Forget Businesses, Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In Your Home
from the he's-gonna-say-it... dept
Earlier this week, we wrote about proposals that would require businesses to install surveillance cameras, noting that we're seeing way too many people bring up the bogus old line that "If you're not doing anything wrong, what do you have to worry about?" -- and suggesting that someone name the concept that any discussion about privacy issues will eventually have someone make a statement just like that, showing just how little they actually understand about privacy rights. Well, here's another one. Found on Digg is the story that Houston's police chief doesn't think surveillance cameras should be limited to public places. Nope, he wants them installed in private homes as well. And what's the first thing out of his mouth in the article? You guessed it: "if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"
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No Subject Given
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Re: No Subject Given
Its criminal to even require cameras in businesses, WTF happened to our governent, I thought it was by the people not by some cocksucker in power!
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Re Hmm
: )
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If he likes the idea so damn much...
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Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
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Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
The DA and judge were _not_ amused and looked at charging the reporter for invasion of privacy. The police chief just took it in stride saying "I have nothing to hide". They just asked for the trash back but couldn't charge the reporter with anything.
Reading this made me shred everything I throw out with my name on it.
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Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
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Re: If he likes the idea so damn much...
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Aren't there more important things?
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Re: Aren't there more important things?
# It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
# The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.
# You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.
# A city ordinance states that a person cannot go barefoot without first obtaining a special five-dollar permit.
# It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
# It is illegal to milk another person's cow.
# Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
# It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
(sourced from www.dumblaws.com, can not atest to how accurate they are)
#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
#underage drinking and personal drug use.
- Jessta
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Re: Aren't there more important things?
I know there was one that stated:
"If two trains come to a crossing, one cannot move until the other has."
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Re: just how fucking stupid are you guys?
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Re: Aren't there more important things?
Depends on your definition of "illegal." Lawrence and Garner v. Texas overturned those laws in Texas--they're still on the books, but meaningless.
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Picking the worst apple in the basket and caling e
No offence to all you texans... it's just that you arn't the brightest bunch :)
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
I am from Texas and don't agree with our privacy being invaded either. Since privacy rights are of utmost concern and happen to be politically hot right now, anything any government official says that implies reduced rights is likely to be taken out of context, out of proportion, misquoted and misused.
You might want to do a little research and find out what really happened. Possibly the reporter is from your area?
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
>No offence to all you texans... it's just that you arn't the brightest bunch :)
Yes, that's why one of the first words ever spoken from the surface of the moon was "Houston," as in "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." -- because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That's why some of the most high tech companies are located in Austin, Dallas or Houston -- because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That's why two of the world's largest airlines are based in Texas (American Airlines in Dallas and Continental in Houston) -- because Texans are just SO stupid.
Granted, Police Chief Herald Hurtt is NOT one of the brightest bulbs in the box, but don't lump all Texans in with that idiot.
@Jesse McNelis:
># You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times
This is the definition of a "common law" marriage. It did not originate in Texas.
># It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Probably because it's illegal to shoot a buffalo at all, regardless of the shooter's location.
># It is illegal to milk another person's cow.
Because to do so without the cow owner's permission is called "theft," illegal just about everywhere.
># Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
This is part of the so-called "Blue Law," common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
># It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
Also part of the Blue Law.
>#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
This law, along with similar laws in 4 other states (along with anti-sodomy laws in 9 other states), was struck down by the Supreme Court in Lawrence et al. v. Texas in 2003.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
1. Medicare created by drug companies and cover only drugs people dont need
.
2. After you watch him talk you know 50% less then what you knew before (this possibly why a vast majority of Texans are so much dunmber, since Bush was governer there ) -- correct me if im wrong..
3. Refer to number 2
Hidden Force said:
@SmallTwig
>No offence to all you texans... it's just that you arn't the brightest bunch :)
Yes, that's why one of the first words ever spoken from the surface of the moon was "Houston," as in "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." -- because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That's why some of the most high tech companies are located in Austin, Dallas or Houston -- because those Texans are just SO stupid.
That's why two of the world's largest airlines are based in Texas (American Airlines in Dallas and Continental in Houston) -- because Texans are just SO stupid.
Granted, Police Chief Herald Hurtt is NOT one of the brightest bulbs in the box, but don't lump all Texans in with that idiot.
