Government Spying on Millions (Verizon)

[rikkitikki08]

Not that surprising, its not right by any means but can you imagine the things our government does that we have no idea about? The list is probably shocking and long

 

[phork]

We live in the greatest country in the world, second best isn't even close. Our government is imperfect by design. We do have a leadership problem because the people currently in Washington know and take advantage of one thing.....the American public complains about almost everything, but they tend to avoid actually doing anything about it.

Canada might have something to say about that.

That because this is our apology century.

In 1492 if we had told Columbus to P.O. and go home think how much better the world would be today.

Yah we would be Vikings.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

That because this is our apology century.

In 1492 if we had told Columbus to P.O. and go home think how much better the world would be today.

The US would be more Irish than it is thanks to Brendan!

They don't even teach that right in schools!

Eric and Leif followed the Irish monasteries past Iceland and Greenland; this was the route described by Brendan the Navigator and his monks, (who did it in 60 foot boats, of stretched, sealed skins). He described it in his writings, which were followed by the illiterate Vikings and the literate Christopher Columbus, (who was a Castilian, not an Italian.)

Thanks that felt good. If I am facing federal prison, I would rather do it sharing the whole truth. Where are we? LOL.

 

[chicago51]

We live in the greatest country in the world, second best isn't even close. Our government is imperfect by design. We do have a leadership problem because the people currently in Washington know and take advantage of one thing.....the American public complains about almost everything, but they tend to avoid actually doing anything about it.

Quality of Life Index by Country 2013

In some ways in fact many ways you are correct the United States is a great country. Are quality of life is very high (3rd), our purchasing power is great (2nd), and we have other good indicators.

That said we are below average in our both our health care index rating, and pollution; which may not surprise me because we really haven't tried to work toward those things until recently. What I was surprised about was that our Saftey Index rating was 12th from the bottom.

You think being the police state we, and the amount of money and effort we spend on war drugs, surveillance, wire tapping, etc one would think we would have a higher safety index but we don't.

On an unrelated note our property to price index is the worst on the list. I'm not sure of its significance but it is probably not a good thing.

 

[BobD]

Quality of Life Index by Country 2013

In some ways in fact many ways you are correct the United States is a great country. Are quality of life is very high (3rd), our purchasing power is great (2nd), and we have other good indicators.

That said we are below average in our both our health care index rating, and pollution; which may not surprise me because we really haven't tried to work toward those things until recently. What I was surprised about was that our Saftey Index rating was 12th from the bottom.

You think being the police state we, and the amount of money and effort we spend on war drugs, surveillance, wire tapping, etc one would think we would have a higher safety index but we don't.

On an unrelated note our property to price index is the worst on the list. I'm not sure of its significance but it is probably not a good thing.

I don't need indexes, graphs or opinion polls to come to my conclusion, just a set of open eyes.

 

[chicago51]

I don't need indexes, graphs or opinion polls to come to my conclusion, just a set of open eyes.

Okay sir.

You have to understand the lefty liberals like myself have to use science and statistics to justify everything. Some times I think we over do it and fail at the eye test.

If I recall you mentioned you have traveled / lived around the world alot correct? So you probably have good judgement when it comes to this.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

It is ironic, with all of the individual hatred towards Geo Bush and Barak Obama respectively, it is kind of funny how they are beginning to unite the country -

against them. What a rough 13 years!



Best buds!

 

[IrishinTN]

I don't need indexes, graphs or opinion polls to come to my conclusion, just a set of open eyes.

You know what I need? To see who it is the world turns to in times of need. If they have a natural disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a financial disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a genuine physical, military or domestic need, where do they go? America. If there is a high-profile medical need for someone, where do they ship them? Again...America.

These indices and graphs show some neato things based on some bloviated numbers that help them arrive at the conclusion they are seeking. America is "low on literacy"? Really? Maybe that's because a lot of these countries don't include in their census data the vast rural areas outside their primary schools zones. If you think they do, you're wrong. Go visit some of these countries. I have been to a couple and I question the honesty of their data, to say the least. Do some have better literacy than us? Sure they do. But ours is still pretty darn good.

We have the whatever-whatever percent Healthcare ranking. So are some of you sitting in a doctor's office saying, "My doctor is okay, but golly gee whiz do I wish I was sitting in a Colombian clinic right now," or maybe in an Andorran ER. Please. Again, ghost numbers strapped together by folks with an agenda.

