Michael Mattys
michael at mattysconsulting.com
Wed Feb 12 16:57:14 CST 2014
Thanks, Jim, your insights are always thought-provoking. I've found that it doesn't really require the ranks of the NSA to accuse and even convict where an emotionally-charged issue causes prejudice and 'error on the side of caution' to substantially or irreparably harm individuals. Power corrupts, as they say. Michael R Mattys Mattys Consulting, LLC www.mattysconsulting.com -----Original Message----- From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Lawrence Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 4:31 PM To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Hundreds of companies and thousands protest Hi Michael: You are right of course. Information is power and profit. What the NSA is doing (and Britain's GCHQ) is being so absolute with every piece of data on the planet. Their goal is not profit per se, at least directly, but to profile every person. If it was to stop deadly terrorism it could almost be forgiven but terrorism is such a tiny piece, it also insignificant. The goal is nothing less than rare naked power, which can be used to control anyone anywhere. Maybe this power is not being used for this purpose today but eventually it will...with no safe-guards, or public over-sight all it takes is some fanatic regime, government driven by religious fervor or just a crook, to start a reign of terror. The German and Russian citizens know what this abuse of power can be like, with vivid memories of the Gestapo, the Stasi and the NKVD. The US has only had a few glimpses, with the McCarthy era, Nixon and government, attacks on the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam war protesters and now we have an era of the extreme right who believe in religious purity. There is no one that does not have a past or something that they have done that they are not proud of or something that could be misconstrue in certain circumstances. Here is an example I just happened to be reading...This describes a situation where given enough information any prejudice can be proven, where conviction is quick and exoneration could be indefinite, as there are no courts, no assumption of innocence, no trial by peers, circumstantial evidence is sufficient for conviction, no method of challenging the sources, guilt by association is the norm and a life-time of punishment can be exacted with no recourse for the victim: http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/2/the-terrifying-surveillancecase ofbrandonmayfield.html The internet is the driving force that has created this wonderful age of information. An age full of free ideas, creations of all kinds and businesses of every type have been flourishing. The NSA's exploits can very easily put an end to all this. Who wants to live in an environment with an all seeing overlord, who never forgets or forgives, who favours friends in businesses and governments and punishes any who challenge them at the whim of who ever is currently at the helm of the NSA machine? Sorry for the long rambling and passionate explanation but it is important to understand where the NSA sits in today's and tomorrow's context and why it is so important that their virtually unlimited power is challenged and how they differ from the business and neutrality of the internet. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Mattys" <michael at mattysconsulting.com> To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues" <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com> Sent: Wednesday, 12 February, 2014 5:54:37 AM Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Hundreds of companies and thousands protest Jim, Could you explain the issues here, please? It seems to me that these same companies doing the protesting would do the same surveillance if they could! Michael R Mattys Mattys Consulting, LLC www.mattysconsulting.com -----Original Message----- From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Lawrence Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 2:53 AM To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues Subject: [dba-Tech] Hundreds of companies and thousands protest Hi All: Reddit, Mozilla, Tumblr, Imgur, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and over 6,000 other websites are protesting NSA surveillance. This is the day for a focused protest - of course we still have a lot of work in the future to effect real change - sign the online petition, call your representatives, spread awareness... https://thedaywefightback.org/international Jim _______________________________________________ dba-Tech mailing list dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com _______________________________________________ dba-Tech mailing list dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com _______________________________________________ dba-Tech mailing list dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com