@Jesse McNelis:
># You can be legally married by publically introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times
This is the definition of a "common law" marriage. It did not originate in Texas.
># It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Probably because it's illegal to shoot a buffalo at all, regardless of the shooter's location.
># It is illegal to milk another person's cow.
Because to do so without the cow owner's permission is called "theft," illegal just about everywhere.
># Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
This is part of the so-called "Blue Law," common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
># It is illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday.
Also part of the Blue Law.
>#It also appears that male/male or female/female sexual intercourse is also illegal in texas
This law, along with similar laws in 4 other states (along with anti-sodomy laws in 9 other states), was struck down by the Supreme Court in Lawrence et al. v. Texas in 2003.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
No, they are not from Texas..they moved there because of cheap taxes and labor that they didn't have to teach English to. But Texans aren't more stupid, except maybe politically, than anywhere else since the vast majority of Texans are from somewhere else, ironically often from the north like the Bush family, lol.
Peter
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
True texans' are about the brightest you'll find. You wouldn't have your freedom without texans lets not forget that as well.
Texas is the only state that can fly it's flag at the same level as the american flag. Let's not forget that all you other states must by law fly your flag lower than the American and Texas flag!
God bless Texas! The only Lone Star that can handle itself.
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Texas Flag?
California was a republic before it was a state, just like Texas, wouldn't that mean that California should fly their flag at the same level as the US flag?
Moreover, why is this even important? How does where a state flies their flag reflect in any way on the population of a state? It seems a bit arrogant to even imply this.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Re: Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and
100% FALSE
http://www.snopes.com/history/american/texasflag.asp
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wooosh
>This is part of the so-called "Blue Law," common in the South, not just Texas, which has long since been recended.
And Texans are sooo smart that they totally miss what's wrong with the first statement.
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Re: wooosh
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Re: wooosh
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Re: wooosh
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
***I don't have any problem with spelling or anything.....
***That guy is just banging on the Homeland Security drumb, he wants cash, and thought he could get it with this hair brained idea.
uh...... drumb ?? hair brained ???
that's drum and hare-brained, respectively.
perhaps you need to go back to second-grade remedial spelling and vocabulary classes?
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Former Texan
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and CALI
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Yup.
Yup, the smartest people in the room.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Generalizations mean nothing as one can rarely make an accurate statement that uses the word "always" or "never" and it removes any validity from the rest of your content, IMO.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
Face it yanks, if Texas left the union you wouldn't be able to drive your cars to work every day, and, you'd probably die a whole lot sooner. You'd have no plastics, and be seriously lacking in beef, poultry, and grain.
And just in case you were wondering, Texas is the only state in the US that has every right to secede whenever we want. We're still a sovreign republic- we just decided to join up with you back in the day. And since the stereotypical Texan has at least three guns in his house anyway, as well as most of the defense industry, I'm sure we could hold our own if you tried to keep us from leaving.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
"We also have NASA"
Location chosen for the climate, Eintstein.
"And just in case you were wondering, Texas is the only state in the US that has every right to secede whenever we want. "
Every state has the right to secede.
"We're still a sovreign republic"
No texas is a state, and people with your attitude are the reason people hate us. No one likes an arrogant fool.
" I'm sure we could hold our own if you tried to keep us from leaving."
I doubt we'd get any resistance with people like you living here.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
No, it doesn't. Read the Texas Constitution (a long nasty document, as are most state constitutions)
It could, however divide itself into 5 states, but that's unlikely. In fact, there's nothing against any state subdividing (in fact at least one has)
- former Texas resident, now living in the 5th largest economy in the WORLD (California), 13% of entire US GDP and largest state economy.
PS: So Texas, you're welcome to leave any time. Don't let the door hit you.
PPS: To contradict the intellectual insults to Texas, you might want to point out that at one point Austin was the most educated city in the US (possibly still is, if you don't count the burbs). Also had the most greenbelts. Plus the best margaritas north of the Rio Grande. Unfortunately, it "dallas-ified" horribly at the end of the 20th century. Once they started into elevated highways and moved the airport, it really slid. But God willing, El Patio is still serving up the best tex-mex...
PPPS: dammit, now I'm hungry.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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Re: texas
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
maybe our intelligence needs to permiate the offence of your brain...
