...Or so Benjamin Franklin may have said. Any time you hear about liberties or freedoms being taken away in the name of security or the War Against Terrorism (TM), keep this in mind...
The next strike won't be planes in to a building. It won't be bombs on a bus or in the Underground. It will be something that someone hasn't thought of. These terrorists must spend a huge amount of their time thinking of new ways and new things to attack. Looking for soft targets. And the security organisations simply play catch up. They attack with plane, lock down the planes. They attack the subways, lock down the subways. The US rail infrastructure is very vulnerable from the sound of it. That might be next. Then you lock down the trains. And at each step, to make you "safer", life gets a little harder. Your kids will be used to it. And in 20 years, people will be amazed that you didn't have to wave your microchip embedded hand over RFID readers everywhere you go.
So keep up the War On Terrorism (And the removal of freedoms that we hold dear). Keep waging a war for oil (Which will increase as supply outstrips demand). I guess the telling sign will be to see who the American public votes for in '08.
"Papieren bitte..."
3 comments:
I agree with these comments. However, I thought these were the preserve of the "Right-Wing", but even "Left-Wing" nations are also removing freedoms, and some of those countries are implementing these laws without an expiry. The US and Britain at least put expiry dates or review dates on their laws.
I think the left-wing want to control more of peoples lives than the right-wing and this security environment helps that cause.
Hmmm...I'm going to guess this was made by someone who stumbled across my blog, as anyone I know probably would have left their name. G'day!
I've not heard much mentioned on the repeal of expiration of any of these pieces of legislation. I guess only those involved in government or those who follow said legislation through personal interest would be aware, since the media isn't good at getting out all the facts. Just the bits they think people will find "interesting".
It's funny how the major political parties seem to be swinging their polices from the far left/right to the centre, and then some of them swing back out. I guess I can only comment on my knowledge and experience, but in the past the right was on the right, and the left was on the left, and there was a gap in between where most real people lived. But the US Presidential elections in 2000 were very close. And 2004 was close as well. Both Germany and NZ’s recent elections have been very close. I think people in the middle are saying “Stop with the wide swings from one side to the other”.
However I believe a basic lesson I have learned (To make sweeping generalisations) it is that 'the left' does things for the "greater good" and 'the right' does things for the “individual good”. I have no faith in most individual's ability to put the greater good before their own. No consensus and therefore no decisions. Again with the generalisations...Government is in the business of governing. Business is in the business of making money (Duh). I guess the final comment I'll make is, there is no right way to do things.
in reply ...
You are probably right with your generalisation between left and right. Communism was for the greater good too. However, it was individual greed for power and control that usurped that.
If a government wants to stay in power it needs to be more centrist, so it can cater for individual desires, but still steer the country in the direction for the greater good. It is a very fine balancing act and the election outcome in NZ is an example of this.
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