Random thoughts about paranoia and Orwell, via NCIS LA.

[fightingquaker13]

I just finished doing a a bit gardening with my neighbor (she had potting soil I needed to plant some myrtle trees , more like sticks, I got from the Arbor Day Foundation for donating ten bucks. We'll see if it works). Anyway we were talking about NCIS LA and how much all the traffic and security cameras creeped us out. I know its greatly exxagerated (I hope) on the show. Still, what bugs me is that this being sold to the public as a good thing by Hollywood. "Look how the good guys can catch terrorists from their laptops" as opposed to "Welcome to a surveillance society where Big Brother can watch your every move, see how nice the GPS tracer in yourt cell, phone, car and computer is? Wcan always find you if you're lost (or if we just want to find you". Is it just me or would you rather be a little less "safe" and make it harder to find people who don't want to be found?
FQ13

[fullautovalmet76]

Is it just me or would you rather be a little less "safe" and make it harder to find people who don't want to be found?
FQ13

I don't know anything about the show, but "less safe" works for me.

[Timothy]

While I do enjoy the original, the LA version doesn't do much for me.  A bit too over the top and I don't care for the cast either.  Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and LL aren't too convincing as tough guys.  The little gal appears tougher!

We're in a techno world, big brother is watching unless the tinfoil on your head is at least 10 mils thick...

 

[Ichiban]

From your good buddies at the ACLU.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech-national-security/surveillance-cameras-chicago-extensive-pervasive-and-unregulated

"A more complete assessment indicates that when it comes to preventing and solving crimes, the cameras are about as useful as a pet rock. Britain has 4 million of them, but a 2005 report by the British government found little evidence to justify the effort. Video surveillance, it said, "produced no overall effect" on crime."

[fightingquaker13]

From your good buddies at the ACLU.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech-national-security/surveillance-cameras-chicago-extensive-pervasive-and-unregulated

"A more complete assessment indicates that when it comes to preventing and solving crimes, the cameras are about as useful as a pet rock. Britain has 4 million of them, but a 2005 report by the British government found little evidence to justify the effort. Video surveillance, it said, "produced no overall effect" on crime."

Of course it doesn't. Most crimes are acts of impulse carried out by fairly marginal folks. Its not about decreasing crime, its about increasing government power. The exact same thing as gun control. What do you think the odds are that the UK will take down their cameras or repeal their gun laws? >:(What it does do is let the state track someone they want to put the time and money into tracking. I doubt I'll do anything to make me worth the effort, but they can use it to deny areas and businesses to people if they want to. Think of cell phones. You can still pay cash for a prepaid phone at Wally World and take out the GPS chip. Buy five if you're worried. Still, it wouldn't be hard to require a photo ID to purchase one as part of our "war on terror/drugs/civil liberties"  (even if they don't your picture is on a survellience tape and they can tie you to buying a phone at particular time on a particular day ).. Its just like banks have to report cash transactions over 5k.
FQ13
PS  Why? Why the hell is it any of the government's business if we withdraw legal currency from own damn account? Here's a quick political test. I propose the followimg. Ask your Senator/Rep whether they support abolishing that rule, yes or no. If the answer is no, say thank you for your service and vote their sorry ass out at the next election, because party and ideology aside, they've gotten to like power a little too much and need to go.
 

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

But it's for the children !