August 11, 200917 yr To clarify- and this is from someone adamantly against the Patriot Act- do you have a problem with the White House collecting names? Does the Patriot Act make these actions acceptable? I, too, oppose the Patriot Act. I guess it depends on what you think the WH is going to do with the email addresses that they receive. If you believe that they're going to open an investigation into the person then , yes, I have a big problem with it. However, I don't believe that's the case. If I were them, I'd use the gathered info the same way I'd use polling data. I'd want to get a feel for what the public is saying. That way, if its not based on fact I could try to get out in front of it and thwart the misinformation. The real problem would be if the WH forced the ISPs to forward them the emails that go through their servers so that they could then sift through them looking for whatever. That's not the case here.
August 11, 200917 yr I, too, oppose the Patriot Act. I guess it depends on what you think the WH is going to do with the email addresses that they receive. If you believe that they're going to open an investigation into the person then , yes, I have a big problem with it. However, I don't believe that's the case. If I were them, I'd use the gathered info the same way I'd use polling data. I'd want to get a feel for what the public is saying. That way, if its not based on fact I could try to get out in front of it and thwart the misinformation. The real problem would be if the WH forced the ISPs to forward them the emails that go through their servers so that they could then sift through them looking for whatever. That's not the case here. I don't see any reason why the government should encourage individuals to give contact information of other individuals for any reason other than criminal behavior. Perhaps a better way to "clear up misunderstandings" is to explain what is actually in the bill before rushing to get it through. And this is NOT just referring to health care reform....
August 11, 200917 yr I don't see any reason why the government should encourage individuals to give contact information of other individuals for any reason other than criminal behavior. Perhaps a better way to "clear up misunderstandings" is to explain what is actually in the bill before rushing to get it through. And this is NOT just referring to health care reform.... Your second point is completely valid. Individuals "turning in others" is as old as the hills.
August 11, 200917 yr Your second point is completely valid. Individuals "turning in others" is as old as the hills. Republicans lying about their adherence to "small government" is as old as the hills. Still doesn't make it acceptable. Likewise, the fact that individuals turn in others does not make it acceptable for the government to request that they do so.
August 11, 200917 yr Republicans lying about their adherence to "small government" is as old as the hills. Still doesn't make it acceptable. Likewise, the fact that individuals turn in others does not make it acceptable for the government to request that they do so. When it comes to brass tacks there is no comparison to this and the Patriot Act. At a high level you can lump them together but the details separate them IMO.
August 11, 200917 yr Your second point is completely valid. Individuals "turning in others" is as old as the hills. That reminds me of a weekly feature in the Mountain Eagle newspaper in Whitesburg. They did a weekly anonymous phone letters to the editor feature called "Speak Your Piece," and it regularly has comments along this line: "To a certain boy in Mayking: I saw you out back dumping your meth leftovers in the creek. I know you have kids inside where you cook. You are being watched."
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.