Will the US turn into a police-state?

[Sektor31]

Palladium...
TCPA...
DARPA...
Patriot act...
John Asscroft...

Think we'll sink that low?

[NecronLord]

I have an essay on this somewhere...

[HemlockGrey]

Unlikely. Even as our civil liberties are assaulted, steps are being taken in the right direction. PATRIOT 2 will likely never see the light of day. The Total Information Awareness Office was denied funding, TIPS is ineffectual and Asscroft's future is in serious doubt.

However, we can't just sit back. On the electronic front, the storm is not abating. The DMCA is just the beginning and because not many people are very aware or literate in what is happening, all our electronic and, more importantly- our consumer and free enteprise rights may vanish overnight to Big Software and Big Music.

[Howedar]

Not in the forseeable future.

[jegs2]

Palladium...
TCPA...
DARPA...
Patriot act...
John Asscroft...

Think we'll sink that low?

Some would say we're already there. One cannot go many places without the proper identification.

German Wermacht soldier: "Where are your papers?!"

[Sir Sirius]

It depends a lot on broad your definition of a 'police state' is...

Some would say that you already are a police state, while I think that that is a bit premature it would be, in my view, be foolish to assume that the U.S. of A can never ever become a police state. Ashcroft and Co. sure have been sheparding the States towards a police state and while I do not know whether or not they are actualy gunning for one or not, or whether they will/can succeed or not, the current direction they are heading is clear.

[RedImperator]

However, we can't just sit back. On the electronic front, the storm is not abating. The DMCA is just the beginning and because not many people are very aware or literate in what is happening, all our electronic and, more importantly- our consumer and free enteprise rights may vanish overnight to Big Software and Big Music.

Big Music will be dead in five years. The entire industry is tottering, and this file sharing shit is just a whitewash for corporate executives' incompetence. I'm more concerned with the big software companies, but with their allies in the music industry disintegrating, they'll lose a lot of their clout.

[weemadando]

The Us will turn but not for another decade or two, assuming that there is no change in power.

[HemlockGrey]

That might be difficult, since there's an election every four, two, or six years...

[Shinova]

As long as Ashcroft goes out and Bush either becomes more "relaxed" or a new, better president comes in, and if people become aware and protest enough, then both civil liberties and software liberties may be protected.


One of our members should become either a studio exec or a politician. That way we can either influence national policies toward better ends or air a program that'll try to educate the public as much as possible in what's really going on behind the scenes.

[Alferd Packer]

Despite the large number of idiots here, there are still a lot of people who value the freedoms they enjoy, and will not tolerate infringements for long.

[weemadando]

That might be difficult, since there's an election every four, two, or six years...

I know.

I'm talking about if a single party held power in both houses and in the office of El Presidente.

[Alyrium Denryle]

As long as Ashcroft goes out and Bush either becomes more "relaxed" or a new, better president comes in, and if people become aware and protest enough, then both civil liberties and software liberties may be protected.


One of our members should become either a studio exec or a politician. That way we can either influence national policies toward better ends or air a program that'll try to educate the public as much as possible in what's really going on behind the scenes.

I may be tempted to go into politics. but wait, i am an atheist and gay, no chance of election unless... Do you think the american people would actually go for a politicia who is upfront and honest with them. One that actually gives a straight answer rather than spewing rhetoric?

[Shinova]

I may be tempted to go into politics. but wait, i am an atheist and gay, no chance of election unless... Do you think the american people would actually go for a politicia who is upfront and honest with them. One that actually gives a straight answer rather than spewing rhetoric?

First you should actually become successful politically, so you may want to play the usual politics game until you get to some important position, like President. Then, you turn around and start doing good things.

Getting there first would be my thought on this.

[Enforcer Talen]

I plan to go into politics. I am strongly influenced by my friends at sd.net

[Stuart Mackey]

As long as Ashcroft goes out and Bush either becomes more "relaxed" or a new, better president comes in, and if people become aware and protest enough, then both civil liberties and software liberties may be protected.


