Federal Power to Take Over the Internet.Senate Bill 773 is in the works as I write this. Among other things it gives the Government the power to shut down the Internet, including private users. It’s called the Cybersecurity Act of 2009.
While intelligence needs and secure sites are essential to the federal government, I see the shutting down of private users, in this capability the federal government seeks, as an abrogation of our right to free speech. This power was not sought after 9-11 and I see no need for it now.
This is another attempt of this administration for control of the private citizen. Their appetite for power is endless and insidious. I have no doubt the explanation for this new power grab will be termed essential for our national security. One has to ask himself why... and if the government sees American citizens as a threat as well.
It is the government sites which demand superior security. It is military security which would be vulnerable, and intelligence security. Surely those areas are under constant upgrading and must be protected. Cyber attacks would be directed at those sites. A cyber attack could come from any country in the world. If the President shut our entire internet capability down, it wouldn't stop or affect another country's ability to attack. If we shut down the government sites to protect security , what reason would there be to shut down our private sector?
This administration has demonstrated it’s willingness to silence their detractors, to keep information from the public and dissent from being discussed. Communication is vital to a well informed public. That may seem like a threat to a politician but it is not a threat to national security. This Act must not be passed. We do not need permission to communicate and we have the right to free speech, something that this President seems to disdain.
Interesting that the same people, the left, who used their freedoms under our system of rights to gain power, now want to shut those rights down. Interesting perhaps, but consistent with every leftist government in history and of today. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Tyranny knows no bounds except those put up by the people. If we lose the ability to set boundaries between the federal government and the people we will lose everything.
To contrast this scenario, we attended a tea party convention Sunday evening. There, I saw people who celebrated freedom. Who love America. They didn’t scream “change” they called for taking our country back, and did it loudly and with determination. We waved our small American flags, a sea of them in that large auditorium.
It is legislation that I illustrated above which alarms us. Bit by bit, and piece by piece, our freedoms can be taken away. A bill here, an executive order there, an overzealous agency with the blessing of the President into yet another area of our existence. And suddenly, our country is gone. It is no longer America.
So, we have to fight the bills, the executive orders, and the ever reaching hand of a government which, in terms of power, cannot get enough. A thirst which refuses to be sated.
One speaker at the convention said, “this is war, the other side knows it, you don’t”. I believe the people in that audience do know it. Not a shooting war, but a war in terms of intensity, and of winning or losing. I choose winning.
Pris
29 comments:
Shutting down the internet would certainly help newspaper sales. Maybe there will be a behind-the-scenes "Lockerbie bomber for oil" type deal between Obama and the newspaper industry.
The President already has incredible powers. See this list of executive orders, going back to JFK.
Short excerpt:
Here’s a partial list of executive orders that already have the force of law — The FEMA list of Presidential Executive Orders. All of these were in place before Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office:
* #10995 by John Kennedy, 1962: ASSIGNING TELECOMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS — Seizure of all communications media in the United States.
* #10997 by John Kennedy, 1962: ASSIGNING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUNCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR — Seizure of all electric power, fuels, and minerals, both public and private.
* #10998 by John Kennedy, 1962: ASSIGNING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUNCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE — Seizure of all food supplies and resources, public, and private, all farms and farm equipment.
* #10999 by John Kennedy, 1962: ASSIGNING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUNCTIONS TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE — Seizure of all means of transportation, including personal cars, trucks or vehicles of any kind and total control over all highways, seaports and waterways.
More at the above link.
And check this. The White House wants to break the anonymity of social sites on the web Short excerpt:
• Capture of comments by detractors and supporters of Obama: the RFQ specifies that the White House will capture "comments by both Obama critics and supporters, with no restriction as to how the White House would use the information."
Fascism is on its way. When I see Cass Sustein, that's what he is. Nothing less. He's not even left. He thinks like Hitler would have thought.
... no just what happens in the event of a cyber attack? Something that could be devastating.
Are the far right drama queens going to be sitting on their butts the way they were before 9/11 assuming that because they are Americans and have soldiers with big guns they are immune?
• Capture of comments by detractors and supporters of Obama: the RFQ specifies that the White House will capture "comments by both Obama critics and supporters, with no restriction as to how the White House would use the information."
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Can't do that now? Where were you when Bush was tapping phones and commandeering a record of all phone calls in the continental U.S?
Now that phone information could not be used for information mining, AOW and if you think it can I'd like a brief description of the algorithm, something you don't have.
But you sat by when that happened and even got upset when the New York Times actually reported the breech of our expected privacy. I believe the right felt that al-Qaeda, after downing the trade towers would somehow not know their was active phone monitoring occurring. An insane idea that had nothing to do with Chuckles commandeering our phone records.
