Liberty Level will be moving to Wordpress, a different blogging site. The new address will be LibertyLevel.wordpress.com.
All posts will be moved to the new site with the original timestamp.
If you have a bookmark, please change it. This site will exist for some time, then be deleted.
Why? Eventually you have to change a blogger account to a Blogger Beta account. Plus, Google isn't living up top it's "Don't be evil" motto.
My other blog, Civilian Casualties, will also be moved to Wordpress at CivilianCasualties.wordpress.com.
My homepage at wordpress will be AgentKGB.wordpress.com.
15 August 2006
14 August 2006
NYPD Permits Would be Needed for Field Trips
Under an initiative that the New York Police Department has proposed, permits will be needed for many new things, such as field trips, according to an op-ed by the NYCLU. Current regulations require only that people marching in a public roadway or using amplified sound on a sidewalk or public park get a permit. Under the proposed regulations, however, 35 or more people on a sidewalk, any roadway procession with 20 or more vehicles and/or bicycles, or two or more people using a roadway "in a manner that does not comply with all applicable traffic laws, rules and regulations," needs a permit to do so.
If you jaywalk, do it alone or you could be arrested for parading without a permit. If you're planning a field trip for a class at one of NYC's underfunded schools, make sure to split the class apart into groups less than 35 people, or your earth science class could be arrested walking into the museum. Funeral processions apparently present a similar risk to our national security, and also would require a permit. If the White House was in NYC, the procession to the White House for inauguration would require a permit, too.
If this initiative took effect, it would put an end to small, often quickly planned or completely unplanned protests that respond to recent events. These marches and rallies are not a threat to anyone, but the initiative is a threat to civil rights.
Getting a permit isn't easy, for the person getting one or the person issuing it. Surely the NYPD has more important things to do than investigate the true agenda behind field trips.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Protest Permit, NYPD, NYCLU
If you jaywalk, do it alone or you could be arrested for parading without a permit. If you're planning a field trip for a class at one of NYC's underfunded schools, make sure to split the class apart into groups less than 35 people, or your earth science class could be arrested walking into the museum. Funeral processions apparently present a similar risk to our national security, and also would require a permit. If the White House was in NYC, the procession to the White House for inauguration would require a permit, too.
If this initiative took effect, it would put an end to small, often quickly planned or completely unplanned protests that respond to recent events. These marches and rallies are not a threat to anyone, but the initiative is a threat to civil rights.
Getting a permit isn't easy, for the person getting one or the person issuing it. Surely the NYPD has more important things to do than investigate the true agenda behind field trips.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Protest Permit, NYPD, NYCLU
13 August 2006
Illinois Amendment Banning Gay Marriage Won't Make Ballot
Gay marriage opponents have failed to get an amendment banning same-sex marriage on the ballot in Illinois this November, according to a recent Chicago Sun-Times article. They got the 330,000 signatures, but a sample was found to have only about 91% of the signatures valid, short of the necessary 95%. Illinois actually already prohibits same-sex marriage, due to a 1996 law, but the Christian right fears that courts might realize how idiotic it is and overturn it.
There are a number of arguments against same-sex marriage, many of them having to do with deities not liking it and it causing disruptions to opposite-sex marriages across the country. Sometimes opponents try to ground their arguments in reality, resulting in strange statements like: "Marriage exists solely for procreation," an idea used in Washington, or "Gay marriage is harmful for children."
The idea that marriage exists only for the creation of children is one that would lead to other strange ideas. When a woman reaches menopause, should she automatically have to divorce, so long as her children are grown? Can you marry if you're sterile? Should married couples have to have children?
Of course not. They're all remarkably stupid ideas, ones that would never be accepted in the U.S. for at least decades. But if marriage exists for the sole purpose of creating more children, then those ideas would logically follow.
Likewise, countless things are bad for children, such as racism in schools, wars, poverty, and the high cost of education. No one of the Christian right would suggest the U.S. renounce war, or become a communism, though it is hard to see how that would harm children. Apparently though, having parents of the same sex could do awful things to the minds of these youth, things more awful than being discriminated against when they grow up and not being allowed to marry someone they love solely because they are gay.
