Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Shea Tisdale" <shea AT sheatisdale.com>]

Wait a minute, Ben and I agree on something.  
I need to make a note of this...

:-)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:internetworkers-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of brunkb AT ils.unc.edu
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 1:57 PM
> To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [internetworkers] PATRIOT Act (for Kurt)
> 
> I'm happy to see some activism, I guess the "you all" statement in my
last
> message was largely misplaced.  The revelations about vote counting
aren't
> very inspiring, but US elections have always been rigged one way or
> another, so whatever.
> 
> Addressing Kurt's message:
> 
> >I have my own concerns
> >about "Big Brother" but there is nothing in this form letter that
>makes
> a
> good case for repeal.
> 
> I think the misuse of the Act is a good case for repealing it.  It's
> purpose is supposedly to address the threat of terrorism in the US.
Any
> other use represents an abuse.  The Brits are going through this stuff
> right now with CCTV cameras.  The cameras were "sold" to the public
for
> the
> sake of protection against terrorism (an absurd notion, but that is
what
> they did).  Now the cameras are being used for every little thing and
the
> costs are enormous and not one terrorist has ever been caught by them.
> So,
> of course, instead of admitting to a failed policy, it is instead
swept
> under the rug (the memory hole?) using the new argument of "well, they
are
> good for general crime control."  The mythical infallibility of the
state
> reminds me of the mythical infallibility of the Catholic Church during
the
> Middle Ages.
> 
> Also, very few Congressmen or Senators actually read the Act before
voting
> on it, so that is another very good reason to do away with it.  Their
job
> is to debate and make informed decisions, not vote out of fear and
> emotional urgency.  They didn't do their only job.  But they voted
> themselves a pay raise for the fourth year in a row.
> 
> 
> >Some jackass got nailed for running a meth lab using the act. How is
> >this
> a bad thing?
> 
> And lots of "jackasses" got nailed for running stills, brewing beer,
and
> smuggling liquor in the 1930s.  The war on drugs is the worst public
> policy
> this side of the Volsted Act.  Meth labs are just a symptom of a much,
> much
> bigger ill in this country.  I don't want the PATRIOT Act used to
escalate
> the insane policies of prohibition, and I doubt that the case in NC
will
> hold up.  If the DA can't get a conviction for the charge of running a
> meth
> lab (which is illegal, btw), then he must be grasping at straws.
There is
> growing urgency to completely alter these failed policies--Canada is
close
> to legalizing pot, for example.  It's about time something new was
> attempted (and by "new" I mean, a return to personal choice and
> responsibility).  It's only the law enforcement and judicial
*industry* in
> the US that gains from prohibition who are so dead set against it, due
to
> their economic interests.  It's just sad that bad policies have to be
> adhered to so stubbornly for mere "tough on crime" political
haymaking.
> 
> My personal concern is that the war on terror is a replacement for the
war
> on drugs (we've already been assaulted with propaganda trying to tie
drug
> use to supporting terrorism).  Drug prohibition could not justify a
$500B
> Pentagon budget, as well as FBI, NSA, CIA and other agencies' bloated
> budgets (and despite all of the money already wasted on militarism,
> America
> suffered the 9/11 attack).  Yet "narco-terrorists" only exist at all
> because of prohibition.  I keep hearing that "the era of big
government is
> back."  I keep wondering "did it go anywhere?"
> 
> 
> Ben
> ---
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