There is no requirement that FBI agents tell the truth.
But if a citizen lies to any federal agent - about anything (the weather, or that you're feeling "fine", or why you're late to work this morning), that's a federal crime.
Like the one Martha Stewart went to jail for.
Make no mistake about who is the ruled and who are the rulers.
Re: Making it easier for people to vote is a good thing. You disagree?
I disagree.
Democracy is an insufficient protection against tyranny. 51% of the electorate enslaving the other 49% is not, to my mind, an acceptable outcome.
Democracy's role is to allow the peaceful replacement of bad governments. Large majorities can always replace governments, via civil war. Democracy lets us bypass the bloodshed.
From that viewpoint, easier voting isn't always good. We want elections to generate the same result a civil war would - otherwise, civil war remains an attractive option.
So there should be some barriers to voting, just as there are to civil war. Those who have strong feelings about an election should participate, and those who are indifferent should stay home.
Re: Re: "Very unfair" is not an attack on the 1st amendment
He won the the election. That's how democracy works - the winner of the election gets the position.
You do have to accept it if you claim to support our democratic system of government. I suspect you wouldn't be complaining if your candidate had won.
If you have a complaint, it's with your fellow citizens who chose Mr. Trump.
Either that, or stage a revolt against democracy as we know it in the US. But if you choose that, and succeed, please don't complain later that the result isn't what the people wanted.
"Very unfair" is not an attack on the 1st amendment
For better or worse, Mr. Trump won the election.
We all need to start accepting that. I didn't vote for him either, but he is going to be POTUS.
Going into reflexive opposition mode, regardless of what is really going on, isn't going to help anyone. It wasn't the right thing to do to Obama, and it isn't the right thing to do to Trump.
The tweet wasn't an attack on the 1st amendment. (Yes, previous tweets have been. But not this one.)
We have a Constitution and courts that are meant to limit the power of the executive, and limit the power of government to abuse citizen's rights.
Let's focus on those and make the system work as designed - not just for Trump, but for whoever comes after him.
On the post: Do You Have Examples Of Constructive Responses To Hateful/Abusive/Trollish Speech Online?
"You're being rude"
Maybe I can find some examples and post them here...
On the post: China's Richest Man Tells MPAA's Chris Dodd To Tell Donald Trump To Be Nice To China... Or Else
Re: Re: China is not communist
Have you been to China in the last 30 years?
What you describe sounds like the Mao era. Mao has been dead a long time.
On the post: China's Richest Man Tells MPAA's Chris Dodd To Tell Donald Trump To Be Nice To China... Or Else
China, like the old USSR is socialist
China is not socialist by any definition I'm aware of.
Recently I had an exchange student (high school) from Beijing living with us for a year.
I took him to the supermarket, and while we were waiting to check out, explained about the food stamps that were slowing the people in front of us.
His eyes widened in amazement - "That would never happen in China!".
The very concept that the government would give free money to people who didn't earn it was shocking to him.
Socialist?
On the post: China's Richest Man Tells MPAA's Chris Dodd To Tell Donald Trump To Be Nice To China... Or Else
Re: Re: China is not communist
Tho in many ways the US is more authoritarian, and China more capitalist.
(As long as you stay out of Chinese politics; then they rapidly clamp down on you. Outside of that, it's pretty much anything goes.)
On the post: China's Richest Man Tells MPAA's Chris Dodd To Tell Donald Trump To Be Nice To China... Or Else
China is not communist
Please don't fall into the trap of confusing the name of China's ruling party with their ideology.
China hasn't been communist for decades. It's more capitalist than the US.
If China is pressing any ideology on the US, it's capitalism.
On the post: FBI Investigates Journalist For An Obvious Joke Tweet, Because What The Hell Is Wrong With The FBI?
Re: Follow up every complaint?
There is no requirement that FBI agents tell the truth.
But if a citizen lies to any federal agent - about anything (the weather, or that you're feeling "fine", or why you're late to work this morning), that's a federal crime.
Like the one Martha Stewart went to jail for.
Make no mistake about who is the ruled and who are the rulers.
On the post: AT&T Just Showed Us What The Death Of Net Neutrality Is Going To Look Like
Competition is coming
Bandwidth wants to be cheap.
For example, http://fortune.com/2016/11/17/spacex-satellite-network-fcc-global-internet/. There are big players who want to make this happen - not least, Google and Facebook.
Once there's real competition in the ISP business, none of this stuff will fly anymore.
Takes patience, tho.