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
I could say something like "no offense, but yer a complete idjit" but I won't, since (as anyone with more than half a brain can see) statements like this clearly are offensive. And no, smileys don't make it OK.
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Re: Picking the worst apple in the basket and cali
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1984
(translation: this is doubleplus ungood)
ALL HAIL THE INGSOC
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Re: 1984
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No Subject Given
Is this Houston police chief now working for FOX?
Haven't reality shows gone far enough already? Do they really need to extend into the homes of "more boring" people?
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Re: No Subject Given
The most exciting thing they will see me do is reply to shit like this.
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No Subject Given
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hmm..
After reading the last post, maybe Texans should have camerias in homes.
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Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In You
I think the Chief should be the first one to have one mounted in his home, to evaluate it for a couple months, have a live stream to the internet.
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Re: Houston Police Chief Wants Security Cameras In
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Cameras in homes.
Did President Bush recommend this guy?
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No Subject Given
Sarah White
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Cameras
Unfortunately, we will have to suffer for a little whilst the Gods weave their magic, but rest assured that idiots such as this police chief will eventually end up in a padded room being watched by their own creation!!!
Patience my friends....
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No Subject Given
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The police don't like to be on tape
Now, if the cops weren't doing anything wrong, why did they have to be sued to release the tape?
Instead of putting cameras in private residences, I think we need more cameras on our PUBLIC officials.
On a side note, my husband brought up an interesting question recently. He was in our front yard, looking at the street light, and he noticed there is video cable coming out of the pole near the top, and the cable disappears into the lamp. We've since noticed that all of the street lamps we see have this same cabling. My husband used to install cable and noticed the wiring. The question is, why would street lamps need video cable? We've been speculating how easy it would be to put cameras in the lights, that no one would likely notice, and each post has an ID number, making it easy to locate. There are also these little cylinder things attached to the lamps that resemble the cameras that are attached to the traffic lights to "see" light-runners. Big Brother may not actually be in our homes, yet, but it looks like BB could be watching our front doors. Now, there has been a push to put all these wires underground, which would make it less likely anyone would notice an oddly placed video cable.
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Re: The police don't like to be on tape
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Re: The police don't like to be on tape
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No Subject Given
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You all should calm down a bit..
First...The comment seems to of been made to spark discussion("brainstorming", according to the Mayor); Second...The chief only was referring to installing cameras if a "homeowner requires repeated police response".
Don't get me wrong--I'm not thrilled about the idea at all. I do accept, however, that we live in a world where everything costs money-and most of us aren't that excited about forfeiting more of our income to the government. I know if I was informed that my town could save $$$ by installing a camera on my paranoid neighbors property(instead of repeatedly sending patrol cars) then I would at least CONSIDER it.
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Re: You all should calm down a bit..
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Re: You all should calm down a bit..
Othertimes you don't have to make fun, because it's funny enough on it's own.
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Arrgh!
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They already have them.
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Re: They already have them.
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Yep it's the weekend again
This time, it's cameras inside of homes, and RIAA spying on kids; two topics that are bound to get lots of response. Is it just me or am I noticing a pattern here?
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Idiot Cop
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It's not about privacy....
I hate how the privacy advocates frame the discussion. I'm against Government surveilance too, but what needs to be said is not "we're entitled to privacy". The real problem is that you can't trust law enforcement. How do you know they won't use information they gather in an illegal way? Who watches the watchers? If you think this is a trivial concern, then you don't know history. The watchers almost always use their information illegally. J. Edgar Hoover used his information (illegally) to become the most powerful man in the United States.
Law enforcement cannot be trusted. There are numerous examples of this. You give someone power and they will abuse it. It's human nature. I know I would.
The only solution is complete transparency. If the cheif of police can watch me masturbate, then every citizen in the City should be able to watch the Chief of police masturbate. Don't like it? Then don't be the Chief of police. Or, don't create this ridiculous panopticon.
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Well, this goes to show...
I have had a life that many couldn't possibly understand ,or want, and I am judged by this. Being poor is the worst racism I have seen, why? Because it covers all colors. Yet , I have hope. Sort of the way Texans are all being put down. No I am not a Texan, yes I think our President may have been ran over by a buffalo when he was little. There is good and bad in everyone, and even both in most.
