hands across America, cocks across Santorum
While the pro-surveillance spin campaign whirs into gear here in Canada, it’s interesting to note that Western governments all happen to be pushing this shit at the same time.
- United States: Internet Providers to Save User Data Under Child-Porn Bill
- Australia: Phone, net watchers fuel ‘surveillance state’ fears
- United Kingdom: Phone and email records to be stored in new spy plan
…and if you haven’t read 1984, this might be a good time to do so.
Some Thoughts on Canada
Forbes: The National Defense Authorization Act is the Greatest Threat to Civil Liberties Americans Face
even if Obama chooses to veto it, there are enough congressional votes to override him
CTV: Harper, Obama expected to sign perimeter security deal
Obama and Harper are set to announce their border security arrangement tomorrow, “The perimeter arrangement is an attempt to protect the continent from terrorist threats while speeding the flow of people and products across the border.”
National Post: Leaked U.S. cable lays out North American ‘integration’ strategy
one more step as we tiptoe down the incremental road to integration
The Guardian: WikiLeaks: US targets EU over GM crops
integration with a country whose diplomatic forces see fit to actively punish the EU for exercising sovereignty in the management of their food systems and “to have pushed GM crops as a strategic government and commercial imperative”
National Post: Conservatives’ omnibus crime bill clears Commons
meanwhile the wasteful, (sadist-)fantasy-based omnibus crime bill has just passed in the House, replete with mandatory minimum sentencing
CBC: Raitt suggests economy should be ‘essential service’
this from a government wanting “to look at changing the labour code to include the economy as an essential service”
CBC: 20 ‘rights violations’ require public inquiry: report
and in a country where, as a response to Toronto’s G20 protests, “Hundreds of police officers removed their badges and many told protesters that martial law had been declared and that protesters had no longer any rights and they could be held as long as necessary.”
so how long until we have U.S. armed forces stationed within our borders, arguments based in reality falling on deaf ears, systemic opposition effectively outlawed and rebranded as “economic terrorism” (strikes) or “unlawful disturbances of the peace” (occupy, protests), and example-making punishments ranging from mandatory sentences to indefinite military detention?
G
