Government monitoring Twitter

[Vincent Butler]

So much for the freedom of speech.

Correct, that was sarcasm. Yet one more right our government is attempting to trample on.

[HoreTore]

Yes, because someone listening to what you say is apparently removing your right to say stuff.

[Greyblades]

...It's freaking twitter. If you didnt want the government reading something, why the hell are you putting it on twitter?

[Husar]

Oh really?

Now that really bothers me given that the NSA is collecting all my information and I don't even have a Twitter account.
You should be happy that America is better than China because that is really the only other option.

[Vincent Butler]

I don't mind them seeing what is on stuff like Facebook or Twitter, though I am not on either one of those. The Org is as close as I come to social media. If you put it on social media, don't complain when the government reads it. It is their monitoring what people say, and keeping a database of it, that I object to. I fully believe that they will try to use it to wrest more freedoms away. Look, they have been spying on Brazil, Germany, and other countries, they have been tapping phones illegally in this country, keeping a database of phone calls, they have been using the IRS to pressure the opposition into irrelevance. They have been calling professional sports stars before Congress, even though those matters are outside of Congress's jurisdiction. As Jefferson predicted, liberty is yielding, government is gaining ground. Contrary to what many people seem to think (I'm not saying people on this forum are thinking this way), government is not all-powerful and does not have the right to do whatever it wants.

[Pannonian]

site:twitter.com "david cameron" "idiot"

[HoreTore]

I don't mind them seeing what is on stuff like Facebook or Twitter, though I am not on either one of those. The Org is as close as I come to social media. If you put it on social media, don't complain when the government reads it. It is their monitoring what people say, and keeping a database of it, that I object to. I fully believe that they will try to use it to wrest more freedoms away. Look, they have been spying on Brazil, Germany, and other countries, they have been tapping phones illegally in this country, keeping a database of phone calls, they have been using the IRS to pressure the opposition into irrelevance. They have been calling professional sports stars before Congress, even though those matters are outside of Congress's jurisdiction. As Jefferson predicted, liberty is yielding, government is gaining ground. Contrary to what many people seem to think (I'm not saying people on this forum are thinking this way), government is not all-powerful and does not have the right to do whatever it wants.

You need to be more specific than "they will take away our freedumz!!!11"

What right, specifically, do you fear the government is planning to take away? And why do you believe that keeping a twitter database is the ultimate way to achieve that goal?

....And how has the taxman been abused...? Do you believe that politicians are not skimping on taxes like everyone else?

[Kadagar_AV]

Twitter can be read by anyone, so why be bothered by the state tracking you?

Unless of course you have a anonymous twitter account, and the government actually tracks who the person behind it is. Now that I would deem problematic.

Keep the internet free and anonymous

[Vincent Butler]

What right, specifically, do you fear the government is planning to take away? And why do you believe that keeping a twitter database is the ultimate way to achieve that goal?

I am concerned about them taking away any freedom. To name a few freedoms lost, look at the private bakery owners who have been ordered to bake cakes for homosexual weddings. Freedom of religion lost. Most states require a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Freedom to bear arms infringed. Pennsylvania now says their cops don't need a warrant to search private vehicles. Freedom to be secure in our effects lost. Now maybe you don't mind your government controlling freedoms that much, but I do. All three instances I mentioned are acknowledged rights in our Constitution.

And why do you believe that keeping a twitter database is the ultimate way to achieve that goal?

That is where it starts, or is continuing, if you ask me. They will crack down on what they deem offensive. Nobody has the right to not be offended. And look, nobody cares if Christians are offended. Removal of Ten Commandments and nativity scenes, same-sex marriage being voted against by the people and then upheld by the courts, mind-altering drugs being legalized...yeah, how bright is that? Do you see my point? They preach tolerance, but they are only tolerant of like-minded views, and totally intolerant of Christianity.

[HoreTore]

Quite the stretch from Nazi Germany.

As for not being tolerant of Christian views and the supposed crackdown on religious freedom: the Westboro Baptist Church is still going strong. As long as they are running with few restrictions, claiming that religious freedom in general, and christian freedom specifically, is in any danger is ridiculous.

Hate speech is restricted, as it should be. As the WBC is not affected by that, the US treshold for what constitutes hate speech is ridiculously low.

The few things you mentioned are all issues where your religious freedom brushes against the freedoms of others. I see no reason why religious freedom for Christians should trump the rights of others, like the right to recognition of a partnership.

[Hax]

They preach tolerance, but they are only tolerant of like-minded views, and totally intolerant of Christianity.

wait who are "they"? Are we still talking about the government? Are you suggesting that the American government is intolerant of Christianity?