Category: Legislation

US Senate Votes to Cloak Illegal Spying

February 12th, 2008 · · Illinois, Legislation, Technology 9 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Senate voted today to amend the FISA statutes and cover up the illegal wiretapping done by the GWB administration (clarification: this was not started by GWB, just expanded). The bill effectively grants immunity to the telecommunications companies who helped the government illegally spy on regular citizens’ internet traffic and phone calls. Surprisingly, our Illinois Senators voted no.
Yes, Dave, I know you’ll ask if I think spying on people who might be terrorists is needed. Yes, I do. I don’t think that watching everything that everyone does is legal nor right.

For anyone who happens across this article and doesn’t think that it is possible to monitor major traffic in real time, have a look at Narus’ products.

The Great “Pudding Race”

February 4th, 2008 · · Legislation 2 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Society today is having a race to pudding. I don’t know where it began, but that is where the world/our country is headed – to pudding.

Everyone is so afraid they will offend someone or cause a boo-boo to an ego that they won’t stand for what’s right.

Some kid shoots up a school? Shoot him back. “But he’s just a kid!” No, the moment he/she started killing, they became an adult. You wanna do grown up things, be prepared.

A girl has a baby at 16? Get to work. “But she can’t make it on her own!” She made a baby. Time to grow up and take care of the child. Same holds true for the sperm-donor.

Kid misbehaves horribly at school? Spank their bottom. “That’s beating.” No, that’s spanking. It’s been around for a few years. Just ask your parents and their parents.

Kid doesn’t pay attention? Try discipline. “But he/she has ADHD!” No, they’re a kid. They need to learn that there are times to pay attention and times for fun. Or put them on Ritalin, a drug in the same classification as Cocaine. Your call.

Smoking causes cancer? Quit going to places that allow smoking. “We’ll just force businesses to not allow smoking for the public well-being.” No, you’ll pass legislation that will put many small businesses under by decreeing laws to them and telling them what they can and cannot do because people are too stupid to stay away from smoke on their own.

No knives at school? “A student might stab another.” Um, yeah, they could do that with a pencil, pen, stick, or anything else that can be pointy or stick-like. Ever hear of a “shank”? Prisons are proof that if they want to do something they will find a way.

Soon, we will all be eating our vitamin-filled pudding with soft-rubber spoons. I mean, that seems to be the path we’re on today.

“But society…..” Blah, blah, blah. If society/TV/movies are to blame for our problems, then why don’t we have a crop of stand-up artists from the 80’s – 90’s sit-coms?

Wow, that was quite the little rant.

The cure for Meth is to make criminals of everyone

January 16th, 2008 · · Legislation, Technology One comment - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“If you have a good ID…it would make it much harder for meth labs to function in this country,” – From the cNet article
Apparently RealID will make it harder for criminals to get products necessary to manufacture amphetamines.  At least that’s the flawed conclusion of some people supporting the national tracking card (RealID).

How? These new ID cards will be nothing more than an enhanced driver’s license. A picture ID is already required to purchase these OTC medications, and yet meth is still an issue.

This solution of gathering information on citizens and storing all of this information centrally is a honeypot for anyone looking to steal identities. There are stories repeatedly in the press about how a government official or private company has lost a laptop, disc, or been hacked and their users’ information is now lost, or worse. There is no security that is foolproof. Even if these information stores are encrypted, they can still be cracked eventually.

In my opinion, this method of tracking is illegal in that it is not provided for in the constitution. As we all know, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. ”

I don’t recall any amendments to the constitution about ID cards, do you?

Since the government has destroyed the Constitution

November 18th, 2007 · · Legislation 3 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m going to do nothing more than present the first ten amendments to the Constitution. No commentary (although I have lots), no anything. Here you go:

Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Please think about what your government is doing to your rights and really read these again.

Welcome, to the United States of KGB

November 11th, 2007 · · Legislation, Technology 8 comments - Tags: , , , , , , , ,

I love our government. Well, I love the idea of our government. Unfortunately the dictator-regime in power has removed any semblance of that great idea.

As we speak, the government listens to phone calls, reads email, and tracks our web-movements – all without any kind of warrant. Now we have an intelligence (I use that term loosely) official publicly stating what was said in the “fiction” movie Enemy of the State.

He believes that privacy can no longer mean anonymity. Basically, you should let the government see/hear everything you do, and trust them to securely track that information. Don’t worry, America, your government is in control.

Yeah, the government has such a great history of doing a great job. What is the national debt up to these days? How many weapons were found in Iraq? Where is Osama? How slow was GW to act over 9/11? Has the CDC cured anything lately?

Yeah, trust the dictatorship America, they’ll do what’s best.