Category: Politics

Because nothing else is dumber

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In The News Internet Politics

Homeland Security Enforcing Copyright law?

I do believe in copyright law. We are in the information age. A good majority of us have jobs because of copyright. When you add up how many people’s business makes money off of copyrights (every company who ever sold software, music, books, or any other work), you hit a very large percentage of Americans. That’s the definition of the Information Age. A good 75% of Americans by most conservative stats are in the service sector. Just about all those would be out of business if copyrights and patents didn’t exist. I know and respect that.

But is this really the job of Homeland Security to enforce copyright laws? Why isn’t this being handled by some other arm of the Justice Department? Is some 19 year old downloading Star Wars really a threat to national security? Did this bust result in lowering the national terror alert level?

I’m really curious if the Patriot Act was invoked to help protect America from harm on this one. 🙄

Now when creating DHS, why didn’t they branch these crimes so that the Dept. of Justice handles them? That would be a bit more appropriate than invoking “National Security” resources for such an effort. People get angry when security analysts say the US is no safer today than it was in 2001. I’ve got a good guess why. Homeland Security is protecting StarWars rather than our country.

Any terror attack in the next 4 years should result in the immediate life sentence with no possibility of parole for anyone involved in that bust. For wasting DHS resources that could have been used for homeland protection. Judge, and sentence for life within 24 hours. There’s nothing to debate.

Absolute morons. They tell us to keep duct tape and plastic around in case of a biological attack. Then decide it’s more important to go after kids downloading StarWars.

If any congressman had a brain, they would move to open an investigation into why Homeland Security is involved in copyright enforcement, and why they are moving faster on that, then national security. Only a couple days to move in there. Yet were still not sure who was sent Anthrax in the mail. Priorities.

Martha Stewart went to jail because she was a threat to society. StarWars being leaked on the net is a threat to national security. Anthrax? Not such a big problem.

Can’t wait until the National Guard gets deployed because a child shoplifts a candy bar. Just hope it’s an American citizen or we may declare war on their country of origin.

Categories
In The News Politics Security

Real ID

Well obviously this stuff has been in the news a lot in the past 48 hrs. It’s interesting that it appears nobody in the senate even read this thing or they would have noticed some mistakes. According to the bill everyone must have one with their real home address on it. No PO Box, no business address, no aliases. The real deal, no exceptions. Who should have gotten an exception?

  • Police – especially undercover, and NARC’s whose lives are in danger as people are always trying to kill them.
  • Judges – we know very well that there are people willing to do harm to judges that don’t rule in their favor.
  • Prosecutors – also very hated by many people who would love for a card that has their home address
  • Elected Officials – who doesn’t hate them?

It should be noted that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act has several notable (and unethical) exceptions: Religious corporations, Bona fide tax exempt private clubs, Indian tribes, Elected state & local officials, their assistants, and immediate adviser’s, Jobs requiring national security clearance. That’s right. in 1964 the compromise was that while corporations could no longer discriminate in hiring, elected officials had the right to do so. They exempt themselves from the then controversial law so they could continue discrimination.

This time, nobody even an undercover cop or a judge has a legal means of not carrying an ID with their home address on it. Can you imagine the consequences now of a judge who accidentally looses their wallet or gets robbed?

Talk about inverted history. The Civil Rights Act should have no loopholes, meanwhile and this new Real ID bill should have exceptions for law enforcement so they can keep their families safe.

That about proves it. Nobody read the bill cover to cover. If they did: they would have at a minimum exempted judges, cops and some Homeland Security employees.

Oh yea, they are considering using RFID or equivalent technology for it. That means nobody needs to physically steal the card. Within a year or two of it coming out someone will hack around whatever encryption is on there. You don’t physically need the card, just get close enough to get the data off of it.

If I were a Judge putting the bad guy away, I’d be concerned about my own safety. That’s not a good thing.

I propose a minimum 10 year federal jail sentence for each time a lawmaker votes on (for or against) a bill they didn’t personally read cover to cover. Stuff like this episode a few months ago should result in a real jail for anyone who voted without reading (all of them, since nobody caught it). They are paid by tax dollars and entrusted to read and vote on laws. If they aren’t reading, they aren’t really voting. They are paid for nothing. That’s fraudulent.

Morons.

Categories
Politics

Alan Greenspan

Alan Greenspan is without question one of (if not the) brightest people in government. Always was, and likely will continue that legacy for many decades. What else would get him an amazing 5 terms as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Both Republican and Democrat Presidents have nominated him. He shows no real bias to any political party and has an amazing ability to foresee future economic problems.

He’s made quite a few bold statements lately that got rather little press since they go against the grain at the White House.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that individual accounts do not address the shortfalls the Social Security system will face over the next 75 years.

In fact, they would create additional costs because workers who opt for accounts would divert a portion of their payroll taxes away from the system….

Greenspan warned, however, that if accounts are introduced into the system, “We have to do it in a cautious, gradual way. … (We) should go slowly and test the waters.”

CNN.com Feb 16, 2005

That’s far from being for the policy. He’s advocating having a good plan B, and testing the waters very carefully. But that’s not how most of the media, and the White House took his comment. He’s clearly not against them, but not confident.

