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This type of prosecution is having the opposite effect as intended: it gives Barrett a larger platform and more credibility because the unusual unfairness is it

by ballard 13y ago

This type of prosecution is having the opposite effect as intended: it gives Barrett a larger platform and more credibility because the unusual unfairness is itself newsworthy. It shows just how abusive and insecure USG has become. Moreover, for USG going after journalists is a naked abandonment of any sense of first amendment protections. It is wrong and the leadership should be ashamed. Period. If this trend continues, I will turn in my SAR membership and my citizenship.

AmVess 13y ago
Unfortunately, a larger platform and more credibility won't help Barrett in that kangaroo court. He's screwed.
blackhole 13y ago
I think a lot of people would love to cancel their citizenship with the USA, save for the small problem of not having citizenship anywhere else.
- ballard 13y ago
  Obviously. [1] Any recommendations? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6305232 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6305232
  - AmVess 13y ago
    Funny you linked that. I was going to say that I was just looking into permanent residence in Australia.
    - ballard 13y ago
      Sydney or similar. Surprised there isn't a pirate bureau "sealand" island hackerspace / OTG community / datacenter.
  - rdl 13y ago
    Residency in New Zealand or Hong Kong, or possibly Switzerland. Getting residency is a step with zero negatives; gaining an additional citizenship has some, while renouncing one's US citizenship has exceptionally bad consequences.
smsm42 13y ago
They should be but they won't. They just do it because they can, and because courts routinely defer to most outrageous claims and requests by government - like recent decision that TSA is free to lie in responses to FOIA requests. These guys have absolutely no shame and the only way they can be stopped is for US public to expose them and to vote out anybody who helps this happen. If they fail to do so, it will only get worse. Somehow in many excessively publicized cases we've seen over the years it never was a problem for the government that everybody is talking about it. But when it comes to the surveillance case, suddenly there's an urgent need of protecting jury from being tainted. It smells as fishy as it gets. A complete and open abuse of power.
- ballard 13y ago
  Manufacture consent of decision makers... get articles into CFR and the like to show the house of cards is crumbling down. Respect by fear does not endure and there is nowhere to hide with Twitter in every pocket.
icecreampain 13y ago
> It is wrong and the leadership should be ashamed. Period. They should... had they any feelings. They do not, though, and the only two languages they speak is money and violence. If you cannot speak neither then they will run you over and you will be forgotten about. Let's face it, even with all of the NSA spying and drone attacks... how many US citizens are _really_ up in arms? A minority. The majority will continue to care more about their mortgages or where to get their next 420 high than they do about anything the government and the government's owners are want to do to the populace. Idiocracy was a documentary.
crististm 13y ago
Exactly! How is that a court order can abolish the free-speech amendment!?
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

by ballard 13y ago

AmVess 13y ago

Unfortunately, a larger platform and more credibility won't help Barrett in that kangaroo court. He's screwed.

blackhole 13y ago

I think a lot of people would love to cancel their citizenship with the USA, save for the small problem of not having citizenship anywhere else.

ballard 13y ago
Obviously. [1] Any recommendations? [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6305232 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6305232
- AmVess 13y ago
  Funny you linked that. I was going to say that I was just looking into permanent residence in Australia.
  - ballard 13y ago
    Sydney or similar. Surprised there isn't a pirate bureau "sealand" island hackerspace / OTG community / datacenter.
- rdl 13y ago
  Residency in New Zealand or Hong Kong, or possibly Switzerland. Getting residency is a step with zero negatives; gaining an additional citizenship has some, while renouncing one's US citizenship has exceptionally bad consequences.

smsm42 13y ago

They should be but they won't. They just do it because they can, and because courts routinely defer to most outrageous claims and requests by government - like recent decision that TSA is free to lie in responses to FOIA requests. These guys have absolutely no shame and the only way they can be stopped is for US public to expose them and to vote out anybody who helps this happen. If they fail to do so, it will only get worse. Somehow in many excessively publicized cases we've seen over the years it never was a problem for the government that everybody is talking about it. But when it comes to the surveillance case, suddenly there's an urgent need of protecting jury from being tainted. It smells as fishy as it gets. A complete and open abuse of power.

ballard 13y ago
Manufacture consent of decision makers... get articles into CFR and the like to show the house of cards is crumbling down. Respect by fear does not endure and there is nowhere to hide with Twitter in every pocket.

icecreampain 13y ago

> It is wrong and the leadership should be ashamed. Period. They should... had they any feelings. They do not, though, and the only two languages they speak is money and violence. If you cannot speak neither then they will run you over and you will be forgotten about. Let's face it, even with all of the NSA spying and drone attacks... how many US citizens are _really_ up in arms? A minority. The majority will continue to care more about their mortgages or where to get their next 420 high than they do about anything the government and the government's owners are want to do to the populace. Idiocracy was a documentary.

crististm 13y ago

Exactly! How is that a court order can abolish the free-speech amendment!?

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]