Now I'm used to being tapped, they tap the Catholic Worker House all the time. We are scary revolutionaries.
But what is amazing is the idea that bloggers think someone's going to shut them down. Absolutely insane, they have all the names and numbers they want. They know which ones of you are calling for armed attacks. You step out of line and they send a couple of units with chain guns to take your house out down to the foundation level.
Stow it, Duckling. President Bush isn't the president anymore... or haven't you noticed? Neither do I believe that Bush was wonderful and flawless, but compared to Obama he was a saint! Actually, compared to Obama, Carter almost looks good!
Z, since some in this administration seem to absolutely love Castro and Chavez, none of this is surprising. It's scary, but if the internet is shut down in this country, what do you think will happen? The tea parties going on right now will be small potatoes in comparison to what happens if this administration deprives Americans of the internet! Everyone will be up in arms over that. It would be the dumbest thing Obama could do, and since he really hasn't proven himself to be very bright, he just might do it, but if so then he'll be doing himself in for sure!
Jess has made a good point. Critical infrastructure shouldn't be on the Internet in the first place.
Poor Ducky "Can't do that now? Where were you when Bush was tapping phones and commandeering a record of all phone calls in the continental U.S?"
We were being good American citizens who didn't NEED tapping but encouraged him to do so to get the bad guys (that law was on the books before him, by the way)..
We're still being good Americans but the Obama thugs don't like that free thinking bunch so they're after US now..BIG difference, Ducky.
did you read about the other power grab?--just posted it...
C-CS
Having investigated and posted about this bill, I find it one of the most insidious instruments to come down the pike in a long time.
I was not a supporter of the so-called "Patriot Act," not because it was not written with good intentions, but because it opened a door that should not be opened...licked a fruit that should not be tasted.
There are certain compromises that must be assumed in order to be a free nation...and LIBERTY trumps all other issues.
What we have shown in 230+ years is that Liberty and security can live together, but it is a strenuous relationship.
S773 is not conducive to the propogation of Liberty.
We were being good American citizens who didn't NEED tapping but encouraged him to do so to get the bad guys (that law was on the books before him, by the way).
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First off, nobody is tapping you or trying to shut down your blogs. Nobody CARES about your blogs.
However, I am interested in your idea of "being good American citizens". That's you folks on the right, reprehensibly judgmental and completely indoctrinated. Yes sir, z decides who is a good American and now for her next act in the center ring she will present the bona fides that allow her to make that judgment.
Are you talking about “The One” who has commie Bomber Bill Ayers, commie Frank Davis and Rev Wright the racist anti-American as his mentors? One who hates private ownership and capitalism and his “typical white person” half and thinks your freedom and your rights come from the government and not from the Constitution? The same one who appoints a bunch of self avowed communists and 70s radicals and wackjobs to positions in the gov’t and calls them CZARS. The same one who says “transparency” is the hallmark of his administration but hides all his background documents from the public?
You must be talking about someone else yet un-named here. Because the Righteous One that you have referred to does not describe the current holder of the office of the President.
Ducky would you have said the same thing under Bush? No. So stop being intellectually dishonest.
I read the bill and it is so not specific, anything could be shut down or looked at.
You really are more idiotic every day.
Lone Voice, that makes perfect sense because his problem is that he's been kow-towing to the left so much that he's lost the country, what with all the war crimes investigations, the tax hikes for the rich, the crackdown on the banks, the repeal of "don't ask don't tell" and the thumbing of his nose at the Republicans every chance he gets.
Not to mention the plans for full withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan by 2012 and his full blown assault on the health care industry and insistence on a Canadian style health care system.
You'd think Obama would have been far, far more cautious so as not to give the Republican freakshow any possible path to demonize them as "far left", correct? It's not like they could just make stuff up and a lot of people in America would believe it, right?
Ducky, I'd respond but what's the point?
We still do have freedom of speech in this country, Ducky, and I'll say ANYTHING I LIKE here, even decide what makes a good American, which I and my terrific blogger/commenter friends do every single day.
They're amongst that bunch.
FrogBurger; the left specializes in inspecificity.....even some leftist journalists are finally recognizing that the bill is full of words that evade the truth and leave the door wide open for WHATEVER OBAMA WANTS.
Lone Voice...good points!
um, i'm certainly no constitutional expert, but the executive orders listed by aow and in the article she links certainly seem to me to be a violation of the 5th amendment to the constitution. the pertinent part of which is:
"...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."
as for obama shutting down the internet, that absolutely won't happen. he complete ascribes to the roman senate's view of "bread and circus". he knows that so long as you provide the masses with food and entertainment, the average idiot will be happy to let the benevolent governor do as he pleases.
however, that said, he (and when i say he, i mean his administration and this congress at his bidding) WILL systematically remove the ability for people to see things that he deems "dangerous." think china. or saudi. or iran. those people have the internet, but by and large they do not have the FULL internet as we enjoy here.
hell, even google and yahoo comply with those governments and don't display anything from their networks that those governments disapprove of. and they'll do it here, too.
one more thing - our freedoms come from our creator and are outlined in the constitution. they do not come from the constitution; they are guaranteed by an ever vigilant citizenry prepared to defend itself at all costs. there is a reason our soldiers and government rulers take an oath agreeing to defend the constitution against ALL enemies - foreign and domestic.
