Great minds think alike

[kellinator]

Inigo Montoya to the six-fingered man: I want my father back, you son of a bitch.

The Kellinator to John Ashcroft: I want my civil liberties back, you son of a bitch.

Comments

Re: Nope

[drunkmuppet.livejournal.com]

My point exactly....You said in your post give me back my civil liberties...and I what has been taken away from you?

Re: You can start in on me. (was Re: tell me) - pt 1

[drunkmuppet.livejournal.com]

I agree with many of the statements you make about changing the laws. Espically the one about riders on bills, I do not know how you you end the war on (some)drugs, this would be a judgement call. As for the "corporate citizenship" I do not feel that this is necessarly a bad thing but I do feel that there needs to be more accountability, i.e. make the board members responsible for that entity as if it were a human being(i work in investment management and have been burned by this before.)
As for laws being on the books that do not make sense, many of these are not followed and when someone is taken in on them they are often overturned. (ex. There was a case in GA. a while back where someone was arrested for moving on a Sunday, this law was quickly overturned. ) As an example of setting a time limit, the new tax law "Egtrra" has a horizion built into it. After 2010 it expires.
As an individual I can see how your convention could be construed as a act of treason. It could compromise national security( I am not saying that YOU are compromising national security, but I am sure everyone does not think within the guidelines that you do.) This could create a potentially volatile situation for many people. Now if monitoring were taking place this could have been presented as an opportunity for all levels of Gov't to learn something.
I understand your gripes, but I do not feel that peoples civil liberties are being encroached upon. This is a different time in the world. I am sure someone is reading this post right now, i.e. my company, but the government is a product of our society. To allow U.S. citizens to continue their way of life there must be checks put into place to assure safety of people who are not looking out for their best interest. Unfortnately this is what many people want in this country, to be led along blindly.
I never said that I agreed with the Patriot bill but it was a snap reaction to the events of 9/11 I would venture to guess that has this tragedy not happend the bill would have been reformed before being passed.

Re: You can start in on me. (was Re: tell me) - pt 3.2

[jonnyx.livejournal.com]

"Like it or not, this country is in an anxious state."

All the more reason to act thoughtfully, not emotionally.

"Compromises are expected. How many wars have you lived through?"

Born midway through the Vietnam War (like you), lived through the undeclared war in Central America ('82-'84, mainly), the Gulf War/Oil War, the ongoing War on (Some) Drugs and the current War on Terrorism. We lose rights with each one. That good enough for you?

"You run an organization of "potentially dangerous" proportions"

I don't "run" any organizations, and I'd say my activities are far less harmful than those of Enron, Du Pont, Philip Morris or your typical drug dealer, child molester or violent criminal. My activities are as threatening as those of the Civil Rights movement, Food Not Bombs and the ACLU (which probably explains why I have been under observation on and off over the years). You are welcome, as is anyone else, to attend these gatherings and see for yourself.

And I will continue fighting (not "crying", thank you very much) threats to and losses of *everyone's* rights and civil liberties until the day I die, not that I particularly care about those who will passively give up anything the voices on the TV say they should give up. If the freeloaders benefit from the efforts of those who won't back down, maybe they or their kids will one day thank us.

"... Nobody's beating you up for looking wrong..."

Try being a punk in Nashville "Buckle-of-the-Baptist-Bible-Belt", Tennessee, during the 80's and early 90's. The harassment (beatings if caught alone - assholes tend to travel in packs, thrown bottles, gunshots on two occasions) finally stopped (for the most part) when it became fashionable for the frat guys to get tattoos and pierced and wear black leather jackets (gee, thanks eMpTyV).