How government already intrudes on your independence and/or privacy, in any or more of these venues:
- At home;
- At work;
- In public;
- In your personal life;
- In your speech;
- In your thought;
- In your community;
- In your city;
- In your state
One point, for example: freeway cameras. My guess will be: that’s the least egregious we’ll read of.
Another point would be: new ways for your regional governments to monitor, tax or fine you — with government intrusion.
I have some posts coming in the future with regard to the complete loss of individual privacy.
However, even now, I believe we — as Conservative Bloggers — need to realize what exists already.
I want to spread the word: Europe isn’t coming — in many instances, it is already here.
Please weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section. Be specific. Let us know how individuals or families are affected. No matter how small or large, we all need to realize what’s here now and what’s on the horizon.
We need to be aware!
My thanks to you in advance, for alerting one and all.
BZ
One primary example, though I am IN law enforcement:
RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
They are nothing more than an attempt by every jurisdiction to make a PROFIT on egregious driving behavior.
It is all about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
If ANY jurisdiction actually gave a SHIT about saving lives as opposed to MAKING MONEY (and, of course, the camera manufacturers taking a PERCENTAGE of the profits!), they would adjust the OBVIOUS:
ALL you’d have to do is slightly lengthen the YELLOW portion of ANY light!
But, of course, that wouldn’t = PROFITS PROFITS PROFITS.
BZ
And SOME jurisdictions actually SHORTEN the length of YELLOW signals when intersection cameras are installed!
BZ
Wow, i didn’t know that. It figures.
You have only figured this out since Obama took over? What about the Patriot Act? The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative? Ignoring the Fisa courts? These three and a hundred other things that came out of the Fascist Bush Regime that simply ignored any law that it didn’t like. Our civil liberties are gone. Have been for years. I read in USA TODAY a couple of years ago that the military has sattilites with powerful imaging technology (infrared, radar, etc.) that can actually see through your roof and floor into your basement. I know that last thing sounds crazy, but I’m telling you that I read it in the newspaper. The story stated that this technology “is not used to monitor the US, only places like Iraq and Afgahnistan to locate arms caches and WMD’s”. How do we know that they are not keeping tabs on us from 22,000 miles up? They have the technology to monitor anybody’s comings and goings from space if they are “a person of interest”.
Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean that they are NOT out to get you.
You folks really need to get a life.
GHB: hey, thanks for stopping by and visiting. I’m having a GREAT life, thank you! I just got two free gift certificates for a one hour massage for the wife and me, and we’re going to redeem today! Can’t wait! Then tomorrow I’m going fishing! Thanks for hoping I’ll get a life! I’m having a TON of fun! How about you?
BZ
Because I know that the FBI can, with the mechanisms invented to “fight terrorism,” force a library or book store to cough up the list of books I have purchased, or force my ISP to cough up my browsing habits, and what’s more, they are not allowed to tell me that my records have been turned over, there are certain web sites I will not visit and some books I will not purchase or borrow even though my only desire is knowledge for its own sake, not evil intent. Every time I browse the web, or send email, I do it with the clear understanding that big brother could be looking over my shoulder. This is not paranoia. ISPs have willingly cooperated with the FBI without even the proper warrants having been presented, and with FISA courts, even those warrants are obtained on the most flimsy of evidence.
One town near to me actually has videocams which time one’s preceding through town and sends copies of those videos along with speeding tickets to the owners of the cars.
I note that my credit card tracks and classifies my purchases. No wonder I get so many spot-on coupons in the mail!
Various magazines sell their mailing lists. We all know that — even if the magazine’s official policy is not to do so.
I’m guessing that law enforcement can access those credit-card trackings and mailing lists as well.
More freedoms are lost in the name of public safety than any other. Many years ago I lived in south LA and taught at a small school on the bank of the mighty Mississippi River. I lived on one side of the river and the school was on the opposite bank. At that time there was no bridge in the immediate area so the quickest way back and forth each day was to ride the car ferry across the river. In the afternoon when school was out I would go to the small local store and get a couple of beers for the trip home. And then proceed to the ferry. In those days you would drive your car unto the ferry and once it started across you could leave your car and enjoy the trip across enjoying the scenery and the wind in your face–yes, and also the cold beer. Things have changed on my last trip down to renew old memories I decided to take the ferry again, althought a bridge is nearby now. Must to my surprise when we got on the ferry there was a big sign saying “No Not Leave Your Car”. I asked when that was started and was informed it was after 9/11 for safety reasons. I didn’t ask about the beer, that was outlawed many years ago in the name of public safety. Oh yea, I don’t toss gum wrappers out the car windows any more either—fines you know. And I certainly don’t spit on the court house steps—wouldn’t want to mess-up the piegon droppings. Got in the car the other day and started down the road and the not so little buzzed, let me know I was breaking a law designed for, you guessed it, public safety. I love big brother taking such good care of me—it makes me tear-up at times to feel that someone cares that much. Recently, I went out to the family farm and decided to go shoot a squirel like I did in my youth to have for supper, but my son informed me they were out of season and the fine was now over $500 for killing one—I didn’t go. Things have really changed. I could go on and on, but I know you have the picture. Gave my grandson a small pocket knife the other day, but then had to remind him not to take it to school–that was great when I was small showing off the new pocket knife to your buddies–things have really changed.
We really are in a time where we are merely an open book. It is comforting to say, I don’t have anything to hide. But what’s to be said if it continues on and nothing is secret to us anymore?
Law and Order Teach
“I don’t have anything to hide.”
Not yet you dont. But what happens when they decide to grandfather gun registration? Or maybe you water your lawn too many days a week? Or God forbid the latest afront to the world SMOKE in your car while driving your kid around?
Just because you do not CURRENTLY do anything that you need to hide doesnt mean that they wont make something that you do ILLEGAL tommorrow.
people want to know about spying on people. its that little voice in your head telling you someone is watching. all of that makes you paranoid and it should. if you think its spooky now, do a search at google for ” Echellon and the Federal Government”. please have your readers check this out BZ. its pretty scary.
Want real scary? Check into what can be done with ONSTAR and cell phones.
WMD,
I was speaking in general about people who have a tendency to say that they don’t have anything to hide. I am appalled at the level of government interference in our lives. And it will only get worse.