quote:

ORIGINAL: kittinSol

I never cease to be amazed by the huge contradiction that resides in 'conservative' rejection of government intervention and 'meddling' in private business, especially in financial matters; but in conservative thought that welcomes the government poking its nose in activities it deems 'subversive', effectively spying on those citizens whose opinions differ from official policy. I never thought I'd hear so many people applaud and laud such Stalinist methods.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub
It never ceases to amaze me how some people rail against injustice by those in power …yet don’t bother to vote or run for office. Then continually break the law and use civil disobedience to achieve their person beliefs that if the majority agreed with them they could accomplish at the polling place.

PS...As a responsible democrat…I just thought I would play  the devils advocate.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MmeGigs

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub
It never ceases to amaze me how some people rail against injustice by those in power …yet don’t bother to vote or run for office. Then continually break the law and use civil disobedience to achieve their person beliefs that if the majority agreed with them they could accomplish at the polling place.

PS...As a responsible democrat…I just thought I would play  the devils advocate.

So what do you believe?  Do you believe that the people who are involved in these groups don't vote?  That these groups were somehow breaking the law?  That the rights we have as individual citizens should ebb and flow depending on which way the political pendulum swings?  Or are you presenting a charicature of people who do hold these beliefs?

quote:

kd

In the radical extremists political climate of today who knows what atrocity will come from any view point no matter how seemingly benign.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kittinSol

Hmmm... talk of out there comparisons, you started off the baroque claim that the people that were 'investigated' were dangerous extremists.

quote:

kd

In the radical extremists political climate of today who knows what atrocity will come from any view point no matter how seemingly benign.

So... anybody's a suspect then? Who's being over the top there ?

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

In the radical extremists political climate of today who knows what atrocity will come from any view point no matter how seemingly benign.

There always seems to be an extreme element in any organization that has God or Righteousness on their side.

I think it is very responsible to keep an eye on these organizations. This does not mean they are wrong or breaking the law…It just means there is a potential for violence, either by them or too them.

Butch

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

In the radical extremists political climate of today who knows what atrocity will come from any view point no matter how seemingly benign.

There always seems to be an extreme element in any organization that has God or Righteousness on their side.

I think it is very responsible to keep an eye on these organizations. This does not mean they are wrong or breaking the law…It just means there is a potential for violence, either by them or too them.

Butch

Surely you cant be happy with the police spying on you, if you decided on joining a protest group of some sort ? 

Your final statement seems odd, how would spying on them ( The protesters )  prevent any violence aimed towards the protesters by others ?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

Many people would think twice about going to a protest group of some sort, especially with the possibility that there details wpould end up on a police data base. The prevention of free speech comes about via indirect intimidation. Your posts read as if you favour these type of police tactics, many of which are aimed at preventing free speech, that may cause political embarrassment 

Incidentally, you know i am in the UK and the same police tactics are taking place here. I am just saddened the powers that be, think they can walk roughshod over peoples rights.

Why do you feel people are paranoid about the police, when we are commenting on something that has already happened ? being paranoid would be commenting on unwarrented suspicions.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

I saw nothing in the report I read about intimidation... interference in their protest...they were not breaking or running roughshod over any persons rights. They stated why they were doing it... to head off violence. There was no reason for anyone to feel paranoid about the situation. AND most of all the worry of violence was warranted by protests in the past.

If I parade down the street in a protest and a police officer watches me this is not Stalinists tactics... in my view.

If I get a permit for a protest I give my name and address...I am not being intimidated.

I would be glad for police protection if a counter protest decided to interfere with my right to protest… this has happened in past anti death penalty marches.

You may not be paranoid about police but to me you seem to be seeing black suv’s  and helicopters behind every police shield rather than a servant of the people the vast majority are.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

If I get a permit for a protest I give my name and address...I am not being intimidated.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

Butch here is a report of what was going on. It was deeper than just watching people walking down the road.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.spy18jul18,0,3787307.story

You say i may not be paranoid about the police, but seem to see black helicopters and suv`s ..... Sounds paranoid to me. 

Thadius, yes we will do anything for fifteen minutes of fame