One of our members should become either a studio exec or a politician. That way we can either influence national policies toward better ends or air a program that'll try to educate the public as much as possible in what's really going on behind the scenes.

I may be tempted to go into politics. but wait, i am an atheist and gay, no chance of election unless... Do you think the american people would actually go for a politicia who is upfront and honest with them. One that actually gives a straight answer rather than spewing rhetoric?

If you ever emigrate to NZ, you can be Atheist, gay andtransgender or anything else, and get elected. We only care about policy and proper accounting of public funds.

[Pu-239]

I'm too radical- ie too liberal- as in personal freedoms, not some commie socialist policy liberal like Spanky seems to think I am.

[Stuart Mackey]

I plan to go into politics. I am strongly influenced by my friends at sd.net

I would go into politics, but I am no good at bitchy behaviour, not a good lier and I am honest, which stuffs my chances of ever being PM.

[Darth Wong]

As long as Ashcroft goes out and Bush either becomes more "relaxed" or a new, better president comes in, and if people become aware and protest enough, then both civil liberties and software liberties may be protected.

Lately, intellectual property rights have been deemed more important than individual human rights. I see no evidence of a change in this direction, which comes from people in both parties.

[Peregrin Toker]

US, turning into a police state?? Well, I've heard that they have plans for activating a mind-control network next year, but chances are that those rumours just are paranoia.

[Enlightenment]

Lately, intellectual property rights have been deemed more important than individual human rights. I see no evidence of a change in this direction, which comes from people in both parties.

Worse, this is more of a symptom than a disease itself. The underlying trend here is that all corporate rights have aquired more importance than even basic human rights. The net end result will be the creation or a new type of police state--a privatized police state where the repressors are corporations rather than the government.

[weemadando]

Lately, intellectual property rights have been deemed more important than individual human rights. I see no evidence of a change in this direction, which comes from people in both parties.

Worse, this is more of a symptom than a disease itself. The underlying trend here is that all corporate rights have aquired more importance than even basic human rights. The net end result will be the creation or a new type of police state--a privatized police state where the repressors are corporations rather than the government.

Well, the problem lies in the fact that corporate citizens of a nation are becoming the new aristocracy. Though they should have the same rights and responsibilities as an average citizen too often now they are being given all the rights, some more priviledges and then none of the responsibilities. This is when the corporate citizen is even a "citizen" of that nation and not an "immigrant" or "visitor" corporation.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Palladium...
TCPA...
DARPA...
Patriot act...
John Asscroft...

Think we'll sink that low?

It'll take a while, but eventually the United States will get there. We saw how cheerfully people trade in civil liberties in order to gain a little extra security against terrorists. And in other places, the typical American citizen is too ill-informed to realize the danger that would come from something like Palladium. And neither do they care too much about losing some freedom they never cash in on. And totalitarianism does tend toward a maximum.

IMHO

[Drewcifer]

I may be tempted to go into politics. but wait, i am an atheist and gay, no chance of election unless...

Hey, a dead man and a wrestler were recently elected and Lydon LaRuche (sp?) runs for president every four years from prison!! Don't let being a gay atheist slow you down

...One that actually gives a straight answer...

As a friend of mine once said, "honey, I can't even think straight."

In all seriousness though, go for it.

[Drewcifer]

I saw this posted on alt.fan.starwars recently (by Sön Goen), and it seems appropriate to share in this thread.

"It has been said that said that among the dangers faced by a democratic society in fighting totalitarian systems, such as fascism and communism, is that the democratic government runs the risk of imitating its enemies methods and, thereby, destroying the very democracy that is seeking to defend. I cannot help wondering if my government is more concerned with defending our democratic system or more intent upon imitating the methods of totalitarian regimes in order to maintain its already inordinate power over the American people."
(page xiii)

Guess what and when it's from?
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The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence (1974), by Victor Marchetti (ex-CIA) & John D. Marks