Homeland Security

In regard to Homeland Security or your country's equivilent, how do you feel?

  • Secure knowing that you are defended

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Fearful that they are\might become overbearing

    Votes: 8 32.0%
  • Believe that maybe it is not the answer for your country

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Worry that you've done something wrong if they arrive at your home.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Be at ease enough to offer to show your porn collection if they arrive at your home

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • Praise the fact that they are standing up against terrorism

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Think the Nazi style propoganda and satire is a little overdone

    Votes: 3 12.0%
  • Think the Nazi style propoganda and satire is where the force will go

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • Be willing to join up with these forces to defend against terror

    Votes: 3 12.0%
  • Be willing to participate in quiet, non violent protest and within legan grounds try and have the go

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • Total voters
    25
Originally posted by cff
You probably heared this already, but it sums up me feelings pretty well: "1984 - Orwell was just off a decade" (or two) ...


People will continue to say this until the end of time even though that most people haven't read the book.

The government (and even more so their secret agencies) and also larger companies already got waaaaaaaaaaay too much power over each individuum. No matter on what grounds should they be given even more.

Since when are you an individual? You're neither a radical, a reactionary or a fanatic. Fact is, you have no right to be individual, as you have not faught for it. Things like this are not handed out at birth, it is made only by that person in his lifetime.

The whiny outcry of "loss of individualism" or "loss of freedom" is sickening. These things are kept in check by rules and regulations by the government. You can masturbate your ego and fantasies all you want, but in the end, it only helps you in the personal short run.

When I hear that hacking can be punished by execution in the USA by now or that I can just vanish from earth if I am a suspected terrorist without a lawyer or any other rights remaining then I get really scared personally.

Obviously if you are scared, you must be guilty of something.

Back in high school, I use to phreak phones. I scammed the phone company out of countless dollars by having them send me checks for disconnected calls to an Irish Bed & Breakfast. I am not afraid of them shooting me for it.

If I continued this now I could be caught for treason or something, I'm sure. So I don't do it anymore.

(Well, that and the Feds showing up at my friend's house made me paranoid...)

so to be quite honest terrorism doesn't really scare me at all. If I compare how many deaths had been caused by crashed airplanes in contrast to terrorist attacks to airplanes then the second number is neglectable.

In your logic, the number of hackers to the number of hackers caught and executed, the second number is void.

By this whole hysteria that makes us change our life and that takes our liberties the terrorists already achieved their goals.

You had liberties? You did not earn them or fight for them or spill blood for them or give a part of your life for them. If anything, you owe this country your own goddamned liberty for expecting so much, you child.
 
LeHah, the fact that people disagree with you doesn't mean they're childish, so watch what you say.
 
Sorry, none of the choices suit me. I stand willing and able to defend my country again, but will fight the government if it tries to usurp the power of the people.
 
Originally posted by Quarto
LeHah, the fact that people disagree with you doesn't mean they're childish, so watch what you say.

Yeah. Lehah's nothing special when he attacks the person rather than the debate.
 
Where did this hacking death penalty crap come from?

I haven't heard anything about that. Sounds like BS to me.
 
Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka
Yeah. Lehah's nothing special when he attacks the person rather than the debate.

I did both because my wit ables me to.

In actuality, I'm making an example by threatening his ego. Someone has to, if he thinks he has all this freedom and liberty for sitting on his ass, playing with himself and eating Wendys while reading People magazine.

The same goes for you. The same goes for me. Shit, the same goes for every damned American on the CZ.

Originally posted by Quarto
LeHah, the fact that people disagree with you doesn't mean they're childish, so watch what you say.

I watched what I said. In fact, I liked it so much, I'll say it applies to you too...

Seriously though...

The fact that people disagree with me is a good thing. Who the heck wants to go through life with everyone saying they're right all the time? I'd rather someone be able to argue well enough to correct me.
 
Originally posted by LeHah
In actuality, I'm making an example by threatening his ego. Someone has to, if he thinks he has all this freedom and liberty for sitting on his ass, playing with himself and eating Wendys while reading People magazine.
The same goes for you. The same goes for me. Shit, the same goes for every damned American on the CZ.

Actually cff isn't an American..
 
Neither am I. Nor do I believe that I have freedom and liberty for the reasons given (Which are the total opposit of who I am, by the way). I have freedom and liberty because people of the free world have volunteered to fight for freedom, and have died to preserve that freedom. And I'm not juat talking about America. I mean Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium, all the countries who believe in peace. Back off Lehah. Opinions have been given that you might not agree with. That doesn't justify you to attack the people who hold those opinions.
 