On the post: Somehow Everyone Comes Out Looking Terrible In The Effort For Election Recounts
Re: perfectly legal for non-citizens to vote illegally in California
If they registered.
It's the duty of the registrar to verify eligibility to vote. If they screw up, the voter can't be prosecuted.
That's all it says.
On the post: Somehow Everyone Comes Out Looking Terrible In The Effort For Election Recounts
Re: Making it easier for people to vote is a good thing. You disagree?
I disagree.
Democracy is an insufficient protection against tyranny. 51% of the electorate enslaving the other 49% is not, to my mind, an acceptable outcome.
Democracy's role is to allow the peaceful replacement of bad governments. Large majorities can always replace governments, via civil war. Democracy lets us bypass the bloodshed.
From that viewpoint, easier voting isn't always good. We want elections to generate the same result a civil war would - otherwise, civil war remains an attractive option.
So there should be some barriers to voting, just as there are to civil war. Those who have strong feelings about an election should participate, and those who are indifferent should stay home.
On the post: IRS Demands All Info On All Coinbase Customers
Re: Re: Deja vu
Up to a point.
On the post: Trump's Picks For AG & CIA Happy To Undermine Civil Liberties, Increase Surveillance
Good news, everyone!
And that too much power in the hands of government is a dangerous thing.
Perhaps they'll even try to do something about it.
At least until their side gets in again.
(Hey, it's something.)
On the post: Trump's Constant Whining About The NY Times Isn't Just Bad For The First Amendment
Trump has 1st amendment rights too
Trump has 1st amendment rights, too. Becoming POTUS doesn't include a vow of silence.
As long as he's not using the power of government against the NYT (or threatening to do so), he's within his rights.
These things work both ways.
On the post: President Obama Claims He Cannot Pardon Snowden; He's Wrong
Re: Perspective: Not everyone thinks Snowden is a hero
But the legal system gives it to the accused anyway. That's the difference between a criminal and legitimate government.
I can see which side you're on.
On the post: President Obama Claims He Cannot Pardon Snowden; He's Wrong
Re: He knows damned well he can pardon whomever he pleases.
I keep trying to like Obama. I even voted for him (the first time).
But then he does stuff like this.
Can't he at least have the guts to just say NO, rather than play these stupid disingenuous games?
God help Ed Snowden. I'm not sure anybody else is going to.
On the post: Companies Keep Asking Us To Track You; We'd Rather You Be Protected From Tracking
Where are the overpriced T-shirts??
But I just looked and now I can't even find them on the site.
I'd buy overpriced coffee mugs, too.
On the post: Trump's Very First Tweet As President Elect Basically Shits On The First Amendment
Re: Re: Re: Re: "Very unfair" is not an attack on the 1st amendment
"My" candidate lost the election.
As usual. Perhaps that's why I'm less freaked out by Mr. Trump's win than some - I'm used to "my" candidate losing.
I voted for Gary Johnson.
On the post: IMDb Sues The State Of California Over New 'Ageism' Law
Re: Re: Hillary Clinton is on a wheelchair
Hillary 2020: 3rd time's the charm
Hillary 2024: This time for sure!
On the post: Long Time Mass Surveillance Defenders Freak Out Now That Trump Will Have Control
That can never happen here.
Saying "we told you so" is little comfort.
Those in power always seem to have very little imagination regarding how power might be abused.
On the post: Trump's Very First Tweet As President Elect Basically Shits On The First Amendment
Re: Re: "Very unfair" is not an attack on the 1st amendment
You do have to accept it if you claim to support our democratic system of government. I suspect you wouldn't be complaining if your candidate had won.
If you have a complaint, it's with your fellow citizens who chose Mr. Trump.
Either that, or stage a revolt against democracy as we know it in the US. But if you choose that, and succeed, please don't complain later that the result isn't what the people wanted.
On the post: Trump's Very First Tweet As President Elect Basically Shits On The First Amendment
"Very unfair" is not an attack on the 1st amendment
We all need to start accepting that. I didn't vote for him either, but he is going to be POTUS.
Going into reflexive opposition mode, regardless of what is really going on, isn't going to help anyone. It wasn't the right thing to do to Obama, and it isn't the right thing to do to Trump.
The tweet wasn't an attack on the 1st amendment. (Yes, previous tweets have been. But not this one.)
We have a Constitution and courts that are meant to limit the power of the executive, and limit the power of government to abuse citizen's rights.
Let's focus on those and make the system work as designed - not just for Trump, but for whoever comes after him.
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