There is no logical reason for banning gay marriage, and every reason to allow it. Illinois should overturn their law that prohibits it, and the many other states that have similar laws should do the same, which they will of course do, because it is of course inconceivable that a government official would make decisions affecting so many people based on his religious beliefs.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Gay marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, Illinois
There are a number of arguments against same-sex marriage, many of them having to do with deities not liking it and it causing disruptions to opposite-sex marriages across the country. Sometimes opponents try to ground their arguments in reality, resulting in strange statements like: "Marriage exists solely for procreation," an idea used in Washington, or "Gay marriage is harmful for children."
The idea that marriage exists only for the creation of children is one that would lead to other strange ideas. When a woman reaches menopause, should she automatically have to divorce, so long as her children are grown? Can you marry if you're sterile? Should married couples have to have children?
Of course not. They're all remarkably stupid ideas, ones that would never be accepted in the U.S. for at least decades. But if marriage exists for the sole purpose of creating more children, then those ideas would logically follow.
Likewise, countless things are bad for children, such as racism in schools, wars, poverty, and the high cost of education. No one of the Christian right would suggest the U.S. renounce war, or become a communism, though it is hard to see how that would harm children. Apparently though, having parents of the same sex could do awful things to the minds of these youth, things more awful than being discriminated against when they grow up and not being allowed to marry someone they love solely because they are gay.
There is no logical reason for banning gay marriage, and every reason to allow it. Illinois should overturn their law that prohibits it, and the many other states that have similar laws should do the same, which they will of course do, because it is of course inconceivable that a government official would make decisions affecting so many people based on his religious beliefs.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Gay marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, Illinois
12 August 2006
Freedom-Hating at Home
There is some concern (and, from some others, joy) that the events in Britain may help George Bush get his policy on civil liberties accepted. That policy, in five words, is the lack of civil rights. The fourth amendment is apparently an inconvenience for him, never mind that he can get warrants through the FISA court secretly anyway, it's just easier to pretend it doesn't exist. We wouldn't want to have the terrorists take away our freedom because George Bush was too busy looking out for it.
Wiretapping without warrants will not, no matter what Bush says, help stop people from dying. Neither will taking the time to get a warrant, like to make it legal and unimportant things like that. Countless Americans are nonetheless ready to tear up the Bill of Rights to keep themselves safe from foreigners and nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. If that's not "freedom-hating", what is?
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Terrorism, Politics of Fear
Wiretapping without warrants will not, no matter what Bush says, help stop people from dying. Neither will taking the time to get a warrant, like to make it legal and unimportant things like that. Countless Americans are nonetheless ready to tear up the Bill of Rights to keep themselves safe from foreigners and nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. If that's not "freedom-hating", what is?
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Terrorism, Politics of Fear
09 August 2006
REAL ID Should Have Been Defeated
The State Senate in New Hampshire barely rejected a measure that would have rejected the REAL ID Act recently. New Hampshire, the "live free or die" state, seemed like it should be especially interested in preserving civil liberties, but it has instead preserved the future of an act that will just the opposite.
The REAL ID Act would create a "unified driver's license system," otherwise known as a national ID card. It is so invasive and pointless that the ACLU has created an entire website devoted to protesting the REAL ID Act (www.RealNightmare.org). It creates a federalized identity documentation system that would be necessary to do countless things, from flying on a commercial airplane to opening a bank account. It makes it extremely easy for the US government to keep careful track of everyone, or at least everyone who wants to enter a federal building or do anything else that "the secretary [of Homeland Security] shall determine."
Yeah, anything else that Homeland Security wants to keep tabs on.
Surely our Congress will not be so stupid as to pass an act such as this one? The burden it would place on those who lost their birth certificate, don't have a driver's license, or the thousands of Hudson County, NJ residents who had their birth certificates invalid due to fraud by a clerk, would be far too much for a nonexistent increase in our national security?
Yes, they would, and in fact already did. It will take effect in 2008. It was passed as part of a necessary Iraq War/Tsunami relief bill that had to be passed rapidly. There was little time for consideration, and the Senate did not hold any hearings on the act at all.