I have freedom because I have a mind of my own. "I think, therefore I am." This mind is also very specific about it being a VERY bad idea to go after 'terrorists' (do real terrorists even exist? I have NOT been convinced) in force before you know what drives them over the edge. Hell, that Homeland Security-shit may just prove those 'terrorists' right! No, I think I'll just earn my freedom by evaluating various actions by my own values and see what comes up. Not by rushing off on some crusade because some nut tells me to.
 
Originally posted by LeHah

> "1984 - Orwell was just off a decade"
People will continue to say this until the end of time even though that most people haven't read the book.

By the sound of your response you probably didn't, did you?

Originally posted by LeHah

Since when are you an individual? You're neither a radical, a reactionary or a fanatic.

What an interesting definition of an individual you got...
So only terrorists are individuals in your opinion? Amazing...
No, I don't believe in violent protests. They seldom lead to anything useful. Yes, wars might have changed history for a time. But look at Europe and how people forced together for a time broke apart (Yugoslavia) or who had been forcefully parted joined again (the two parts of Germany).
Every settlement that does not truely represent the will of the unvocal majority will ultimately fail. It might just need a looooong time.

Originally posted by LeHah

Fact is, you have no right to be individual, as you have not faught for it. Things like this are not handed out at birth, it is made only by that person in his lifetime.

I'd actually completely disagree with that one. You are born unique. It's only your right to give up your rights. If you don't like the rules presented for you then leave (or try to change them), simply as that.
I go for the second option as often as I can...

Originally posted by LeHah

The whiny outcry of "loss of individualism" or "loss of freedom" is sickening. These things are kept in check by rules and regulations by the government. You can masturbate your ego and fantasies all you want, but in the end, it only helps you in the personal short run.

If you'd keep your autoerotic fantasies to yourself we might actually be able to get a normal discussion working...

Originally posted by LeHah

Obviously if you are scared, you must be guilty of something.

I'll try to translate another quote...
"Watch the beginnings..."

Or a longer one:

"First they came for the hackers.
But I never did anything illegal with my computer,
so I didn't speak up.
Then they came for the pornographers.
But I thought there was too much smut on the Internet anyway,
so I didn't speak up.
Then they came for the anonymous remailers.
But a lot of nasty stuff gets sent from anon.penet.fi,
so I didn't speak up.
Then they came for the encryption users.
But I could never figure out how to work PGP anyway,
so I didn't speak up.
Then they came for me.
And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

Originally posted by LeHah

In your logic, the number of hackers to the number of hackers caught and executed, the second number is void.

Aeh - no. I am talking about excessive punishments.

Originally posted by LeHah

You had liberties? You did not earn them or fight for them or spill blood for them or give a part of your life for them. If anything, you owe this country your own goddamned liberty for expecting so much, you child.

A part of my life? You can die in parts, LeHah? Amazingly...
I owe my country nothing. I might owe something to the people who built it, yes. I might own an incredibly big deal to them.
(we could do a whole new discussion here. In short I don't really believe in any institutions, may that be wealthy or theological one. I only respect ideas or people, not 'labels').
PS: I am not taking that easy bait about you calling me a child. Would be too cheap to just compare our birthdates...

Originally posted by LeHah

I did both because my wit ables me to.

I dunno if I should laugh or cry...
Insulting others in a discussion or making fun of 'em sure shows your superiority...
(just in case you don't get it - that is sarcasm)

Originally posted by LeHah

In actuality, I'm making an example by threatening his ego.

Oh yeah, you are soo hurting me...

Originally posted by LeHah

The same goes for you. The same goes for me. Shit, the same goes for every damned American on the CZ.

Oh, thanks for exempting me then...
(being non American)
 
Originally posted by ChrisReid

I just read there wasn't a single US commercial airline fatality in 2002... down from like 525 in 2001 for obvious reasons.

That's... good...

Originally posted by ChrisReid

I would say that if you're also scared by what the government is doing to increase security, then you're also serving the terrorists' goals as well.

No, the government serves their goals. I am scared more about the government then about the terrorists.

