bill of rights

Jeffrey Tucker: We’re All Edward Snowden Now

"In the course of only a few decades, everything unraveled. The monopoly over communication that the government once maintained had been completely smashed. This situation has persisted for about 15 years — a near-anarchist paradise of human sharing and interaction through technological innovation. What’s going on today is really the reaction and response by the elites. They want their power and control back. They are trying to get it through the oldest form of government control surveillance and the blackmail that comes with it. It’s the tactic guards used to control prisoners. It’s the tactic government is using to fight its way back toward having control over our lives." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJeffrey Tucker: We’re All Edward Snowden Now

Freedom Requires Whistleblowers: The Importance of Transparency

"Does it bother you that government agencies are able to spy on everything you do online? The power we give to one set of leaders continues to the next, whether you agree with them or not. Prof. James Otteson says we should be concerned about government overreach. The government should be accountable to the citizens, not the other way around. Whistleblowers play an important role in making sure the people know when the government is doing things it shouldn't do." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFreedom Requires Whistleblowers: The Importance of Transparency

Congress To Holder: Explain Why NSA Supplies DEA Info Which It Then Launders

"For example, they might send info to the DEA about a likely drug deal, and the DEA would then tell its agents that they should come up with a pretense to stop a certain truck at a certain truck stop at a certain time. The agents would work with local police to concoct a reason to pull the truck over, and voila, drugs found. But, most importantly, at no point would the fact that such information was used to lead to the stop be revealed, and that's unconstitutional. If you're accused, you're supposed to have access to all of the evidence being used against you. Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress To Holder: Explain Why NSA Supplies DEA Info Which It Then Launders

Civil liberties may not survive the ‘Gorgon Stare’

"At the top of the executive branch, President Obama and his team favor Orwellian euphemism, preferring wordblobs like 'disposition matrix' to the harsh Anglo-Saxon of 'kill list' -- mumbling 'kinetic military action' when what they really mean is 'war.' But further down the administrative ladder, the language sometimes gets admirably blunt. The National Security Agency has programs with names like 'TRAFFICTHIEF' and 'PANOPTICON.' And DHS has even expressed interest in 'Gorgon Stare,' a drone-mounted camera array under development by the Air Force that can watch whole cities at a time (and turn the inhabitants to stone?)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCivil liberties may not survive the ‘Gorgon Stare’

Obama promises mayors unilateral action on guns

"Stymied by Congress in his gun control efforts, President Obama told a group of big-city mayors Tuesday that he would take more executive actions to reduce gun violence. The closed-door meeting at the White House included Attorney GeneralEric H. Holder Jr., who discussed 'strategies to reduce youth violence,' the White House said in a statement. Mr. Obama 'vowed to continue doing everything in his power to combat gun violence through executive action and to press Congress to pass common-sense reforms like expanding the background check system and cracking down on gun trafficking,' the White House said in a statement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama promises mayors unilateral action on guns

Edward Snowden legal defense fund raises over 100 BTC so far

"The Journalistic Source Protection Defence Fund raises money for Journalistic sources' legal defence. Periodically it will nominate sources it wishes to direct legal and campaign aide to. For its first source it has selected Mr. Edward Snowden whose revelations have exposed the extent to which the world is being mass surveilled by the United States. Mr. Snowden is currently in Russia where he has been granted temporary asylum. The United States government is exerting substantial pressure on Russia and other countries in an attempt to force Mr. Snowden to the United States where he will face decades in prison or worse." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden legal defense fund raises over 100 BTC so far

Ron Paul Unfiltered; Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg takes on the NSA

"Ron Paul joins Larry to blast US government secrecy and talk about his new Web channel. Plus, have his supporters finally found peace with the GOP? Also, whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg says the government is always watching... even while you sleep." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul Unfiltered; Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg takes on the NSA

Wisconsin Capitol police tackle man for photographing progressive protest

"A photographer and activist was aggressively arrested at the Wisconsin Capitol on Monday during a daily singalong protest. Video of the incident uploaded to YouTube showed two police officers approaching Damon Terrell, who can be heard saying, 'This is not illegal.' As Terrell backed away, one of the officers grabbed him. Terrell ended up on the ground with three officers on top of him. Another video uploaded to YouTube showed four officers carrying Terrell out of the rotunda by his arms and legs. Christopher J. Terrell, Damon’s brother, was also arrested for participating in the 'Solidarity Sing Along' demonstration in the Capitol." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWisconsin Capitol police tackle man for photographing progressive protest

Wisconsin Capitol police tackle man for photographing progressive protest

"A photographer and activist was aggressively arrested at the Wisconsin Capitol on Monday during a daily singalong protest. Video of the incident uploaded to YouTube showed two police officers approaching Damon Terrell, who can be heard saying, 'This is not illegal.' As Terrell backed away, one of the officers grabbed him. Terrell ended up on the ground with three officers on top of him. Another video uploaded to YouTube showed four officers carrying Terrell out of the rotunda by his arms and legs. Christopher J. Terrell, Damon’s brother, was also arrested for participating in the 'Solidarity Sing Along' demonstration in the Capitol." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWisconsin Capitol police tackle man for photographing progressive protest

Obama Encourages Rabble Rouser Sharpton

"Do you know what Obama said about not circulating the photo of the dead Obama bin Laden? This: 'It is important to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool.' It’s sad, very sad, to find Trayvon Martin being made an issue and symbol in the 50th anniversary March on Washington. [..] King was investigated and surveilled by the FBI. Where was there even a single mention of the surveillance state? A key feature of King’s preaching was his anti-war views. Where was there an echo of this in this anniversary celebration? Where was there some anti-Drug War sentiment?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Encourages Rabble Rouser Sharpton