My point in this is simple, we as a people need to get over it. We need to stick together, we need to quit making a law for everything that we don't like. I will as politely say this as possible, there are many whiners out there, people who have has great lives that couldn't understand the not so good life of others. They whine, complain and want laws and rules to suit them, and tell others what to do. I think that is a dangerous way to look at life. Example...let's pick on smokers when transportation and rockets are causing the polution. Why not? No goody two shoes will use those shoes to hike it to work. People fall for this crap all the time,( make em' look bad, now we raise the tax to whatever the hell we want.) Wow didn't see that coming. Back to the main point here, the same will happen with security cameras, make abuse in the homes look even worse, plaster it on the news, start off with criminals being monitored and bam, there it is. I admit I laugh at those who don't forsee something coming as if it hasn't been done before. After drunk drivers were lessened, states needed more money so goes seat belts. Of course now we are breaking down on speeders since the non wearing seat belt people are a minority now. I truly worry about my kids growing up in a society such as this. I still have hope that people will wake up but at the same time I feel that there are so many selfish, greedy people who don't truly know reality beyond a solon, that hope is lost. I don't push my religiion or views,(not like they are pushed on me) it's not up to me to do or say, but I assume I have the same right to speak what I feel. I truly hope that people don't take this camera thing lightly, it's just another way to justify taking away freedom. Some may say sattellites, some may say they already see, well fine but let's see them explain it if they are spying. If we allow it, then no explanation needed. In closing I will say, this is Bizarro world(lol) Everything that is bad is being looked at as good, we live so sheltered, so afraid, so monetary like, we no longer appreciate the one true thing that matters, freedom and life itself.
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Re: Well, this goes to show...
I wish you all the best.
Despite all the fear that these "security" issues strike up, and all the hype relating to an Orwellien scenario. The United States is NOT a nation of idiots, (although it is difficult to support this pov in a discussion with internationals today, but i stand my ground). A US citizen would die before giving up his/her freedom entirely. Once the realization dawns upon us that we were duped into giving in this far, we are sure to see many changes. Time will tell, but in the meantime i have hope and i fuel that hope with posts such as ME's, RJ's and Mike's and many others. Thanks all.
RJ - panopticum, thanks for the link, it's my word of the day.
As for the spelling police and the grammar battles, thanks for the entertainment, u skwabelling edyots, wut duz it madter howe i right sometin az longue azz yu kan hunder standit?
This discussion clearly was blown out of proportion, I myself made the same mistake while reading down the list, but i find this bit of information to be quite relevant:
"First...The comment seems to of been made to spark discussion("brainstorming", according to the Mayor); Second...The chief only was referring to installing cameras if a "homeowner requires repeated police response."
thanks Mike.
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Re: Well, this goes to show...
Also, on the idea of them abusing things like this...
I'm waiting for them to combine some and create this situation:
They see me sit at the computer, get my personal info because I go on a P2P program to more quickly download something, and then decide to throw me in jail because I'm anonymously annoying someone online. Of course, normally they wouldn't bother with such a thing, but if it's so easy to do and someone already doesn't like me... well then they'll try. Not that I know how they could prove intent, such as to annoy, but they would most likely try to make it their word against mine. What happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" It seems to me that's been gone for a while.
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Just wondering...
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no justification
"if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?"
This is no way to justify an invasion of privacy.
It should be merely discredited as short-sighted and completely absurd. Kind of falls in the same line as. "if I can't see it, then it doesn't exist". Foolish.
Mystery makes a couple valid points, but i don't see the logic in the following--> "back our president and do something about the b.s that has over taken this nation !" Back the president and you will be completely undermining your position on fighting for our rights. It makes no sense.
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Security cameras in homes
Sam
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Then we wonder...
We have a nation that acts like children, bickering , arguing, calling names and so we allow ourselves to be disaplined by our Government. I suppose being the only life I have to live, I am sorry as hell that I have to live it in this day and age where no one cares about anyone else. I see things differently than most I guess but oh well. I figure if we believe in what we want, don't critisize others, and do what we will as long as we don't affect others, this would be a much better place to live.
