't wealthy enough to dictate the maintenance of power.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#15At least in the Uk, there seems no democratic lever to adjust to change this. I don't know of a single national party that wants to roll back the surveillance. Following Russel Brand's interview about why there's no point in voting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell... ... all parts of the establishment rallied around, saying how people had fought for years for the right, and how important…
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So the post-Shelby voter repression in the U.S. is becaaause?
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
> it'll just be par for the course, similar to how random DUI stops work now, which are a warrantless invasion of one's privacy without grounds. I think I'd like the DUI comparison to be expanded on a bit. How are they being used to invade one's privacy without grounds?
Many states have now set up DUI Checkpoints. These are not targeted based on behavior: Every car traveling between point A and point B is expected to pull over and take a breathalyzer. These are often targeted based on neighborhoods or proximity to 'party' districts. They are conducted without warrants, and cast a wide net on individuals traveling.
I see. Okay, I didn't know that happened. I've only ran into one such checkpoint in my life and the policeman just asked me where I was coming from and where I was going, asked if I had anything to drink while pointing his flashlight into my car; I assume looking for an open can/bottle or anything suspicious. That last like 4 seconds, then I was on my way.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#17At least in the Uk, there seems no democratic lever to adjust to change this. I don't know of a single national party that wants to roll back the surveillance. Following Russel Brand's interview about why there's no point in voting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell... ... all parts of the establishment rallied around, saying how people had fought for years for the right, and how important…
Politicians do look at how people vote. This is why UKIP has such a disproportionate influence on the policy of the current government. "Alternatives" to democracy aside, you should vote every time, even if it's for a throwaway candidate that you believe in but think will never get in.
I have trouble finding any candidates I can believe in. The only benefit (for me) of the two main parties is that their stance on any issue is widely known regardless of who the individual candidate is, so I can avoid them. I like the idea of independent MPs, but it can be hard to tell ahead of time whether the candidate is a wingnut, even with fairly careful research.
I might vote, but tend to spoil the paper when I can't find a palatable candidate. I also live in an area that has had an unbroken chain of conservative MPs for the last 400 years, and will probably continue to have one for a very, very long time.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#18At least in the Uk, there seems no democratic lever to adjust to change this. I don't know of a single national party that wants to roll back the surveillance. Following Russel Brand's interview about why there's no point in voting: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/russell... ... all parts of the establishment rallied around, saying how people had fought for years for the right, and how important…
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It is not clear from that article how one is to distinguish intentional non-voting from apathy. It seems to me that if one wishes to make a statement of their non-vote, they need to go to the poll and submit a blank ballot, not just stay home on election day. That may be the idea here, but the article doesn't actually seem to say so.
EDIT: a bit more looking around turned up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_vote which seems to be what I'm thinking of.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#19There's no democracy only a shadow of it. We are pushed and shoved and most of the time did it ourselves voluntarily after listening patriotic brainwashing. We are ruled by elites, by big money, period. Worse is some really think that they own the country. I remember in a movie (can't remember now) a guy asks Matt Damon, Italians has this, that owns this, what you own? And he answers "we own the country". Those NSA people think exactly that way, they think they own you. Big companies think they can bend any rule. So don't expect anything change much for the benefit of the "taxpayer".
I find it extremely weird that these agencies need to hide what they are doing. Why do it in secret if this is democracy? What is wrong with what they are doing if they are not harming people? Gathering intelligence is their job, we need it. Bogeys know that too. But still they need to do it in secret. Then there must be something wrong with not what they do, but what they do with it.
Re: US and UK struck secret deal to allow NSA to 'unmask' Britons' personal data
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Many states have now set up DUI Checkpoints. These are not targeted based on behavior: Every car traveling between point A and point B is expected to pull over and take a breathalyzer. These are often targeted based on neighborhoods or proximity to 'party' districts. They are conducted without warrants, and cast a wide net on individuals traveling.
I see. Okay, I didn't know that happened. I've only ran into one such checkpoint in my life and the policeman just asked me where I was coming from and where I was going, asked if I had anything to drink while pointing his flashlight into my car; I assume looking for an open can/bottle or anything suspicious. That last like 4 seconds, then I was on my way.
I'm going to guess you're white and probably look reasonably mainstream. Somebody more "suspicious"-looking will often end up with a less smooth experience.