I got in at 4:00 a.m. and I'm tired so I guess I'm grumpy but my measuring stick remains. Until the world shifts its view and goes running to someone else for help in times of need, by their own actions they prove who the greatest country in the world is, and it's still us.

 

[AvesEvo]

Um this is a non story and has been going on for a while. In fact congress authorized it. Don't blame the Obama administration for it or Holder. Not saying that I like it just that it has been going on for years and was authorized by Congress (both Republicans and Democrats support it).

You're right. The trust is that absolutely every phone call we make, text we send/receive, everything we type is recorded, processed and stored.

Read Cypherpunks by Jullian Assange.

Check this bad boy out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Data_Center

 

[AvesEvo]

Which companies protect your data from the government.
https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2013

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You know what I need? To see who it is the world turns to in times of need. If they have a natural disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a financial disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a genuine physical, military or domestic need, where do they go? America. If there is a high-profile medical need for someone, where do they ship them? Again...America.

These indices and graphs show some neato things based on some bloviated numbers that help them arrive at the conclusion they are seeking. America is "low on literacy"? Really? Maybe that's because a lot of these countries don't include in their census data the vast rural areas outside their primary schools zones. If you think they do, you're wrong. Go visit some of these countries. I have been to a couple and I question the honesty of their data, to say the least. Do some have better literacy than us? Sure they do. But ours is still pretty darn good.

We have the whatever-whatever percent Healthcare ranking. So are some of you sitting in a doctor's office saying, "My doctor is okay, but golly gee whiz do I wish I was sitting in a Colombian clinic right now," or maybe in an Andorran ER. Please. Again, ghost numbers strapped together by folks with an agenda.

I got in at 4:00 a.m. and I'm tired so I guess I'm grumpy but my measuring stick remains. Until the world shifts its view and goes running to someone else for help in times of need, by their own actions they prove who the greatest country in the world is, and it's still us.

Too much partying Ten! Great post! As a derivative or an extension, for the banks and multi-nationals, who depend on US rule of law, and all the other countries who profit in their trade from it, I would like to see a battleship tax. Seriously. Many countries are free to pursue trade and business opportunities because the US keeps the air and sea free and clear. (See Somali pirates, or lack thereof). Beyond that, many countries do quite well housing US military and logistic support mechanisms. Make billions off of it. I would love to see the 6th fleet start delivering bills to the countries and companies that have made billions in the longest sustained period of relative peace in the history of the world. We have owned the air for so long, that in a few years, when the current Generals and Admirals retire, we won't have a single combat veteran that has faced a foe in air to air combat!

Let the corporations and the world foot the bill. And lets fill peoples bellies. People who have eaten have the strength to stand up for themselves and less willingness to stand against us.

 

[Cackalacky]

The US would be more Irish than it is thanks to Brendan!

They don't even teach that right in schools!

Eric and Leif followed the Irish monasteries past Iceland and Greenland; this was the route described by Brendan the Navigator and his monks, (who did it in 60 foot boats, of stretched, sealed skins). He described it in his writings, which were followed by the illiterate Vikings and the literate Christopher Columbus, (who was a Castilian, not an Italian.)

Thanks that felt good. If I am facing federal prison, I would rather do it sharing the whole truth. Where are we? LOL.

Hispanola and the Arawaks might have a dog in this fight too.

 

[chicago51]

You know what I need? To see who it is the world turns to in times of need. If they have a natural disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a financial disaster, where do they go? America. If they have a genuine physical, military or domestic need, where do they go? America. If there is a high-profile medical need for someone, where do they ship them? Again...America.

These indices and graphs show some neato things based on some bloviated numbers that help them arrive at the conclusion they are seeking. America is "low on literacy"? Really? Maybe that's because a lot of these countries don't include in their census data the vast rural areas outside their primary schools zones. If you think they do, you're wrong. Go visit some of these countries. I have been to a couple and I question the honesty of their data, to say the least. Do some have better literacy than us? Sure they do. But ours is still pretty darn good.

We have the whatever-whatever percent Healthcare ranking. So are some of you sitting in a doctor's office saying, "My doctor is okay, but golly gee whiz do I wish I was sitting in a Colombian clinic right now," or maybe in an Andorran ER. Please. Again, ghost numbers strapped together by folks with an agenda.