Originally posted by ChrisReid

It takes years and millions of dollars for a state to actually execute someone. I think only like half the states allow capital punishment, and they've only done like one federal execution in decades. They don't even bother with the hassle unless you're a really bad dude. In Seattle they just caught the Green River killer last year. He was a prime suspect 15 years ago, but they just now got the really clinching DNA goo to top off all their previous evidence. And the bastard's legal team has already been granted like four million dollars in public defense money to keep him from getting the death penalty.

Europeans will probably never agree with the US people here.
I hold it with Gandalf - as long as we are unable to give life back to those who deserve it we should not take life from those we think who shouldn't. There are enough executed that had later been found innocent.
Not talking about executing mentally ill people or minors...

Originally posted by ChrisReid

If you're screwing around hacking into banks and stealing intelligence from CIA computers or otherwise undermining national security, then it's rather unfortunate that you probably won't be executed.

You now - such statements shock me...
I can understand to a certain degree when a death penalty is done in the sense of "an eye for an eye". To a certain degree. But not for such things like simply breaking into something. What next? Execution of shoplifters?

Originally posted by Ender
Where did this hacking death penalty crap come from?
I haven't heard anything about that. Sounds like BS to me.

As far as I know (if I can trust local news services) this is US law by now.
Of course only applying in the cases Chris stated. But then who defines what is a terrorist act or just a person you'd like to get rid off... I could label almost every crime terroristic.

Originally posted by Mystery muppet
I have freedom because I have a mind of my own. "I think, therefore I am." This mind is also very specific about it being a VERY bad idea to go after 'terrorists' (do real terrorists even exist? I have NOT been convinced) in force before you know what drives them over the edge. Hell, that Homeland Security-shit may just prove those 'terrorists' right!

Hear, hear...
Very true.
You got to take out the roots of the terrorism, not the symtoms. As long as parents send their kids into shools where they are educated as suicide bombers taking out Bin Laden or Saddam achieves nothing.
At 'best' it buys you some time.
 
Originally posted by cff

No, I don't believe in violent protests. They seldom lead to anything useful. Yes, wars might have changed history for a time. But look at Europe and how people forced together for a time broke apart (Yugoslavia) or who had been forcefully parted joined again (the two parts of Germany).
Every settlement that does not truely represent the will of the unvocal majority will ultimately fail. It might just need a looooong time.

Yes, true. The ground quakes with an unyielding voice of the people. These people may not write into newspapers with their views, or take part in any number of protests, but they vote with their feet at election time. That's the way it is for many countries.

Originally posted by cff
I'd actually completely disagree with that one. You are born unique. It's only your right to give up your rights. If you don't like the rules presented for you then leave (or try to change them), simply as that.
I go for the second option as often as I can...

True as well. I had been lucky enough to inherit at birth a number of things (it's in my genes, I think is the best way to put it) that other people don't. But on the same token, I was born without things that others take for granted. But I believe things are also built up from learning throughout life. Call me crazy, but I was able to become very much at peace and very mellow from first Rei Ayanami and then (last year) Spirit.

Originally posted by cff
I'll try to translate another quote...
"Watch the beginnings..."

I can see what you're saying with this quote and the one about computers and hacking. And if you were to ask me if I'd be nervous in a world like Judge Dredd, I'd have to honestly say that I'd be more than a little nervous. But the thing is, why would the government or whoever come after you? I believe that you are innocent of any crime you may be charged with, simply on the basis that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Give me an example where people have been sentenced or deported or otherwise punished for a crime where there was no evidence and I may think diffirently. Also...

'By history a man becomes a soldier
Through history a soldier becomes a hero.'
Bards song, fourteenth century.

Now, think of soldier not so much in the litrial sense, but think police and prosecuters fighting for truth and justice. Doctors and firefighters fighting to save lives. Ordinary people with the same everyday problems as you and me, who fight to be the best they can be, or maybe through some effort of their own accomplish a feat that changes the course of people's lives.

Originally posted by cff
I owe my country nothing. I might owe something to the people who built it, yes. I might own an incredibly big deal to them.
(we could do a whole new discussion here. In short I don't really believe in any institutions, may that be wealthy or theological one. I only respect ideas or people, not 'labels').

Think The Price of Freedom?

Originally posted by cff
PS: I am not taking that easy bait about you calling me a child. Would be too cheap to just compare our birthdates...

Heh.

Originally posted by cff
I can understand to a certain degree when a death penalty is done in the sense of "an eye for an eye". To a certain degree. But not for such things like simply breaking into something. What next? Execution of shoplifters?

