No Shooting at Protest? Police May Block Mobile Devices Via Apple

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...and this is another reason why I will not buy an iPhone.

Unfortunately, as Apple goes so does the market.  Other smartphone companies will be looking into ways to implement this technology in their devices.

Bradley Manning Leak Did Not Result in Deaths By Enemy Forces, Court Hears

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"Brigadier general Robert Carr, a senior counter-intelligence officer who headed the Information Review Task Force that investigated the impact of WikiLeaks disclosures on behalf of the Defense Department, told a court at Fort Meade, Maryland, that they had uncovered no specific examples of anyone who had lost his or her life in reprisals that followed the publication of the disclosures on the internet. 'I don't have a specific example,' he said."

Dirty Bomb Blows Liberty

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"Here's how terrorism really works: Slaughter people on national TV, and watch a nation that prides itself on freedom as it shackles itself.

The feds at airports start patting privates and taking pictures with cameras that can see through clothes. Security cameras go up everywhere. The spooks in Washington set up massive Internet surveillance operations and obtain secret court orders to obtain everyone's phone records. Once it starts, it can't be stopped.

In 2007, candidate Barack Obama railed against the 'false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we provide. I will provide our intelligence and law-enforcement agencies with the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining the Constitution and our freedom.'

Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported that the National Security Agency collected phone records on millions of Verizon customers, and the Obama administration defended the move. The Guardian and Washington Post also reported that the NSA has a top-secret operation, dubbed Prism, which taps directly into the servers of nine leading Internet companies. Does President Obama know something that Senator Obama did not? Or did the corrosion of our civil liberties take on a life of its own, independent of any elected leader?

It's as if a terrorist set off a dirty bomb that is slowly spreading tyranny instead of radiation."

FBI Document: Plots to Kill Occupy Leaders if 'Deemed Necessary'

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"The push-back took the form of violent assaults by police on Occupy activists, federal and local surveillance of people seen as organizers, infiltration by police provocateurs—and, as crazy as it sounds, some kind of plot to assassinate the 'leaders' of this non-violent and leaderless movement."

Unfit To Be the Ruler of a Free People

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another...a descent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

So begins the Declaration of Independence, one of the most recognizable documents in American history.  Most Americans can recite the “unalienable rights” of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” but, unfortunately, many have a hard time putting the document in context or applying it to today’s government.

After the preamble, the Declaration explains the authors’ beliefs in what “all men” are entitled to, what is necessary for these entitlements, and how much typical “men” will put up with.  The forgotten section (and arguably the most important section in relation to the present) of the Declaration comes next – the list of grievances.

1776 was a transitional year in the colonists’ fight for their rights.  In January, Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, was published and circulated widely around the colonies.  Paine argued that their fight was not with Parliament, as it had been for the previous decade, but with the King.  Parliament was elected by the People while a king’s claim to the throne was hereditary.  Paine, again in Enlightenment fashion, argued that mankind was not supposed to be ruled by a king.  A king was merely a tyrant and violated the unwritten Social Contract between ruler and ruled.  Common Sense circulated widely throughout the colonies with 100,000 copies sold in just the first three months after it was published.  Without Common Sense, it is hard to imagine how Jefferson et. al. could have convinced the other colonists to get behind their document on July 4, 1776.

The grievances, then, solely target the king.  It is here that we get a sense of why the colonists felt the need to separate from their motherland.  These grievances are quite extensive because, as Jefferson explains in the previous section, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light or transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms of which they are accustomed.”  In other words, we’ll put up with a lot of crap when we get comfortable with our way of life.  Sadly, when put in context, many of these grievances can be applied to the United States government today.  Here are a few examples.

“He has refused to Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”

In 21^st century America, laws are so numerous that it is difficult to keep track of them all.  However, there have been sensible bills that have been suggested or introduced which will never see the light of day.  The are two that come to mind immediately.  Representative Tom Marino (PA) introduced the One Subject at a Time Act which, as the title suggests, would require future bills to be limited to one subject - no more farm subsidies amendments in a defense spending bill, for instance.  The other bill which will never pass because of lobbying money is a bill which would require all genetically modified foods to be labeled.  Both these suggests seem “wholesome...for the public good” yet Congress refuses to recognize them as important topics. 

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.”

When George Washington was elected president, he selected a cabinet that consisted of four members: the Secretary of State was to handle international relations, the Secretary of War was nominated to manage the military, the Secretary of the Treasury watched the money, and the Attorney General was the president’s legal consultant.  Today the cabinet consists of 15 departments all of which manage various agencies.  These new offices (TSA, IRS, FBI, NSA, CIA, etc.) have “swarms” of officers all over the nation who have been accused of spying on Americans, subverting political causes through agentprovocateurs, framing suspects, molesting travelers, and even druggingunsuspecting suspects.

