What happened? So the Minister of Homeland Security has decided that computers or other devices can be confiscated at the border (or customs/immigration at the airport) without cause and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it? Why? Because of 9/11 of course. Oh and kiddy porn (SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!). I am so sick and tired of this bullshit. They say it is for our own good, but they are poking around in our stuff without cause. Does this not bother anyone?
These “jiahadist” the administration is telling us we’re being protected from are smart enough to attack the US but dumb enough to leave incriminating files on their computer? While the government is checking my computer for evil these bad guys can just slip through unnoticed because they left their computer at home? And the kiddy porn angle? Nice to throw in child exploitation. The double whammy of fighting terrorism and protecting kids makes these kind of things politically untouchable. Just like Obama voted for FISA a few weeks ago because he was afraid of the fallout from the Republicans on his chances for president.
But do the people that are in charge really believe that this will stop terrorism or child exploitation? Or are they using it as cover to continue to chip away at our civil liberties? I travel internationally with my computer and/or iPhone and/or iPod more than the average American. I have nothing illegal on my computer but I’m angry that the government wants to search and seize my shit anyway. I know this is a pre-9/11 mindset, but I’d like to go back to the good old days where if the authorities had probably cause they could go to a judge and get a warrant. Is that so unreasonable? But instead the authorities are given broad powers to effectively do whatever the hell they want.
Now supporters of the administration say “If you’ve got nothing to hide, then why worry?” but they aren’t getting it. Today it is notebooks at passport control. Tomorrow it could be the local police at a checkpoint. Can’t happen here? A fundamental right guaranteed in the Constitution taken away. Just like Habeas Corpus. Just like the 1st Amendment right to peacefully assemble. The only right that hasn’t been touched is the second amendment, but that doesn’t matter. Even if there were a armed revolution in this country it could be put down in hours and that gun in your closet isn’t going to stop shit.
I guess I should just be a good American and shut up and watch Dancing with the Stars or other brain numbing entertainment. A Starbucks closing inspires more community involvement than the slow chipping away of our rights. The same rights people fought and died for. But as long as you have the right to a mocha latte I guess we’re still OK. That is what the freedom Bush talks about happening in Iraq — the freedom for multinational companies to sell their shit in new markets.
And people tell me to relax, the election is in less than 100 days and Obama will get us back to normal. I’m not so sure. In November the election will be close and Congress will still be gridlocked. Nothing will change. Democrats and Republicans will still blame the other. America’s problem with racism will make Obama’s winning difficult (don’t think there’s a race problem in the US? You’re white aren’t you?) I mean even today people think Obama is a Muslim. The Republicans problem is they have a terrible candidate and many of their base will stay home rather than vote against the Black guy.
ENERGY CRISIS 08 is over now that the price of gas is going down again. I actually saw the other day on Fox News a super that said that McCain credited Bush for that. My head nearly exploded. Drilling offshore will solve things. That is like using a credit line increase to pay for your food. It isn’t even a short term fix because even if they started today it would be 10 years before a drop of it showed up in our gas tanks.
I guess you can say I’m disappointed with this country and its people. We can do so much better than this.
OK. I got that out. I’ll go back to posts about kitties and other stuff tomorrow.
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