Technocracy

The Permanent Overclass’s Propaganda System: A Century In The Making

"Two major social engineering projects were underway: one, the manufacture of ideology, largely the initiative of philanthropic foundations (and the social sciences), and the other, public relations as a modern form of propaganda. Through the educational system, the social sciences, philanthropic foundations, public relations, advertising, marketing, and the media, America and the industrialized states of the world developed a unique and complex system of social control and propaganda for the 20th century and into the 21st. It is imperative to recognize and understand this complex system if we are to challenge and change it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Permanent Overclass’s Propaganda System: A Century In The Making

North Carolina Senate blocks testing themselves when passing welfare drug testing bill

"Republicans in the North Carolina state Senate on Monday pushed through bill that would strip public benefits like food stamps and job training for people who fail a drug test. The bill requires those applying for benefits to pay for their own drug tests. Applicants who test negative would be eligible to have the costs of their tests reimbursed. The policy could cost the state more than $2.1 million. At the same time, senators rejected an amendment offered by Democratic state Sen. Gladys Robinson that would have drug tested lawmakers, the governor and cabinet secretaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNorth Carolina Senate blocks testing themselves when passing welfare drug testing bill

New York City bike-share program bans riders who weigh more than 260 pounds

"It is 'prohibited' for any rider who weighs more than 260 pounds to sign up for the soon-to-launch initiative — prompting backlash from riders who say the fat-shaming rule is enough to make them fly off the handle. Everyone who signs up for the program has to agree to a contract, which states users 'must not exceed maximum weight limit (260 pounds)' because the bikes can’t hold that much heft. Would-be riders called the rule unfair, saying the 40-pound cruisers are plenty sturdy. Others claimed the rule makes no sense — especially at the height of the city’s obesity problem. Several bike-shop owners agreed that the weight limit was bogus." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York City bike-share program bans riders who weigh more than 260 pounds

Ron Paul: Congress Exploits Our Fears to Take Our Liberty

"CISPA represents a troubling form of corporatism, where large companies cede their responsibility to protect their property to the federal government, at the expense of their customers' privacy and liberty. In this respect, CISPA can be thought of as an electronic version of the Transportation Security Administration, which has usurped the authority over airline security from private airlines. However, CISPA will prove to be far more invasive than even the most robust TSA screening. CISPA and the gun control bill are only the most recent examples of politicians manipulating fear to con the people into giving up their liberties." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Congress Exploits Our Fears to Take Our Liberty

U.S. gives big, secret push to Internet surveillance

"Senior Obama administration officials have secretly authorized the interception of communications carried on portions of networks operated by AT&T and other Internet service providers, a practice that might otherwise be illegal under federal wiretapping laws. The secret legal authorization from the Justice Department originally applied to a cybersecurity pilot project in which the military monitored defense contractors' Internet links. Since then, however, the program has been expanded by President Obama to cover all critical infrastructure sectors including energy, healthcare, and finance starting June 12." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. gives big, secret push to Internet surveillance

Andrew P. Napolitano: More Holes in the Fourth Amendment

"The Obama administration wants legislation enacted that will punish Internet service providers who fail to cooperate with FBI requests and court orders. The FBI has revealed that its agents often 'lack the time' to obtain search warrants, and so they have gotten into the bad habit of asking Internet service providers to let them in without warrants. The second category of punishment sought by the administration is for Internet service providers as to which the FBI has obtained a warrant. A search warrant does not require the custodian of those specific items to find them for the government. This proposed legislation would change all that." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAndrew P. Napolitano: More Holes in the Fourth Amendment

Glenn Greenwald: Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government?

"The real capabilities and behavior of the US surveillance state are almost entirely unknown to the American public because, like most things of significance done by the US government, it operates behind an impenetrable wall of secrecy. But a seemingly spontaneous admission this week by a former FBI counterterrorism agent provides a rather startling acknowledgment of just how vast and invasive these surveillance activities are." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government?

Florida Increases Red Light Camera Fines To $408 Instead Of Banning Right-On-Red Tickets

"The Florida Legislature on Thursday gave final approval to legislation limiting the due process available to recipients of red light camera tickets and increasing the potential penalty for those challenging a fine to $408. The changes were included in a 220-page omnibus transportation bill which saw more than sixty amendments considered. The final package was adopted unanimously in the state Senate. Earlier in the day, the House had approved language that would have entirely banned right turn on red tickets, which remain a major source of revenue for municipalities. This was stripped out and replaced with a less significant provision." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida Increases Red Light Camera Fines To $408 Instead Of Banning Right-On-Red Tickets

IRS Data Web Snares Mostly Low- and Middle-Income Taxpayers

"The IRS's next phase in high-tech tax collection will be to create a 'real-time' check of tax returns to 'match them to third party information.' Starting this year, the IRS tools will be able to track all credit card transactions. The agency has also instructed agents on using social media and e-commerce sites including eBay, as well as the rich data generated by mobile devices. Its computers are capable of scanning multiple networks at the same time to collect 'matching' comprehensive profiles for every taxpayer in America. Such profiles include shopping records, travel, social interactions, health records and files from other government investigators." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS Data Web Snares Mostly Low- and Middle-Income Taxpayers

FinFisher spyware used by governments is disguised as Firefox; Mozilla not happy

"FinFisher, also known as FinSpy, is a piece of malware developed by Gamma International and sold to governments of 36 different countries (the US included) to monitor the activities of computer users. The spyware was originally designed to aid with criminal investigations, but there have been reports that say it has been used for more than just to catch criminals, such as to monitor the activities of dissidents or [insert label here]. Mozilla, the maker of the popular Firefox browser, has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Gamma International because Mozilla alleges FinFisher is packaged to look like the Firefox browser." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFinFisher spyware used by governments is disguised as Firefox; Mozilla not happy