4 ms·

> The internet poses one of the greatest threats to our existence This is true, where "our" refers to domestic spy agencies and the governments that consume th

> The internet poses one of the greatest threats to our existence This is true, where "our" refers to domestic spy agencies and the governments that consume their output. Hence these laws.

Istof 12y ago
> to our existence a government that wants to stay in power
flashman 12y ago
Not to be too ad hominem, but the man who said this is a former rugby league player known as "the brick with eyes" and not generally well-known for his national security expertise.
- caf 12y ago
  And who, it must be said, is not a member of the government either.
  - tacticus 12y ago
    Well he is a member of the government but not the governing party (just their stooge)
    - tomcorrigan 12y ago
      Nope. He is a member of parliament but definitely not a member of government. There is an important distinction.
  - beedogs 12y ago
    He's a senator. He's part of the government, whether or not he's part of the ruling party.
deciplex 12y ago
What if most people support these laws? What happens when a democracy decides to vote away its own freedom? Should it be somehow prevented from doing so?
- BrofessorWolf 12y ago
  See: Executive Order 9981
- danielnixon 12y ago
  Your question reminds me of Peter Suber's excellent book, The Paradox of Self-Amendment [0]. [0] http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/psa/ http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/psa/
- dublinben 12y ago
  This is a classic example of the tyranny of the majority, and why government of any kind, democratic or not, is illegitimate. Any institution that wields power over you will eventually deprive you of your freedom against your will.
  - deciplex 12y ago
    And without a government, i.e. without some entity with a monopoly on force, what happens then? Do I have to do battle on the streets every time I buy groceries or go to work? I guess in the end, democracy or not, you get the government you deserve. Australians voted these guys in, they tolerate their actions, and many Australians will applaud them. If it all goes well, great. If not, I won't have much sympathy for them. This is not an attitude I like to have, mind you, because I find that wherever I see tyranny in the world, I believe that to some degree - sometimes a lot, sometimes only a little - the victims of that oppression had it coming.

> The internet poses one of the greatest threats to our existence This is true, where "our" refers to domestic spy agencies and the governments that consume their output. Hence these laws.

Istof 12y ago

> to our existence a government that wants to stay in power

flashman 12y ago

Not to be too ad hominem, but the man who said this is a former rugby league player known as "the brick with eyes" and not generally well-known for his national security expertise.

caf 12y ago
And who, it must be said, is not a member of the government either.
- tacticus 12y ago
  Well he is a member of the government but not the governing party (just their stooge)
  - tomcorrigan 12y ago
    Nope. He is a member of parliament but definitely not a member of government. There is an important distinction.
- beedogs 12y ago
  He's a senator. He's part of the government, whether or not he's part of the ruling party.

deciplex 12y ago

What if most people support these laws? What happens when a democracy decides to vote away its own freedom? Should it be somehow prevented from doing so?

BrofessorWolf 12y ago
See: Executive Order 9981
danielnixon 12y ago
Your question reminds me of Peter Suber's excellent book, The Paradox of Self-Amendment [0]. [0] http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/psa/ http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/psa/
dublinben 12y ago
This is a classic example of the tyranny of the majority, and why government of any kind, democratic or not, is illegitimate. Any institution that wields power over you will eventually deprive you of your freedom against your will.
- deciplex 12y ago
  And without a government, i.e. without some entity with a monopoly on force, what happens then? Do I have to do battle on the streets every time I buy groceries or go to work? I guess in the end, democracy or not, you get the government you deserve. Australians voted these guys in, they tolerate their actions, and many Australians will applaud them. If it all goes well, great. If not, I won't have much sympathy for them. This is not an attitude I like to have, mind you, because I find that wherever I see tyranny in the world, I believe that to some degree - sometimes a lot, sometimes only a little - the victims of that oppression had it coming.