The Political Discussion Thread

[Naonak]

The UK "porn filters" already go beyond porn.

The language of the mythical 'porn filter' is so insidious, so pervasive, that even those of us opposed to it have been sucked into its slippery embrace. And so even when it turns out that O2 are blocking the Childline and Refuge websites, or that BT are blocking gay and lesbian content, we tend to regard them as collateral damage – accidental victims of a well-meaning (if misguided) attempt to protect out children from the evils of ****.

But this was never the case. As Wired reported back in July, Cameron’s ambitions extended far beyond porn. Working through secretive negotiations with ISPs, the coalition has put in place a set of filters and restrictions as ambitious as anything this side of China, dividing the internet into 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable' categories, and cutting people off from huge swathes of it at the stroke of a key.

www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/camerons-internet-filter-goes-far-beyond-porn-and-was-always-plan

^^^ But the very thought of a country doing this.... And that people don't object. We were about to have a filter in Australia but a lot of people made a lot of noise and the idea got canned because it had become so toxic.

The Tories and right-wing media drum up fear and panic about child pornography, and most people think a "porn filter" will do something about that because they don't understand how the internet works (ie. that paedophiles don't just type "child porn" into freaking Google).

[mad_gater]

that I'll agree on...government-run internet filters is quite "1984"-ish

[myhelix]

Coco Pops: Everyone believes in freedom and liberty........ I'd like to think.

Where did you get this idea of the NSA wanting to make a police state out of the USA? That would be a good topic for the "political discussion thread" if you are game...

http://forum.gateworld.net/threads/7...cussion-Thread

Thanks for the info, I don´t know about that thread, to be honest.

The NSA topic is now for month on European news, thanks to Edward Snowden we know how big the scandal really is. It´s about their tactics to monitor every single telephone call, internet access, movement data and so on.

They do it without reasonable suspicion, and that´s just wrong. It´s about power and about control. The NSA have no right to spy on all the other country´s or on their own people, but they do.

They make industrial espionage, it´s like a cyper war. You can´t be in the internet or call someone with your smartphone without this organisation storage it. They do it without your permission or any suspicion against you, all in the name of finding terrorists, but that´s a poor excuse to control the rest of the world nowday´s.

If you think about this control fanaticism, everywhere cameras. It´s not normal any longer.

[Coco Pops]

I think we are all on a slippery slope, no matter where we are, and we all have a place where we say NO, unfortunately this is not the place i say it, and the government have never trusted us, they are smarter and richer than us lowly types
But i do understand what you are saying

I'd hardly call anyone in government anywhere smarter..... Richer yes not smarter they are merely puppets doing someone's bidding. Usually the ones that contribute to their election wins.

[pookey]

Dear,i was joking Maybe i should have used more smilies

[myhelix]

The NSA would be a good topic, because they spurn our rights every day.

[Coco Pops]

Well interesting that Obama made a speech about cutting back on what the NSA are doing with regards to domestic spying because people are making a noise, but nothing really will happen. It's mostly smoke and mirrors and window dressing.

[myhelix]

Well interesting that Obama made a speech about cutting back on what the NSA are doing with regards to domestic spying because people are making a noise, but nothing really will happen. It's mostly smoke and mirrors and window dressing.

It´s all like a cheap political trick. The NSA is so big and bloated, probably they know all dirty secrets about a lot of important people (like politicians) and blackmail them from time to time, for their own special needs.

That´s what makes this organization so powerful, informations nobody else has the power to control. Before the Americans will know it, they will life all happy in a totalitarian like state with 24/7 control. And all because nobody where able or intelligent enough to stop this damn "patriot act" from President Bush and his Republicans in the name of 9/11 safety. It´s not longer about finding terrorists or stop dangerous criminals, I would not fret if that would be the case.

I think nothing is more important on this earth than a certain kind of freedom. Nobody can make sure you stay safe all day, nobody can guarantee that I have a car accident the next day and so on. But if a small minority of people control your everyday life to their likings and will, this life is no longer worth living. Than we all are nothing more than modern slaves for the rich and powerful!

It´s so sad that no one seems to understand the urgency of this topic. Snowden is a hero in my eyes. The only thing he did was telling the truth about how much we are already under the control of our governments worldwide. Some anonym NSA database will have more infos about me than my own family, that´s sick.

[mad_gater]

It´s all like a cheap political trick. The NSA is so big and bloated, probably they know all dirty secrets about a lot of important people (like politicians) and blackmail them from time to time, for their own special needs.

