June 23, 2013

Why aren't NSA leaders elected?

How can these people be allowed to potentially tap the phone calls of presidential candidates without fear of at least losing their jobs?

June 21, 2013

Dear fellow lefties. Before that last few weeks had anyone ever accused you of racism?

Just curious. I'd never before heard of anyone ever accusing a left winger of racism.

June 21, 2013

"if we want the rewards of being loved we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known."

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/15/i-know-what-you-think-of-me/?ref=opinion&_r=1

Excellent article

June 20, 2013

No, it's not racism.

It's disappointment.

June 19, 2013

So Assange is a rapist and Snowden's a creepy, mysterious, they-haven't-decided-what-yet.

What do these naughty men have in common? oooooo, they blabbed about America.

And we're all Obama haters.

And secretly racist.

C'mon guys.

EDIT: SNOWDEN'S MONICA LEWINSKY!!!!

Cos keeping records of your citizens is totally like adultery.

June 19, 2013

I am never going to give credence to any accusation of "subconscious racism" ever again.

It's done, boys and girls.

June 18, 2013

If I hear the word "nuance" one more time my face is going to melt with rage.

Can people think of a different word, please? I like my face and I want to keep it.

Just a request.

June 18, 2013

I don't see how it benefits the Right to encourage left wing oppostion to their programme.

They started all this crap. It is not clear to me why they would expose a programme they put a great deal of effort into simply to unseat a politician. Politicians come and go, legislature does not.

I do not regard the "it's an anti-Obama plot" as at all credible.

June 18, 2013

Do you think the State is something more than a parade of men in suits pointing at flow charts?

Do you think they have your best interests at heart?

Look around at the people you work with. Imagine them, the same personal qualities, the same lumpy ordinariness, the same twisty ideas, the same stubborn-ness, the same helplessness, the same vulnerability, the same vices, the same self-absorption, the same kindness, the same stilted indifference, the same awkwardness, the same incompetence, the same wasted potential, the same uncomplicated hostility, the same humility, the same simplicity, the same diffidence, the same sincerity, the same insincerity... but in shinier suits and with more expensive USB pens and larger flow-charts and some nice long pointy sticks.

Now imagine them, the same people, in bigger cars, in a motorcade if you like. Now imagine them standing on the steps of a plan, about to walk down, waving. Not actual politicians, just the same ordinary people you work with. You coudl give them some lessons in oration. You could set up the lighting around them to make them look like whatever you want.

No give them all your personal information.

And not just all your personal information, everybody else's personal information, ALL OF IT.

Why are you doing that?

June 18, 2013

Would you let your co-workers read your e-mails? Record your phone activity?

Would you let your next door neighbour read your snail mail?

Would you let the launderette sell information about your clothing choices to supermarkets?

Would you let your boss monitor your keyboard presses?

While we're on the subject of bosses, do you think bosses should be able to test you for drugs?

If not drug testing, why not e-mail monitoring?

Is your boss more or less trustworthy than the US government?

Do you trust the State?

If so, why?

Is it because they're demonstrably trustworthy or because it feels more comfortable than not trusting them?