The Surveillance Society

[Deb_T]

Hello all.  Hope you remember me.

Just wondered what you intelligent guys thought about the way that the State (in my view) is watching citizens more and more closely.  Is this a good thing?

My boyfriend in the Army no doubt supports the view that, for a secure society, we need a degree of surveillance. Even a high degree.

But, burgeoning cameras, surveillance, databases... Some of us are a little more dubious about the way things could be heading. Are we all presumed potential suspects? Things have changed a lot.

It's a massively complex subject, of course. But I wondered what you guys thought. You have had a lot interesting things to say in the past.

[Marz]

I think like anything else these abilities can be used for good and bad.

When it comes to general surveillance of public areas, more stringent rules for forginers entering the US, and keeping a general finger on the pulse of US scociety, I am all for it.

When it comes to giving up personal freedoms for exceptions and not the rule, I find it hard to believe that there is not a unsavory ideal that is pushing that forward.

To sum it up, in public places I think it is smart and should be expected. When the government has the ability to spy on its own citizens in private and snoop into their personal lives, that is what our government was set up to protect us against.

[SonOfKrypton]

Let's just say that, the way things are headed, I would not be surprised if things take a turn for the worse very very soon....I'm glad you're starting to see the slow change that is happening all around us as well.  I have definitely been aware of it for some time now.

[skiking]

I think like anything else these abilities can be used for good and bad.

When it comes to general surveillance of public areas, more stringent rules for forginers entering the US, and keeping a general finger on the pulse of US scociety, I am all for it.

Public places could be used to ultimately peer into our private lives.  Take roads for example, at least in Montana, landowners own to the centerline of the easement, if allowed to have surveillance on a road, that could ultimately lead to a precedent that could allow surveillance of private property.  And you can only claim title to that which you can control, so not being able to control the airspace 500 feet above the land to which you have title, would then place the air at 501 feet in the public domain, 500 feet isn't very far.


It is a very touchy area and with the power that the government has already, it isn't hard to fathom that privacy could see a virtual end.

[Timmay]

It just worries me because of no more walking out to my mailbox to get my mail or newspaper in my bday suit....but oh well....I guess its time to grow up.

Seriously though, it is rather scary to think where this world is heading.  I am venturing to say we have maybe become full circle.  If oil prices keep going up and prices of everything else along with it other than our wages....you are going to see less activity around us all.  We have already seen a decline in automobile traffice just in our little town of Washington.  Only time you really see alot of vehicles on the road is around 8 am , noon and 5pm.  Going to work, lunch and home.  Someone asked me the other day why I only have been putting about $15 worth of gas in my truck.  I told them well I could sit here and fill it up...but...if I did that, I would always figure I had a full tank and yeah..I can run do that, OH OK, I will run there....do this do that.  With not much gas in truck...less liable to go here and there.  I usually just say I will do this this and that while im out.
Sorry, this kinda ran off subject...

[tomgallagher]

The slow erosion or taking away the rights of the citizens was tried once before and isn't this where it ended up.....

[BaldBen]

The slow erosion or taking away the rights of the citizens was tried once before and isn't this where it ended up.....

Tom, Tom, Tom I can't believe you posted the swastika   
Hopefully Juggler won't be seeing it. He'd have a coronary.

[tomgallagher]

Just proving a point. (I wonder whatever happened to him)

[Sgt. Pate]

Yup, I agree with Tom.

Unfortunately, after Obama gets in office we'll all understand much more clearly what it actually means to lose our rights! 

[Pshrynk]

Interesting results so far in the poll.

Positive results IMO.

I think wariness and vigilance in monitoring the government/state; it's evolving policy and stance is crucial to maintaining civil freedoms and basic human rights.  Freedom and democracy requires an effort;  the populace can't just assume the government in power is honest and forthright in ANY nation-state.   The USA is no exception.

Totalitarian states have no prescribed political affiliation or occupy any particular part of the political spectrum; as the Soviets and the Nazi's proved.

Although the Nazi flag is a bit extreme here.... it vividly makes the point. 

"Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."
             --George Santayana

[SonOfKrypton]

Unfortunately, after Obama gets in office we'll all understand much more clearly what it actually means to lose our rights! 

Anywhere else, I'd expect to hear that that sentence, except with the name "Obama" replaced by the word "McCain".  So now, you've made me hella curious as to why exactly you think that....Hella curious....

[JDog]

I have no doubt this thread will be pulled in a matter of hours now. Anything even remotely political or controversial is removed to the moderator thread.

[SonOfKrypton]

I have no doubt this thread will be pulled in a matter of hours now. Anything even remotely political or controversial is removed to the moderator thread.

Hmmm...Why is that?  As responsible, sensible, logical and (hopefully) respectful adults, why can't we hear each others views in the most unequivocal words possible?

[JDog]

I have no doubt this thread will be pulled in a matter of hours now. Anything even remotely political or controversial is removed to the moderator thread.

Hmmm...Why is that?  As responsible, sensible, logical and (hopefully) respectful adults, why can't we hear each others views in the most unequivocal words possible?

Krypton I totally agree with  you bro and have stated as such in the past.Not my doing.I've just found this is what seems to happen when any topic turns political or religious.

I'd love to discuss politics and religion on this board.

I dont mind the CCTV cameras that they have put in some of the trouble spots in downtown here in Sydney. There have been hundreds of assaults and bashings where they have been able to catch the culprits and punish them from the footage captured. This has in turn made these areas safer.

[SonOfKrypton]

I have no doubt this thread will be pulled in a matter of hours now. Anything even remotely political or controversial is removed to the moderator thread.

Hmmm...Why is that?  As responsible, sensible, logical and (hopefully) respectful adults, why can't we hear each others views in the most unequivocal words possible?

Krypton I totally agree with  you bro and have stated as such in the past.Not my doing.I've just found this is what seems to happen when any topic turns political or religious.

I'd love to discuss politics and religion on this board.

Got ya.....

Well yea, what this country is coming to is definitely starting to scare me.  Ordinary cameras these days can be backed by extraordinary computer algorithms that track how you walk, your bodily mannerisms, capture and catalog unique regions of your face, and identify you simply based on these characteristics.  Software their coming out with is ridiculous.  The other day on Digg, I found an article where they have basically designed software that, given an MRI of your brain, can deduce exactly what you are thinking (but for now, it only knows what images for 60 english words correspond to....For now.....)