That´s what makes this organization so powerful, informations nobody else has the power to control. Before the Americans will know it, they will life all happy in a totalitarian like state with 24/7 control. And all because nobody where able or intelligent enough to stop this damn "patriot act" from President Bush and his Republicans in the name of 9/11 safety. It´s not longer about finding terrorists or stop dangerous criminals, I would not fret if that would be the case.

I think nothing is more important on this earth than a certain kind of freedom. Nobody can make sure you stay safe all day, nobody can guarantee that I have a car accident the next day and so on. But if a small minority of people control your everyday life to their likings and will, this life is no longer worth living. Than we all are nothing more than modern slaves for the rich and powerful!

It´s so sad that no one seems to understand the urgency of this topic. Snowden is a hero in my eyes. The only thing he did was telling the truth about how much we are already under the control of our governments worldwide. Some anonym NSA database will have more infos about me than my own family, that´s sick.

agreed

[Coco Pops]

It´s all like a cheap political trick. The NSA is so big and bloated, probably they know all dirty secrets about a lot of important people (like politicians) and blackmail them from time to time, for their own special needs.

That´s what makes this organization so powerful, informations nobody else has the power to control. Before the Americans will know it, they will life all happy in a totalitarian like state with 24/7 control. And all because nobody where able or intelligent enough to stop this damn "patriot act" from President Bush and his Republicans in the name of 9/11 safety. It´s not longer about finding terrorists or stop dangerous criminals, I would not fret if that would be the case.

I think nothing is more important on this earth than a certain kind of freedom. Nobody can make sure you stay safe all day, nobody can guarantee that I have a car accident the next day and so on. But if a small minority of people control your everyday life to their likings and will, this life is no longer worth living. Than we all are nothing more than modern slaves for the rich and powerful!

It´s so sad that no one seems to understand the urgency of this topic. Snowden is a hero in my eyes. The only thing he did was telling the truth about how much we are already under the control of our governments worldwide. Some anonym NSA database will have more infos about me than my own family, that´s sick.

People won't fret about their liberties till they're gone then its way too late

[myhelix]

People won't fret about their liberties till they're gone then its way too late

That´s the problem, many people don´t seem to realize how this will affect their future, and of course the future of their children. How should an average person keep up with all this. They´ll made us slaves with their money and their control systems.

And how is it possible that still so much really dangerous psychopath´s roam the US when the NSA´s main goal is (allegedly) to protect people?!
All they ever do is protecting the rich, the powerful, the money and their own status. Like the CIA, this organization cause more trouble than they keep away. For instance, the CIA had more attempted coups on their agenda than some dictators in Africa. Why the USA always need to interfere in other country´s issues. The CIA even had plotted a gruel dictator in charge of Chile (Pinochet), this man killed and tortured thousand of people. And I am afraid the NSA is doing the same.

It´s also interesting that some of the main TV channels in America ignore the NSA affair. The media keep their own people in constant ignorance. I see so much problems the US have, and the main media topic are the Golden Globe´s or Football. Very sad.

Some corrupt bank´s and company´s have more to say in the political US system than the people who live in this country but a lot of people either don´t know or don´t care about it. Very, very sad.

[Coco Pops]

Well look at the GFC........ No bankers or financial people were ever arrested for the mess they created.

[SoulReaver]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...ortrait-haries

is it just me or does V for Vendetta sound less & less like fiction as time goes by?

Spoiler:

in fairness to queenie, I'm quite sure she would personally be opposed to this verdict - or to any criminal sentence for that matter. but for some reason I've yet to fathom, the monarch of UK is not allowed to express herself on political matters

[dipsofjazz]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...ortrait-haries

is it just me or does V for Vendetta sound less & less like fiction as time goes by?

Spoiler:

in fairness to queenie, I'm quite sure she would personally be opposed to this verdict - or to any criminal sentence for that matter. but for some reason I've yet to fathom, the monarch of UK is not allowed to express herself on political matters

His being jailed had nothing to do with the Queen, but had everything to do with the fact he caused criminal damage to the painting.

The monarch is supposed to be apolitical. "As Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters, unable to vote or stand for election. " http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Qu...overnment.aspx
"As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign must remain politically neutral. " http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Ho...lmonarchy.aspx

[Gatefan1976]

Don't let reality get in the way of a good story...........

As DOJ noted, it is no longer the role of the Monarchy to determine social policy, and while I feel.. *deeply* for this man, this father denied the basic right to see his children, a situation that actually disgusts me on the most basic of levels (it's sexism), there must be better ways to do it, or a more appropriate painting to deface in protest. The English Monarchy is little more than a figurehead these days, and has been for a very long time now and can affect no political change. The best the Monarchy can do is apply social pressure, and defacing a painting is far from the best way to get her Maj's seal of approval.