Community poll forum: Which do you think is the biggest security threat?

I am a relatively conservative Republican/Libertarian; that is, Libertarian in my beliefs, Republican as a pragmatist. Anyway, I do believe that our government is our enemy in this respect: violations of secrecy are common and go unpunished. I just can't believe that I hear things on the evening news like the fact that Home Security is expecting terrorist attacks on the basis of increased activity on their cell phone networks! If we are monitoring their cell phones and gaining any useful intelligence from it, why in God's name would we go announcing it? Same with almost every aspect of our security at home and in Iraq. Petty officials (and some not-so-petty) with access to classified information just cannot resist showing off how ''important and in the loop'' they are by compromising classified material to their favorite reporter. That is depravity, and injury self-inflicted.

Remember the Gettysburg Address? ''Government of the people, for the people, and by the people!'' The problem today is that cost to advertise effectively using modern media, coupled by the ludicrous SCOTUS decision that campaign contributions are protected free speech, ensuring that we get the best government money can buy. Currently of by and for the wealthy and the corporations. Britain solves this problem by putting a limit on the amount that can be spent per expected vote -- and it's set so low that it precludes saturation TV/radio campaigns. Instead, most campaigning is done by local volunteers going around to their neighbors trying to persuade them why they should vote for Candidate X vs. Y.
-- Dave K.

I really like the way you use the word 'dumb' in your post. The government wouldn't even attempt to hack your computer unless you were considered a threat, to them.. not yourself.

If you have set up your computer properly and have knowledge about disabling certain system services and plugging the various holes WIndows has, you should have no need to run any Spyware programs.

This downloading 10kb demos is not something I am familar with, but it seems most people warn because of experience.

Have you been hacked by the Governement?
Do you download illegal content?
Is your computer ridden with Malware and Grayware?
Do you download email attachments stating 'girl.jpg'?

I'm sure only one of these is No.

~D

Making a blanket statement like "The White House can hack into your computer..." is not rational. I am more worried about ANY of the other items on the list than the White House! Only people who have things to hide would be worried about that. If people are referenceing the "wire tap" as a source for this silliness, you really should pay more attention to news. If you are talking to terrorists, then yes, the government has every right to track your movements and tap your phones and recon your house in order to protect me and my family from YOU. If you aren't doing anything illegal, then you should have NOTHING to worry about.

The reason the White House is the most dangerous threat to ALL of US: It impinges on our 1st Ammendment Rights, and there is no group which is responsible for oversight. Anyone can be spied upon for any reason, and the two fools in charge, the Pres and the V.P. are not honest or trustworthy enough to have such power.

Yes, I agree. I did not vote based on computer or internal surveillance threat. My vote was based on the White House invading the Middle East and aggravating the Arab nations. They have no other means to attack the USA, except through terrorist acts.

Isn't it just a little bit easier to post an opinion rather than judge someone by there's? Besides how do you know that they have not had a few Government courses?

This forum has been mostly ridiculed with pros and cons of the government. I wish that they had just said internet security because I believe in a whole we have gotten ourselves way off topic. all the Freedom fighters and talk about nine eleven is starting to turn my stomach. I wish no ill will on any soldier that fights for this country but lets please stay on the topics of these forums or else we will not grow or learn a thing from them.


I am sure you will agree with me. Thanks everyone for the participation of the forums! I enjoy C net and i hope everyone in her does as well.

There will always be,among us, those who are so enveloped by the forest, that the components of the forest are invisible. I believe those individuals are called ostriches.

Boy! Talk about missing the point!

The White House runs on its own agenda and not the public's, because the public doesn't have a saing on it. The White House chooses for you, based on classified info. It's as clear as that. We all understood and supported the task force in Afganistan after 9/11. But we all kwon what that turned into.... nothing. American troops deploid on the ground 3 MONTHS after the begginning of the operation. Bin Laden got away and also Molah Omar, the two major targets. The Bin Laden family had spetial clearance from the White House to get out of the US by plane on 9/11. Apart from military and the Laden's planes, not a single flight was aloud on this day. Then Iraq. The White House and mister Blair had PROOF that Saddan had the bomb and quimical weapens. Non was found. But the oil price is now two times as much as it were back then. I believe is common knowlledge the links between oil, Saudi Arabia and the Bush family. The point is.... what is really going on? How can anyone say that this is for the best? We don't know what is going on! Btw.... Bin Laden was nothing until he was supported by the CIA when the mujahadins where fighting the red threat and after, when Clinton choose to bomb him. Another 2 things: war in Irak was unleashed against the UN Security Councel approuval. The Abu Grain atrocities.... only a minor officer was convicted. Can you believe that there wasn't bigger fish envolved? I cant... So, what is the real agenda of the White House? What methods are and are not acceptable? Do you remember Maccarthy's witch hunt? Are we so beyond that mentality? Do you know? Do you care? If not, then you are the ignorant.... I don't know a lot of things, and so I wander...

Actually for somebody obviously not of English/US decent I though the written english was quite good considering, the words that were spelt incorrectly were still recognisable.

Your grammar however makes reading quite difficult, incorrect use of punctuation is far worse when reading text than an incorrect spelling.

Flaming people becasue of their use of language rather than their point of view is quite low.

This is about opinions, and yours are far from clear. Backup your views, explain why you feel the way you do, be constructive in your replies and never attack somebody for their use of a foreign language.

(flame) I doubt you even speak any other languages ;]

~D

Lol, where do you think Im from? I bet youll miss but you are right, Im not from an English speaking country. Im also not French, if that was your guess. But my natural language has a very different structure and we use a lot of punctuation, as its strongly based in the Latin. That was your tip
Cheers!

Sim, sou portugus! Como que chegou l? About the 5000$.... well, Ill have to pay you in empty returnable beer bottles... But now that you guessed it and I confirmed it, I bet there are going to be some interesting posts regarding my country... Run to the hills!