You may be surprised how leniant the law has become in terms of punishment. In some cases rightfully so.

Originally posted by cff
As far as I know (if I can trust local news services)

Lemme tell you now. Don't believe everything you're told as the holy writ.

Originally posted by cff
Of course only applying in the cases Chris stated. But then who defines what is a terrorist act or just a person you'd like to get rid off... I could label almost every crime terroristic.

True. I remember looking up cyber terrorism on a special forces encyclopedia I have on my computer. It says how it is concievible to bring the electronic world to it's knees, like hacking into the electric company and shutting off the power. Much like the movie The Net. There was a section on hacking as well, how a victim of hacking feels vulnerable. They feel violated. It would be the same as if someone broke into your home. But the deal with hackers is that, it's a big nusience. It's not such a big threat when compared to things like nuclear and biological weapons, or some terrorist making a grenade out of a tennis ball and match heads and using it at a petrol station or some such. Hacking is usually done by malicious kids who are boared or curious. Or people who do it just to show that they can. It gives them a sense of power. Much like bullying, especially over the Internet. It's something that they can do and they believe that they get away with. Now, to stop the lesson on hacking and get to whether hacking could be a terrorist act, I think that people are caught up in fear from continual terrorist threats and the thing I remember focusing on a suspected threat of cyber terrorism. I would agree that almost any crime, especially those on a large scale, could have terrorist intent. But most of the time, there are other motives away from terrorism.

Originally posted by cff
Hear, hear...
Very true.
You got to take out the roots of the terrorism, not the symtoms. As long as parents send their kids into shools where they are educated as suicide bombers taking out Bin Laden or Saddam achieves nothing.
At 'best' it buys you some time.

Yes, I agree. It would be nice to stop this from happening in the first place. I only wish it was that easy. There will always be some nut case out there. And when that nut case runs in with a bomb screaning something along the lines of 'I die for Allah' or 'I die for cause', what can you do?
 
Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka
Opinions have been given that you might not agree with. That doesn't justify you to attack the people who hold those opinions.

That doesn't make me wrong, though.
 
I didn't say that you are wrong in your opinions. Frankly, whether you're opinions are right or wrong is irrelevent. Your treatment of the other members here is. And if you are representitive of America, as you said, then you, sir, give America a bad name.
 
Originally posted by LeHah
That doesn't make me wrong, though.

Doesn't make you right either.

AS for the hacking thing, I'm pretty sure tat it doesn't meet death penalty statutes. If the hacking in question can be somehow linked to treason, then it is applicable at a stretch. Until someone can produce a credible source on this, (ie an legitimate organization, not some wackjobs website) I don't buy it for a second.
 
Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka

I can see what you're saying with this quote and the one about computers and hacking. And if you were to ask me if I'd be nervous in a world like Judge Dredd, I'd have to honestly say that I'd be more than a little nervous. But the thing is, why would the government or whoever come after you? I believe that you are innocent of any crime you may be charged with, simply on the basis that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Give me an example where people have been sentenced or deported or otherwise punished for a crime where there was no evidence and I may think diffirently. Also...

Oh... Let me see...
I know a guy (in Germany) that was almost dragged to court because of the DeCSS thingy.
I know of someone else (here in Austria) that got beaten up by the police just for being at a place at the wrong time (no, no crime did happen there or something, just some nutball cops.).
I/my family also lost at least one case in court where by any sane standards we could not have lost.
To take another example from the USA: After the 9.11. The FBI handed out a list of people they wanted to talk to to various institutions (for example casinos in las vegas). Not all terrorists or even suspects, most just people they wanted to talk to. So far so good. The FBI even updated said lists to remove people they already got. So far so good. Not so good that said lists spred. Some innocents on there have been arrested numerous times by now. Others have been rejected for jobs countless times as those ancient lists are now also used to screen employees.
I know of a game designer that was arrested and lost at least 1 year of work because the FBI claimed he was doing/supporting cybercrimes when he did a GAME about hacking.
Bottom line is you can get into trouble for stuff you cannot even imagine. And in that case I'd like to at least have a decent chance to get out of it with only a blue eye.

Also I'd bet some money that I was closer scanned after the 9.11.
Why? Well I worked on the airport Rhein Main (Frankfurt) before and after that time. I could freely go everywhere there also on the flight field or into most security areas (excluding only the tower and some few others)..
I also worked for a Biotec company afterwards.
I also send encrypted messages regulary as well as using encrypted phone lines - what should I say I am a bit paranoid.
Combining all that aspects that gives an interesting profile, doesn't it?