“For protecting them [soldiers], by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States.”

If you take an honest look at today’s justice system you will realize how many innocent people are in jail and how many complete crooks have bought their way out of jail or have been punished by being sent to one of those nice white collar, resort prisons.

“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

We the People have tried over and over again to push for reform.  Some reforms have been achieved, however, there are many reforms that Americans are demanding today and the avenues for said reform have been closing.  Petitions and emails/phone calls to “our” representatives are summarily ignored or rejected.  Voting in the two party system is ludicrous as there is very little difference between the Republicans and Democrats.  Protests are thwarted by sound cannons, pepper spray, or sometimes more extreme measures.  Political groups that shake the status quo are subverted by agents provacateurs.  Our repeated petitions have been met with repeated injury.

So what do we do?  Is it time to re-declare our independence?  Are these evils sufferable or is it a case of pop culture distractions?  If so, when will the evil become insufferable?

Maddow Explains How the FBI Can Assassinate Anyone They Want

Timeline: How Obama Compares to Bush on Torture, Surveillance, and Detention

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Obama = Bush

Wasn't this guy supposed to be different?

By the way - the graphic is interactive.  Black sites are still active even though they were shut down, according to multiple media reports (how's that for Orwellian?).  You'd be naive to think "extraordinary rendition" (read: torture) was stopped by this administration that has no problem with extrajudicial murder. 

John Brennan Sworn in as CIA Director Using Constitution Lacking Bill of Rights

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How appropriate.

Holder: Yep, Obama Could Kill Americans On U.S. Soil

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"...It is possible, I suppose to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States." - Eric Holder

UPDATE: After Senator Paul's filibuster, Eric Holder changed his mind:

“Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on U.S. soil?  The answer to that is no.”

TSA Apologizes for Traumatizing Disabled Toddler

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TSA: Terrorizing three-year-olds in wheelchairs since November 2001...

...at least they got that Stuffed Animal of Mass Destruction!

Cops Conducting Target Practice on Images of Children and Pregnant Women

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"In every image, the suspect is showing holding a gun, meant to force officers of the law to act without hesitation in even the most unusual life-or-death scenarios."

What if the person holding the gun was not a threat to the cop?

Drug Dealers Admit Berkeley PD Have Asked Them to Assault Cop-Watchers

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"Today on Feb 3rd (2013) Drug dealers in People's Park have admitted today that Berkeley Police has recently asked them to assault local cop-watchers in retaliation against a complaint being heard by the Berkeley Police Review Commission which involves local police reform and Occupy activists. The dealers explained that the police have made a deal that BPD would look the other way provided they would keep cop-watchers out of People's Park and off of Telegraph Ave."

7-Year-Old Handcuffed Over $5, Says Suit

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I wonder how much it cost the NYPD to detain this seven-year-old for 10 hours. I bet it cost more than $5!

Senator Asks CIA Nominee When Drones Can Kill Americans

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Shouldn't we be concerned that this is an accepted conversation in this country?!?

Seven Things All Americans Should Disapprove Of

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"One of the most annoying things out there at the moment...is the false paradigm spread by some big government, big Obama Democrats that anyone who questions government corruption is an actual crazy person."

Senate Unanimously Passes 2013 NDAA; Power to Arrest Americans Remain

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Shame on you, Sen. Paul!

Actually, The Newest Version of NDAA Makes It EASIER to Detain Citizens Indefinitely

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Another point of view...

Welcome to America: Texas Police Sniper Guns Down Immigrants From Helicopter

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It seems those skills learned overseas are being utilized here now.

Why I Refuse to Vote For Barack Obama

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"Romney revels in bellicosity; Obama soothes with rhetoric and kills people in secret." - My point exactly!  Obama is a great speaker (when he has a teleprompter in front of him).  He's intelligent and has a great rhythm. 

Meanwhile, behind everyone's back he is ordering drone strikes killing innocent men, women, and children in the Middle East; eviscerating the Constitution (see NDAA, Libya); protecting the Bush Administration criminals from the trials and punishments they so morally deserve; and inviting the representatives of Goldman Sachs and Monsanto to regulate their respective industries.

Those are my deal breakers and that is why I will be voting third party.

Terror Tuesday: 'Moral High Ground' or Slippery Slope?

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“'True democracy,' he stated, 'depends on the freedom of citizens to speak their minds and assemble without fear, and on the rule of law and due process that guarantees the rights of all people.'”