The rest?? is history.
What difference does it make?"
Posted on 07/29/2013 10:02:06 PM PDT by LTC.Ret
We must be forever vigilant in protecting and defending our Country — because one mistake, one terrorist attack that we don’t prevent, can cost untold lives and suffering. That said, we must also do the smart and Constitutional thing, and not just everything we can think of, and get away with, with terrorism as the excuse. With that in mind, lets look at this from a medical perspective:
Let’s say you’re healthy overall but you develop a cough, it’s lasted for a month, and it seems to be getting worse. It might just be allergies, or bronchitis, or pneumonia, or lung cancer (gasp), or perhaps a peanut (more on this later). So you go to see Dr. Fed Gov.
Dr. Gov doesn’t even look at you or your medical record, he just begins ordering tests. He doesn’t ask if you are a smoker, doesn’t know your age, and hasn’t even listened to your chest or heard your cough — he doesn’t even know if you are male or female, and he doesn’t seem to care. Dr. Gov doesn’t want to miss something that might be serious or fatal. Let’s see, we need a full blood panel, x-rays of both arms and legs, a colonoscopy, a stress test, a spinal tap, a mental evaluation, abdominal ultrasound, MRI of the head and neck, an EKG, cholesterol screening, PSA test, bone marrow biopsy, on, and on, and on. Who of us in their right mind would agree or submit to this???
(Have you ever taken your shoes and belt off, and walked through an x-ray screener, just to get on a plane???)
This is how the Federal Government has responded to the threat of terrorism both with the TSA, and, as recently revealed, with the NSA. And these are just the things we know about, so far.
AND, this is NOT how you FIND the problems, or FIX them. If Dr. Fed Gov gets all the results of all those tests, what is it really going to tell him? Might any information he needs to make a diagnosis be lost in the reams of medical records he has generated — a tiny needle in an ever growing haystack? Wouldn’t he and his patient be better served by doing only those things that were directed at the actual problem? We must start by looking for the answers in the most obvious places. In the case of our cough, we would be better off with a temperature check, a throat exam, and maybe a chest x-ray.
“More isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more.” ― Barbara Benedek
Because of Political Correctness, the government has often refused to look in the exact places where the answers actually lie. Instead, We the People are subjected to invasive and Unconstitutional RANDOM searches and examinations so that no one gets their feelings hurt. Plus, in some cases, the very people most likely to commit terrorism against Americans are exempt from the data collection and surveillance — even those who are illegally here due to overstaying their Visa, as the 9/11 terrorists were. This is not only wrong, and irresponsible, it is Unconstitutional.
Another Veterinarian that I know was watching sports with his friends one afternoon, and it was an exciting game. The next day he started to cough. He went to his Doctors over and over again, submitting to all kinds of tests. Still, no relief or improvement. This went on for two years. Finally, when he was bent over treating a patient, he coughed and out popped a peanut — that had been lodged in his lungs since that fateful afternoon two years before. His Doctors had spent untold time, energy, and money on his problem — but they weren’t looking for a peanut.
We must point our Intelligence investigations and resources at the most likely perpetrators, where there is probable cause, and NOT at the innocent masses of We the People. We must return to our Constitution and uphold our 4th Amendment — and stop engaging in colonocopies and spinal taps when we are looking for a peanut.
BTTT!
“metadata” is where knowledge is derived. I know. I’ve been an executive at two of the biggest global “big-data” companies - responsible for product(s) and technology (not some ancillary function).
Thank you for the ping, Jet Jaguar.
Thread bump.
The “metadata” we’re talking about are “CDR” (call data records) , the same data that is compiled to create your phone bill and all non-cash financial records ... individually they tell a story , combined with others it tells everything...
Why are we putting up with this anti-4th ammendment “general warrant” ,, one word Boehner. He has to go , we need someone , ANYONE with a spine.
The rest?? is history.
What difference does it make?"
According to transitive law: If metadata = knowledge, and knowledge = power, then metadata = power.
I. for one, as a Constitutional Conservative and believing in the 10th Amendment, understand that that kind of power rests with the states or the people thereof, We the People, IF it rests anywhere i government at all.
I take issue with our Federal Intelligence community using its resources to catalog the innocent masses of We the People, instead of pointing them at the most likely perpetrators, where there is probable cause. We must return to our Constitution and uphold our 4th Amendment
The FISA court only, periodically, reviews processes - not specific NSA requests for information.
NSA Metadata — A Doctor’s Perspective (my analysis)
Specific, multidimensional queries are not reviewed or approved by the FISA COURT. Procedural activities may be reviewed by FISA.
Does anyone have an issue with the judiciary giving a blank check to the NSA to collect everything on everyone...?
That's what has been happening for a very long time.
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