Now he’s saying that Protectionism (a core aspect of Bush’s Agenda which essentially won him the election) is bad

I’m getting increasingly disturbed about some of the pressures of protectionism that are emerging in the world because, were we to get a rigidify of international market forces, I’m fearful of what the implications could be to the American economy and, of course, to the world as a whole…
CNN.com May 5, 2005

I’m curious how the White House will react to this one. This was a big part of Bush’s (and all Republicans) agenda. Keeping jobs at home by imposing tariffs and other barriers. I doubt it will be silent. Just interesting to see how Greenspan is going against the grain, yet the spin factory ensures his voice isn’t heard.

His track record is rather remarkable. To ignore someone with such great accuracy is really a shame. I wish people would actually listen to what he has to say. There’s really nobody out there who is as good at understanding the US economy as him. That’s why he’s kept his position through so many administrations.

Why is he kept on board if nobody wants to listen to him?

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Politics

About Time

About time. The fact a bill filled with so much “common sense” even needs to be proposed just shows how many morons exist in this country. You’d think someone who feels their religion prohibits them from performing their duties would choose another career. You don’t see Hindu’s refusing to serve Big Mac’s™ because they feel the cow is sacred. They just realized being a burger flipper conflicts with their faith. Are they smarter? Well yea.

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In The News Politics

USS Jimmy Carter codenamed Richard Nixon?

Well, we all know trans-atlantic data isn’t exactly secure. But now we know the USS Jimmy Carter can be used to intercept data along those under water cables. The new submarine can provide another gated level of security for the intelligence community.

Why they didn’t name it the USS Richard Nixon? I’m not really sure. Sure would be more appropriate. Not to mention a ship being named after a Democrat with Republicans controlling all branches of government, is slightly unusual.

Categories
Funny Politics

Prescription Drug Plan

Drug Plan

Drug PlanThere has been a ton of talk lately about prescription drug plans, and what can be done to make drugs more affordable. Drugs manufactured in the United States can be found cheaper in Canada, and other countries. I thought about this for a little while this evening, and came up with a solution.

The image to the left depicts my plan. For several million dollars we would build a 4 lane overpass with the Canadian government. Trucks shipping drugs would drive into Canada and go onto the “Drug Highway”. This highway would do a 180 degree turn, and take them back towards America. Now that the drugs have been in Canada, the cost is much less than if they were shipped directly to pharmacy’s in the United States. The new overpass in Canada will ensure it doesn’t interfere with traffic, or cause any burden on Canadians or Americans crossing the border.

Once back in America, the now re-imported drugs can be distributed to pharmacy’s at a much lower cost. And no negative effect on the trade deficit!

I’m pretty certain my solution would prove to be the best solution to the Prescription Drug dilemma in the United States. Contact your representative, and tell them that they should use my proposal. I have a cost effective way to make drugs more affordable. See if they have a better idea. Come on. Let them know.

Categories
Funny In The News Politics

Just wow

As if nobody knew the federal government was a haven for the mentally disturbed… Check out this article.

The latest US Weapon: turn the enemy gay.

You read that right.

I’m curious if anyone will be able to top that one.

Categories
In The News Politics

$350 Mil in Aid

About freaking time. It’s depressing it took so long.

Amazing how bias some of the media has been. $350 is the largest donation so far cash wise, but quite a few nations have cleared the effected countries debt’s away. That means the money those countries would have to pay can now be used for rebuilding. That’s substantial funds that don’t get accounted for. That’s millions of dollars of money saved. As the saying goes “a penny saved is a penny earned”. Those debts that have been erased will be very important as these countries try and rebuild their now destroyed tourism industries and get people back to work. This is going to take decades, not days, weeks, months or even years. This is decades worth of damage.

If tiny countries can give over 10 mil, I think the US can easily swing it. Were already funding Bush’s family feud with Saddam.

Kind of ironic how Bush needed hard evidence that the Tsunami actually happened before he could pledge this money (as if the world was pulling a prank). The US had to send personnel in to “evaluate” the situation first. Why didn’t that happen in Iraq? Instead we trusted faulty decade old intelligence. Even knowing that the intelligence was rather worthless, and conflicted with the findings of other nations also monitoring the situation.

I’m curious if the president will ever explain why the decision making process took so much effort for this disaster than it did to go into Iraq. Wasted time is costing lives.

Categories
Politics

TSA locks up terrorist #1

Via Aebrahim’s blog, John Barlow’s story of the TSA “protecting America”. I’d say it’s a must read, though pretty depressing.

A real brilliant example of how America is becoming “safer”. Sadly, it’s pretty safe to say the government to date has spent thousands (plural) of dollars “protecting” us from John.

Good luck to him. Good luck to all Americans who attempt to live normal lives. I’m still waiting for some nun or priest to be arrested for carrying a crucifix, which could technically be used as a weapon (often sharp point towards the bottom). When that happens, it’s time to move to Iraq, since we’ve has spent some time restoring liberty there.

Categories
Politics

Misconceptions

Here’s a great example of American stupidity. Anyone endorsing, or spreading stuff like this should be tried as “practicing medicine without a license”. No questions asked. It’s BS like that for 20 years that let AIDS spread so far in Africa. Can someone explain why Bush is fighting for rather than against AIDS?