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The noose tightens
2013-Aug-22, Thursday 15:06They say that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
One of the anonymous remailing sites has been taken down by the US govt a few weeks ago.
Most recently Grok Law has decided to shut down.
It is rumoured that they got one of the US "Security Letters".
If true, they are forbidden by law to publicly admit that they got it, and forbidden to reveal whats in it.
Normally, they demand a list of users & their contact info and often any data in their accounts and who these users have contacted via your site.
The whole point of anonymous remailers is to protect people from their own governments.
There are governments doing things that the US disapproves of, and these remailers enable people in those countries to organize against said governments that the US disagrees with.
Unfortunately, sometimes these sites are used by people who disagree with the US and then the US has to shut them down.
This is definitely a case cutting ones nose off to spite ones face. The US will eventually rue this decision.
Grok Law enables people to see whats happening in the legal system and there are people who would be embarrassed of people knew what they were doing. As a result, Grok Law is a casualty. With the drapes drawn tonight around the legal system, if will simplify the erosion of peoples rights.
This is a sad turn of events. The logical result down the line is a possible 2nd civil war in the US.
Didnt the Arab Spring teach anyone anything ?
In 1953, the US & GB teamed up to overthrow the 1st democratically elected govt in Iran.
While this delayed the Iranian Govt from nationalizing US & GB corp oil assets, in the long run it has proven to have caused even more trouble. After years of denial, I note that this week the US CIA has actually admitted its role in the overthrow.
The "conservatives" (In quotes because they are radical right rather than true conservatives) are up in arms over this.
"We cant admit we are wrong!" Indeed, it is this "We cant admit we are wrong" that has caused us lots of trouble in the world.
I am disturbed by this slow slide into totalitarianism that duplicates what happens in other countries just before dictatorship.
I really expected Obama to reverse much of what "The Shrub" did, but hes really done more of the same.
I was a republican who voted for Obama in both elections. I must admit to some "buyers remorse",
but not for the same reasons most republicans dislike him. Someone who grew up during the civil rights movement should know better than anyone else how wrong it is to take peoples civil liberties away, but he hasnt a clue.
My guess is that Hilary will win the next one and she will continue the same stuff too.
My entire disagreement with Obama is his take on civil liberties.
I dont oppose him on his other policies.
I note that we are freaking out over 2 classified document leaks, but I havent really seen anything that got out that really looks like it aided any enemy. All these guys have done is embarrass some high ranking people who really should have known better.
Some of this stuff never should have been classified in the 1st place.
If we as a nation behaved in a more responsible manner, we wouldnt have to classify all this stuff.
My family has been here since 1638 and weve helped toss the brits out on their tush TWICE!
How DARE anyone question my patriotism. Jefferson observed that disagreement was the highest form of patriotism.
Tune in next time and see if Ive been kidnapped off to "Git-Mo"
One of the anonymous remailing sites has been taken down by the US govt a few weeks ago.
Most recently Grok Law has decided to shut down.
It is rumoured that they got one of the US "Security Letters".
If true, they are forbidden by law to publicly admit that they got it, and forbidden to reveal whats in it.
Normally, they demand a list of users & their contact info and often any data in their accounts and who these users have contacted via your site.
The whole point of anonymous remailers is to protect people from their own governments.
There are governments doing things that the US disapproves of, and these remailers enable people in those countries to organize against said governments that the US disagrees with.
Unfortunately, sometimes these sites are used by people who disagree with the US and then the US has to shut them down.
This is definitely a case cutting ones nose off to spite ones face. The US will eventually rue this decision.
Grok Law enables people to see whats happening in the legal system and there are people who would be embarrassed of people knew what they were doing. As a result, Grok Law is a casualty. With the drapes drawn tonight around the legal system, if will simplify the erosion of peoples rights.
This is a sad turn of events. The logical result down the line is a possible 2nd civil war in the US.
Didnt the Arab Spring teach anyone anything ?
In 1953, the US & GB teamed up to overthrow the 1st democratically elected govt in Iran.
While this delayed the Iranian Govt from nationalizing US & GB corp oil assets, in the long run it has proven to have caused even more trouble. After years of denial, I note that this week the US CIA has actually admitted its role in the overthrow.
The "conservatives" (In quotes because they are radical right rather than true conservatives) are up in arms over this.
"We cant admit we are wrong!" Indeed, it is this "We cant admit we are wrong" that has caused us lots of trouble in the world.
I am disturbed by this slow slide into totalitarianism that duplicates what happens in other countries just before dictatorship.
I really expected Obama to reverse much of what "The Shrub" did, but hes really done more of the same.
I was a republican who voted for Obama in both elections. I must admit to some "buyers remorse",
but not for the same reasons most republicans dislike him. Someone who grew up during the civil rights movement should know better than anyone else how wrong it is to take peoples civil liberties away, but he hasnt a clue.
My guess is that Hilary will win the next one and she will continue the same stuff too.
My entire disagreement with Obama is his take on civil liberties.
I dont oppose him on his other policies.
I note that we are freaking out over 2 classified document leaks, but I havent really seen anything that got out that really looks like it aided any enemy. All these guys have done is embarrass some high ranking people who really should have known better.
Some of this stuff never should have been classified in the 1st place.
If we as a nation behaved in a more responsible manner, we wouldnt have to classify all this stuff.
My family has been here since 1638 and weve helped toss the brits out on their tush TWICE!
How DARE anyone question my patriotism. Jefferson observed that disagreement was the highest form of patriotism.
Tune in next time and see if Ive been kidnapped off to "Git-Mo"