I got in at 4:00 a.m. and I'm tired so I guess I'm grumpy but my measuring stick remains. Until the world shifts its view and goes running to someone else for help in times of need, by their own actions they prove who the greatest country in the world is, and it's still us.

Well China could overtake the US as the world's #1 economy within a decade.

I believe Nick Saban always said it was better to be the hunter than the hunted. I feel the nation has showed complacency and it is sort of stuck in the 20th century still. The US has fallen behind other countries in infrastructure and education. For example South Korea has high speed internet for virtually 100% of its students, while for the US it is just over 20%.

As for the doctors comment: Not saying are doctors in the United States aren't good but they are pretty much on par with the rest of the developed world not superior or inferrior. Don't want to make this another thread on healthcare but the fact is people are living longer in other countries, the US is 33rd in life expectancy by the world health organization in 2011 despite spending more than other nation in the world on healthcare.

Part of that is that is obesity problem in the United States which is the combination of lifestyle and nutritional factors. It doesn't help that big agriculture industries like Monsanto can grow genetically engineered food and it is not even labeled. The obesity problem though doesn't explain why the United States lags behind 40 other countries in infant mortality rate.

The United States is still the greatest nation on earth but like with everything in life when one gets complacent others that work harder tend to catch up. I would argue that since the 2000s the United States really hasn't really pushed itself to get better with one possible exception being the energy sector where we seem to be headed toward energy independence.

 

[BobD]

Okay sir.

You have to understand the lefty liberals like myself have to use science and statistics to justify everything. Some times I think we over do it and fail at the eye test.

If I recall you mentioned you have traveled / lived around the world alot correct? So you probably have good judgement when it comes to this.

I've been around a bit and yes we have it really good. We complain about things that many people can't even dream of. Our ghettos would look like great neighborhoods to a huge chunk of the world's population. We take sooooo much for granted.

 

[IrishinTN]

The United States is still the greatest nation on earth but like with everything in life when one gets complacent others that work harder tend catch up. I would argue that since the 2000s the United States really hasn't really pushed itself to get better with one possible exception being the energy sector where we seem to be headed toward energy independence.

Agreed. So my advice to everyone (and like you said no reason to drag this out in this thread but) is- go make a difference. If you (and by you, I mean anyone reading this) believes we are lacking in areas, please...go make it better. You think we need better healthcare? There are non-profit groups you can join to help make that reality.

You think we need help with literacy? Then donate time to your school to help kids with reading and spelling tests. I go my kids school several days a week to do just that. Does that make me a hero to anyone reading this? Probably not. But by golly I am a hero to those 7 and 8-year-olds I work with every week, some of whom I am the only man in their life, who give me the greatest hugs in the world.

Want to make your country better? Start by being a hero in your own house. Then be a hero to your community, your schools, your town, etc. etc. It starts with each of us. If we feel we are sliding in areas, there are ways for all of us to help.

So we have two choices, either decide to make a difference and improve your country where you find it lacking, or throw your hands up and leave. I seriously doubt anyone here wants to do that, so look around and start doing option one. I can guarantee you, without making this a post about me (I do a ton of volunteering), you will find option one far more rewarding.

 

[Mr. Larson]

What upsets me the most about this is the general apathy that this news has been met with. When discussing this with some co-workers I basically got this response:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hetaBX00wtI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The thoughts/writings of Thomas Hobbes are alive and well.

 

[RDU Irish]

Holder can drone strike you now if he wants. Better show some respect or you can be deemed an illegal combatant and your family double tapped.

Is that like finger cuffs?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

A double tap or controlled pair is a shooting technique where two well-aimed shots are fired at the same target with very little time in between shots.[1][2] Instruction and practice of the double-tap improves overall accuracy as shooters often do not have the gun fully extended on the first shot meaning the second of a double-tap is usually the better.[3] The term hammer is sometimes used to describe a double tap in which the firearm's sights are not reacquired by the shooter between shots.[2]

The origin of the double tap technique is credited to William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes, British police chiefs in Shanghai during the 1930s to overcome the limitations of full metal jacketed (FMJ) ammunition. FMJ ammunition is commonly used by militaries for feeding reliability, adherence to the Hague Convention regarding non-expanding ammunition, and improved penetration. FMJ rounds can fail to cause sufficient damage, requiring more hits and better shot placement. In Ian Dear’s book Sabotage and Subversion about British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) forces, Fairbairn is reported to have instructed SOE personnel in the double tap from 1944 to 1945 at the SOE training school directed by Fairbairn and Sykes near Arisaig in Scotland. The term "double tap" is now used to describe the broader technique of firing two rounds quickly and accurately to disable an opponent. The tactic is still used today by firearms handlers, police tactical teams, military personnel, counter-terrorist combat units, and other Special Operations Forces personnel.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I would comment but I have inside information that they are collecting data on IE as well. Just kidding.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I would comment but I have inside information that they are collecting data on IE as well. Just kidding.