What do you know? In a paranoid enough society that might be enough.
Not that people aren't arrested for less - just for skin color or place of birth - in some countries.

What I say is watch that it doesn't happen in yours as well!
If I look at guantanamo bay (probably spelled wrong) the USA already stepped over that border. It is almost sure that there are some innocents there as well. Also terrorists or no terrorists, all humans got human rights that are not covered there.

Lines can be crossed very fast and it is often hard to get back without a war (see the 2nd World War if you need an overused example)

Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka
Now, think of soldier not so much in the litrial sense, but think police and prosecuters fighting for truth and justice. Doctors and firefighters fighting to save lives. Ordinary people with the same everyday problems as you and me, who fight to be the best they can be, or maybe through some effort of their own accomplish a feat that changes the course of people's lives.

Oh, I believe that at least most people thry their best to do the right thing. Just that 2 problems arise:
* People make mistakes
* People look for their self first. So do companies. So do governments.
To drag out another corpse of the US government: AFAIK the USA is in theory still under war law (is that the right word? martial law maybe?). Some president (I don't recall who) did suspend 'democracy' for some crisis (probably Cuba, but as I said my memory is very bad here). Never has been restored formally. Don't believe this was just overlooked. By that 'slipup' G.W. Bush can go to war that fast as he is without needing to go through a lot of institutions first.
And we only know of some very few things. What plots do you think that your secet agencies are planning in secret? And be sure they are...

Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka

Lemme tell you now. Don't believe everything you're told as the holy writ.

I don't. I try to always hear other sides or at least unbiased ones as well. But then what do you really know about the world?
<extreme paranoia mode on>
For all I know you could be a CIA man just trying to modify my believes of the USA to your advantage. Or you could be a terrorist trying to lure me into his group. Do I know that the CNN I see is really the one you see? Maybe it is a local propaganda station?
<extreme paranoia mode off>

Originally posted by Phillip Tanaka

Yes, I agree. It would be nice to stop this from happening in the first place. I only wish it was that easy. There will always be some nut case out there. And when that nut case runs in with a bomb screaning something along the lines of 'I die for Allah' or 'I die for cause', what can you do?

Of course you can never stop an idividual madman.
I think we are a rather peaceful country, but just look at our mail terrorist that sent bombs in letters to various foreigner friendly people and organisations over years. Some people still like the philosophy of Hitler obviously.
There is a fundamental difference between single people and whole organisations however. And taking the wind out of their sails is 'rather easy'.
I don't know what it would take to stop the arabic crisis, but one puzzle piece is clear: Israel. That one for sure has to be solved.
This is a step I'd push if I were Bush, not bringing in more troops.
 
Originally posted by cff
I don't know what it would take to stop the arabic crisis, but one puzzle piece is clear: Israel. That one for sure has to be solved.
This is a step I'd push if I were Bush, not bringing in more troops.

so what, move all the jews out of the region? nope, isreal has as much right to be there as any country. they got this right by kicking the shit out of every country who tried to push them out. just cause the palistinians (sp?) are mad ain't a reason to relocate an entire country. hell, the palistinians (sp?) are the real problem. they got beat, they don't like it, so they fight a cowards war and as a result, the whole damn region is a powder keg waiting to go off, and we got these islamic fundimentalist bastards blowing up embassys and flying planes into buildings in the name of palistinian liberation. you want a way to fix this mess. take out Arafat (sp?) and it will go a long way to fixing it.
 
The problem that the palestinians doesn't like Israel doesn't come from nowhere.

Both sides are guilty. The Israelites treat them like crap and they fight back only with cowardly terroristic acts. And no one wants to make the first step to peace because everyone believes that's all the opposites fault. :(
 
First, it's "Israelis", not "Israelites." Israelites is a synonym for one of the Jewish people.

Second, I don't think (feel free to try and correct me-you may just succeed) that in the over fifty years of Israel's existance there has been an honest dialogue with the Palestinians. By "honest dialogue," I mean not negotiating from behind the barrel of a rifle. Durig the '93 Oslo accords Israel had troops in Palestinian territory, same with the more recent failed paece talks.

My opinion is simple. It should all be one country, with eveyone protected eaqually under the rule of law. But that's not going to happen without a major revolution in both camps as the leadership of both suffer from cronic cases of cranial-rectal inversion.
 
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