Heidianne, you said "hell, even google and yahoo comply with those governments and don't display anything from their networks that those governments disapprove of. and they'll do it here, too."
They comply with OUR gov't, too, even if not directly..but indirectly through sharing the government's bias. Have you seen some of the bigger conservative sites like FPM? Their readership went down and many of us realized GOogle's not linking as much to them. (I'll admit Horowitz has ticked people off, too, but this happened BEFORE THAT)
I used to Google for images....AMERICANA, for example, I found lovely stuff; that's changed.
Put in FAITH with other terms and you'll not get America's predominant faith, you'll have MUSLIM come up at the top of the list...
Put in LYNCHING and you won't get Western style lynching (like Mark from Swines to Pearls told us), you'll get 50 lynchings from the 20th century of Black Americans FIRST.
We're already being stifled with that kind of stuff CONSTANTLY.
Anybody's sitemeter recording about 30% more visits only in the last three weeks?
WHAT A MIRACLE, RIGHT? "Geeez, Z must be SUCH a great blogger that ONLY SERRENDIPITOUSLY sometimes her visits spike by 40% in a day...!" (NOT NOT NOT).just coincidence? I've been wanting to mention this but am slightly worried it'll be seen...but, now that I've said it, anybody else having this phenomenon? I'm not under any delusion that this is MY BLOGGING talent, TRUST me..or I'd NEVER ask. MANY "UNKNOWN?" IP's..MANY.
about 1/3 of all ip addresses that hit me nowadays are unknown. and the vast majority of THOSE are located in the u.s.
Heidianne, here's the link to that email you sent me:
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/09/red-alert-white-house-plans-massive.html
You're right, it does go with this article.
I'm wondering if you had a sudden spike in numbers?
why yes i did, miss z. and all spiked are either unknown or from dc.
"Can't do that now? Where were you when Bush was tapping phones and commandeering a record of all phone calls in the continental U.S?"
Ducky, Not true! Mr. Pris reacts to your remark more indelicately. "That's a load of crap".
The Bush program was an internationsl electronic tracking looking for certain chatter and certain words which indicated possible terrorist activity.
It was not a domestic program.
Finally, if they can do it now, why the need for this leglislation?
Pris
Cube, critical infrastructure isn't on the internet as we know it.
Pris
Duck,
you sat by when that happened and even got upset when the New York Times actually reported the breech of our expected privacy
I don't believe that I ever posted in favor of all aspects of the Patriot Act. In fact, I've had reservations about certain aspects from the outset.
Of course, on the other hand, we in the D.C. area had 9/11, the anthrax attacks, and the D.C. snipers -- all of which were, to say the least, disconcerting.
I love Mr. Pris, too.......
if only we could tell people how Mr. Pris knows from what he speaks :-)
Wonder where.."there's an ill wind blowing", bloviating dip stick, Tim Robbins is on this one? The elitist brie and chardonnay crowd must think they're immune to these proclamations limiting the peasants freedoms...but not theirs.
Truthfully... if these things keep happening...I don't see how a very un civil war can be avoided.
Thanks for the thoughtful and excellent piece Pris.
I know..we'll all give it our best shot at the polls come the time..but I don't see a total cleaning of the House or Senate...which must be done in order to send a clear message that these mutts work for us. And fire them all...is what we must do.
Hey Z,
Off topic...Met a girl I'm head over heels for! She's a Dem and so are her folks! What do I do?
Thanks, Pris. Well said! The whole left got that line tapping business wrong.
But there's a point here. What IF Bush had proposed this? What if Bush had try to commandeer every classroom in America on the first day of school to shill for his personage?
Shows the consistency of the "left." It's not that they're inconsistent because they opposed supposed curtailment of civil liberties under Bush, but praise them under Obama. No, they're very consistent - it's whatever furthers the cause.
A good action is good when it furthers your cause. The same good action is bad when it furthers your opponent's cause. Classic 20th century expression of Marxism played out all over the globe.
Now it's our turn.
edge~! WHAT? I'm emailing you...!
Deborah, that's what I've been thinking all day..WHAT IF BUSH HAD DONE THIS? IMAGINE?
Imp: I have that same fear...about civil unrest. We're so badly divided it's positively scary.
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