The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Alex]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

You know every year tre population in California grows from people moving here from other states - why do we let this happen unchecked? I bet many of the homeless were born in other places, they just came here to get out of the cold. Maybe we should deport people back to the dust bowl?

Unfortunately, that isn't true. Every year since 1990 or so has seen a net domestic migration out of California (here are the numbers; you can get them from the source at the U.S. Census web site but it requires more poking around and search queries as near as I can tell).

Since 1990 the entire population growth of California has been from internal reproduction, legal foreign immigration, and illegal foreign immigration.

[€uroMeinke]

So Condoms must be our first line of defense

[Alex]

I was thinking more along the lines of "kill the breeders" or at least forced sterilization. Just think how much better Disneyland would be if they stopped filling the place up with kids.

Actually, one thing that is interesting in those numbers is that even though the total population of California is about 50% higher than in 1981 the total number of births and deaths isn't all that much higher. That has nothing to do with immigration. Just found it interesting.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Best (i.e., worst) line of the day yesterday. In response to the report in USA Today that the government has been collecting entire databases of phone call data, Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama had this to day:

"Let's talk about this in a rational way. We are in a war with terrorism."

Am I the only one who sees how absolutely ridiculous that statement is?

[Gemini Cricket]

The 'war on' slogans bug.

'The War on Terrorism'
'The War on Drugs'
'The War on Christmas'
'The War on Illiteracy'

Bleh. These are labels for events without end.

But to say we are at war with terrorism and then call it rational sounds funny.

[Ghoulish Delight]

To call for rationality, and the immediately play the "fear" card is...well...irrational.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

In response to the report in USA Today that the government has been collecting entire databases of phone call data

Not to respond to the comment, but to the story.

Very deep in the USA today article, it is noted that no names or content of the calls - in other words, this database includes no recording of the conversation - are kept.

My point isn't that this is good or bad....only that I believe the story and headlines are intended to make it seem as if every call is being recorded and monitored. This is not the case.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

My point isn't that this is good or bad....only that I believe the story and headlines are intended to make it seem as if every call is being recorded and monitored. This is not the case.

I heard and read dozens of reports about it yesterday...every one of them mentioned that it was just phone numbers. I don't think there was an attempt to bury that.

And now, the White House is trying to block civil liberty cases from even reaching the courts under the guise of "national security" and "confidential information". What a GREAT way to erode civil liberties...just do it and then say imply that anyone who questions it is a traitor. I mean, it's not like the judicial system was set up as a part of a system of checks and balances or anything.

[innerSpaceman]

The reason this is going to be an even bigger problem for Bush than the warrentlesss wiretapping is that Joe America never made a phone call to al Queda, but he does make phone calls.

It doesn't matter so much that the conversations weren't tapped, but that they are invading what Americans perceive to be their privacy rights - on MILLIONS of Americans. That spells Trouble with a capital "T."






And with five years since the last foreign terrorist attack on American soil, 8 years before that, and um, never before that ... this is looking to most Americans - I daresay - less lilke a "war" and more like the individual criminal acts they truly are.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I heard and read dozens of reports about it yesterday...every one of them mentioned that it was just phone numbers. I don't think there was an attempt to bury that.

Yeah, it was reported. Probably the conspiracy theorist coming out in me.

I just think that the vast majority of news readers read the headline and perhaps the first paragraph. When I see the headlline "NSA keeping a huge database of phone calls", I don't think just the number, I think the entire conversation.