Month: September 2013

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So what if….

Sharing

…Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and others would just share the information?  What am I talking about?  Well, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and probably others are suing the federal government to release details of their FISA court orders.  This morning, as I was walking to work, my mind just wondered:

What if they simply go ahead and share it?

If they all did it, the government couldn’t just shut them all down?  Too many people depend on them for email, search, their worth as people, etc.   Why couldn’t the companies simply choose NOT to obey the court order in a mass act of civil disobedience?  I’m sure there would be repercussions.  They may actually get shut down.  But the point would have been made.

The Lavabit guy didn’t have resources on his own to fight the federal government; however, those companies–together–could make a good showing of it.  Something like NewEgg with copyright trolls.

Image from alec couros via flickr

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I Just Wrote…

US Congress

and told my representative (Bill Johnson) thanks for voting to defund ObamaCare (aka The Affordable Care Act).  I also wrote my Senators–Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman–(who aren’t nearly as in touch with the people in Ohio) and urged them to vote yes on the measure sent to the Senate by the House Of Representatives.

I’m glad the house voted to defund this horrible legislation.  It needs repealed outright (especially since HRH Pres. Barry) has delayed parts of it illegally.  It is a big part of what it moving the US toward European Style Socialist democracy.

Image from jessie owen via flickr

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He Makes One Good Point

Data

I’ve read several blogs making hay about the NSA cryptographer who made this post on zd net.  There was even a response by John Gilmore of the EFF.  I’m not going to rehash all of that, except to say that I don’t really believe the NSA guy.  Sure he may think what he writes about, on the other hand, his colleagues don’t appear to think the same.  BUT, he does make a good point.  That is what I want to write about.

As this national dialogue continues, I look to the American people to reach a consensus on the desired scope of U.S. intelligence activities. If it is determined that the rules should be changed or updated, we at NSA would faithfully and effectively adapt. My NSA colleagues and I stand ready to continue to defend this nation using only the tools that we are authorized to use and in the specific ways that we are authorized to use them. We wouldn’t want it any other way. 

He’s right when he looks to “the people” (through our representatives) to change the law, if we want.  If we want.  IF.  Yes, we the people must let our representatives know that we don’t like this and expect them to change it.  If we don’t tell them, how are they supposed to know?  If they don’t know we want it changed, they’ll go on “making it up” and doing what they way.

Image from uwwresnet via flickr