Comments on: To what extent does the United States Government illegally spy on U.S. citizens? http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/03/06/to-what-extent-does-the-united-states-government-illegally-spy-on-us-citizens/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:10:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/03/06/to-what-extent-does-the-united-states-government-illegally-spy-on-us-citizens/#comment-16635 grumpypilgrim Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:42:21 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/03/06/to-what-extent-does-the-united-states-government-illegally-spy-on-us-citizens/#comment-16635 The FBI is now trying to partner with private corporations to create joint "anti-terrorism" operations through an organization called the InfraGard National Members Alliance (http://www.infragard.net/). The stated purpose is to prevent IT (information technology) terrorism, due to the fact that most IT infrastructure is owned by the private sector. However, the potential for illegal spying and entrapment is significant. Add to this the Bush Administration's efforts to get legal immunity for corporations that cooperate with the government's illegal spying efforts, and we have the makings for a truly totalitarian state. All of this reminds me of a disturbing quote I read recently: when the next group fascists shows up to try to grab absolute power, they won't be wearing swastikas and brown shirts; they just might be wearing Christian crosses around their necks and little American flag pins on their lapels. The FBI is now trying to partner with private corporations to create joint “anti-terrorism” operations through an organization called the InfraGard National Members Alliance (http://www.infragard.net/). The stated purpose is to prevent IT (information technology) terrorism, due to the fact that most IT infrastructure is owned by the private sector. However, the potential for illegal spying and entrapment is significant. Add to this the Bush Administration’s efforts to get legal immunity for corporations that cooperate with the government’s illegal spying efforts, and we have the makings for a truly totalitarian state.

All of this reminds me of a disturbing quote I read recently: when the next group fascists shows up to try to grab absolute power, they won’t be wearing swastikas and brown shirts; they just might be wearing Christian crosses around their necks and little American flag pins on their lapels.

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