@NSA

#AlQaeda #DeathToInfidels #AllahuAkbar

There. Now you're not joking anymore.

 

[Buster Bluth]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B6fnfVJzZT4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He's such a hypocritical piece of ****. Go ahead and attempt to defend this.

 

[ACamp1900]

racist

 

[BobD]

 

[Cackalacky]

@NSA

#AlQaeda #DeathToInfidels #AllahuAkbar

There. Now you're not joking anymore.

Bomb. LOL. Shits.

 

[Cackalacky]

Is that like finger cuffs?

A drone double tap is bombing the guy you want to bomb with a drone.... then waiting till the 1st responders arrive and bombing the first responders. No one leaves alive.

 

[ACamp1900]

I thought it was another name for 'Dirty Sanchez'

 

[BobD]

It shocks me that someone would think all this electronic communication isn't monitored.

If our government wasn't, that's when I'd be concerned.

 

[BobD]

@NSA

#AlQaeda #DeathToInfidels #AllahuAkbar

There. Now you're not joking anymore.

HI JACK!

Get it?

 

[Cackalacky]

I thought it was another name for 'Dirty Sanchez'

Sorry.... LOL. My apologies up front.

 

[In Lou I Trust]

Neat...

http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/6/44...-apple-google-facebook-microsoft-others-prism

NSA, FBI have backdoors to data from Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, others according to leaked security presentation

Five-year-old program provides government with direct access to email, messages, browser history, more

By Dan Seifert on June 6, 2013 06:04 pm

The US National Security Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation have been harvesting data such as audio, video, photographs, emails, and documents from the internal servers of nine major technology companies, according to a leaked 41-slide security presentation obtained by The Washington Post and The Guardian. The program, codenamed PRISM, is considered highly classified and has never been made public before. The list of companies involved in it are the who's who of Silicon Valley: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, and Apple. Dropbox, though not yet an official part of the program, is said to be joining it soon. These companies have all willingly participated in the program, says the Post.

According to the leaked presentation, the program has been in action since 2007, and is considered the biggest contributor to the daily briefings given to the President, providing data in 1,477 articles last year alone. Allegedly, nearly one in seven intelligence reports from the NSA contains data from the PRISM program. The NSA has the ability to pull any sort of data it likes from these companies, but it claims that it does not try to collect it all. The PRISM program goes above and beyond the existing laws that state companies must comply with government requests for data, as it gives the NSA direct access to each companies servers &#151; essentially letting the NSA do as it pleases. The program was initiated to overcome what the NSA saw as constraints within the existing Fisa warrant program that did not allow the agency to make us of the "home-field advantage" provided by having most of the internet's biggest companies on US soil.

"The who's who of Silicon Valley are involved in the NSA's PRISM program"

Microsoft was the first company to bow to the government's wishes and join the PRISM program in 2007, while Apple held out for five years before agreeing. Though Google and Facebook are a part of PRISM, Twitter has not yet joined. Apparently, the only Congress members that knew about PRISM's existence were bound by oath not to speak of it publicly. In a statement provided to both The Washington Post and The Guardian, Google denied that the government had any sort of back door access to its systems: "Google cares deeply about the security of our users' data. We disclose user data to government in accordance with the law, and we review all such requests carefully. From time to time, people allege that we have created a government 'back door' into our systems, but Google does not have a 'back door' for the government to access private user data."

The training documents for the program reveal that the NSA collects a large amount of data on the American public through the PRISM program. For example, if a specific target is investigated using PRISM, that target's complete inbox and outbox is swept, in addition to anyone that is connected to it. This high-level of access was initially given to the NSA by President Bush and was later renewed in 2012 by President Obama.

According to The Washington Post, the program's slides were provided by a "career intelligence officer" that had "firsthand experience with these systems, and horror at their capabilities," and wished to expose the programs "gross intrusion on privacy." This report follows the news from earlier this week of the NSA's involvement in collecting call data and records from Verizon in another massive surveillance partnership.