Given our history, we Germans are not willing to trade in our liberty for potentially better security. Germans have experienced firsthand what happens when the government knows too much about someone. MALTE SPITZ
A good sentiment, although no completely accurate for Germany. Hopefully they live up to it
I don’t think President Obama is here tonight… But I’m sure he’s listening in.
Mick Jagger, at a concert in DC, June 24, 2013
“Perhaps I am naive, but I believe that at this point in history, the greatest danger to our freedom and way of life comes from the reasonable fear of omniscient State powers kept in check by nothing more than policy documents. [The steady expansion of surveillance powers is] such a direct threat to democratic governance that I have risked my life and family for it.” Edward Snowden, Washington Post
“We are kind of an ‘Authoritarian Surveillance State’” – Paul Krugman, New York Times
And Krugman seems okay with the “Authoritarian Surveillance State.”
‘Whenever we had a debate in the office on how to handle crimes, they do not defend due process – they defend decisive action. They say it is better to kick someone out of a plane than let these people have a day in court. It is an authoritarian mindset in general.’
29 Year old Edward Snowden, NSA Leaker.
‘Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. You will never be safe whatever protections you put in place.’
“I think it will happen sooner than you think. We’re in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now and they’re trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out.” Brendon Ayanbadejo
To many of us it seems like the fact that no NFL player has come out is quite surprising for 2013. Just like skin color, sexual orientation doesn’t matter (and hasn’t) to most people. What matters is the person themselves. Whether an NFL player is straight or gay is not a big deal what matters is if they are a good person (and a good player of course is a bonus).
And in a groundbreaking move, the Associated Press, the largest news gathering outlet in the world, will no longer use the term ‘illegal immigrant.’ That is out. No longer ‘illegal immigrant.’ They will now use the phrase ‘undocumented Democrat.’ That is the new one – ‘undocumented Democrat.’” Jay Leno, April 02, 2013
“It will happen everywhere in the world, in Western democracies. You have more people that vote for a living than work for a living. I think you have to be prepared to lose 20 to 30 percent. I think you’re lucky if you don’t lose your life.” Squawk on the Street, April 2, 2013 discussing the events in Cyprus the last few weeks.