I had to ask myself, what would the real reason be for cameras and control. I figure it must be control, but why? Why take away our freedoms? What is there to gain? Then it circled right back, MONEY. The more control over people, the more over our pocket books. Yes it is that simple or our lazy Government wouldn't bother if no for monetary value. What most people don't realize is this...slave labor is working for an extremely small income , next to nothing. Tell me what minimum wage is. Even above that a bit. If we look at it this way, $5 buys what, two loaves of bread? Maybe a pack of cigaretts? A dollar or two under a gallon of milk? A bit over a gallon of GAS? So if you work 8 hours after taxes, perhaps 32 dollars a day? This is roughly yes. Now tell me, with the high prices that this isn't slave labor. How does this come about? Don't tell me economy this, economy that, it's bull. Most jobs are over seas, more companies are moving over seas, we don't have the jobs we should. All for big business to pay next to nothing to other countrie's workers, and charge us an arm and a leg for the product when many of us don't make enough to live on. Cameras? Sure, they know how we work, how we have let everything get out of hand, how we are spoiled babies that whine and cry and want something new everyday and this is how Big B and G play on it. They don't cause it, they use it against us, our own faults, oh , that's right, this is a don't blame me society, I forgot. So, even suggesting instituting a camera into our homes, now they can really tell what we want, they can make sure we aren't making an extra buck that we aren't reporting. That fine line will get finer as rules change, as we are watched, "well they yelled at eachother, or seemed to be so it's domestic violence, let's jail them." If you even seem to be exerting anger, you will be put in jail, boy, I can see it now. As I said before, I don't care, once i'm done with my life, all I am taking with me is that I stood for what I believed and that I treated others with a respect that people deserve. I do worry about my kid's future though, very much and pray this way of life gets better , for everyone and their children not just mine. Quit arguing, would you be mad if a Texan saved your daughter or son's life? I wouldn't be, or any other style, shape, color, or race of person. This forum is a good example of the why there is no unity, it should just be called STATES without the United, hmmm give it time, someone will surely sue to change it i'm sure, may be offensive in some way. cripes.
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You are all the same
Speak English not American just because you get confused so u use z instead of ise etc may mean you will be able to score that little bit higher in your tests or actually not have the rest of the world laugh at you as george bush goes on another crusade and finds nothing.
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Re: You are all the same
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Re: You are all the same
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Let's see what he's doing
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these security cameras will never be used, not in hte sense that you are all complianing about, they simply do not have the money. What he suggested might be replaced by allowing surveillence cameras inside your home to be put there voluntarily, and so you can hand over the tapes afterwards.
Regarding US/UK wars, I think the tally runs like this
American Revolution: USA
1812: UK (the USA was kept out of Canada, and the US blockade runners curtailed, so that Britain could get on wit defeating Napoleon)
there were two conflicts were force was threatened but not used
Suez: USA
then there was one small, democratic, Commonwealth country during the Cold War, which the US invaded to keep out Communist forces, but the UK government merely threatend to use force in the defence of the island and the US withdrew. I cannot remmebr the name of the island, but this is a point for the UK, and matches Suez, where no force was used either.
If anyone thinks of wars between the two countries, then add them to the tally, but so far it is tied.
With regard to the USA saving the UK, the UK saved the Americans even before thier country existed, from the French, in the french and Indian war, and it was the taxes necesssary to pay for that and protection against future attacks that were on of he main causes of discontent in the lead up to the revolution. the other, the border along the Appalachians, was fixed in the treaty which ended the war, cutting th ecost of defending the American colonies by a lot.
OTOH, the USA get points for Hawii, although it was an independent counrty which became a US state by the migration of a large number of US servicemen and thier families, who voted to join the USA. This is what has been done in Western sahara, and the practice has been declared to be a violation of International Law by the USA.
Te US national anthem is possilby one of the most odd choices of a song, since it is a poem about a fort surviving a naval bombardment (forts were attacked only to allow an attack on what they were defending, usually shipping, when huge prizes could be taken, or to allow landings to take place. bombardments were not intended to take the fort or force the occupants to surrender, merely to prevent the fort destroying the ships) in a minor attack in a war the the US lost, set to the tune of "To Anacreaon in Heaven", a song to the greek equivalent of Bacchus.
US English only came about because Webster couldn't spell (a somewhat major failing in a lexicographer), but for some reason did not see fit to plagiarise the OED.
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interesting post
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