It can still fail to take effect, though. The issue is now in the hands of the states, who would have to change their laws, raise taxes, and do a number of other things that they would prefer not to. If states refuse to comply with the act, which they can do entirely legally, the system couldn't work. Just because New Hampshire didn't make the first step doesn't mean it can't be made.
The ACLU Real Nightmare site has a FAQ about the problems and worthlessness of the REAL ID Act (fixed text size, unfortunately).
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, REAL ID Act, Terrorism, Politics of Fear
The REAL ID Act would create a "unified driver's license system," otherwise known as a national ID card. It is so invasive and pointless that the ACLU has created an entire website devoted to protesting the REAL ID Act (www.RealNightmare.org). It creates a federalized identity documentation system that would be necessary to do countless things, from flying on a commercial airplane to opening a bank account. It makes it extremely easy for the US government to keep careful track of everyone, or at least everyone who wants to enter a federal building or do anything else that "the secretary [of Homeland Security] shall determine."
Yeah, anything else that Homeland Security wants to keep tabs on.
Surely our Congress will not be so stupid as to pass an act such as this one? The burden it would place on those who lost their birth certificate, don't have a driver's license, or the thousands of Hudson County, NJ residents who had their birth certificates invalid due to fraud by a clerk, would be far too much for a nonexistent increase in our national security?
Yes, they would, and in fact already did. It will take effect in 2008. It was passed as part of a necessary Iraq War/Tsunami relief bill that had to be passed rapidly. There was little time for consideration, and the Senate did not hold any hearings on the act at all.
It can still fail to take effect, though. The issue is now in the hands of the states, who would have to change their laws, raise taxes, and do a number of other things that they would prefer not to. If states refuse to comply with the act, which they can do entirely legally, the system couldn't work. Just because New Hampshire didn't make the first step doesn't mean it can't be made.
The ACLU Real Nightmare site has a FAQ about the problems and worthlessness of the REAL ID Act (fixed text size, unfortunately).
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, REAL ID Act, Terrorism, Politics of Fear
08 August 2006
Another Attack on Journalists
Press freedom is important, but that doesn't mean that it needs to be more controlled, it means the press should have more freedom. The New York Civil Liberties Union, the New York affiliate of the ACLU, reports that New York City Police have frequently detained photographers and filmmakers and forced them to show their film to the police, and even to destroy it.
The practice was noticed when Rakesh Sharma, a noted maker of documentaries, was held for several hours after filming taxicabs in NYC. The NYPD has no procedure for dealing with such occurrences, which often results in the detainment of innocent photographers or filmers.
These people are threatened with arrest if thy refuse to show their photographs and/or destroy them.
The NYCLU is suing the NYPD for harassing and detaining photographers.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Press Freedom, Rakesh Sharma, NYPD
The practice was noticed when Rakesh Sharma, a noted maker of documentaries, was held for several hours after filming taxicabs in NYC. The NYPD has no procedure for dealing with such occurrences, which often results in the detainment of innocent photographers or filmers.
These people are threatened with arrest if thy refuse to show their photographs and/or destroy them.
The NYCLU is suing the NYPD for harassing and detaining photographers.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Press Freedom, Rakesh Sharma, NYPD
07 August 2006
What Happened to Press Freedom?
Trying to control the press was something only Soviets and Nazis did, right? The American people would never stand for it in their own country. Why, then, is journalist Josh Wolf imprisoned?
Josh Wolf was jailed last week for contempt of court by judge William Alsup, after refusing to release unedited video footage, because investigators believe it may contain footage of a police car being set on fire during a G8 protest in San Francisco, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In an odd twist of fate type thing, he was brought before federal judiciary authorities because it was a federal vehicle. If it had been owned by the state of California, Mr Wolf would not have been in prison, as California protects such things as press freedom.
In a totally unrelated incident, there was once a US president who was born in California in 1913. He was called Richard M. Nixon, and he didn't like giving tapes to courts, either. In fact, when the Supreme Court said they wanted some of the tape recordings he had, he deleted about eighteen and a half minutes of their content, what many people consider to be the important eighteen and a half minutes. Back in the day though, the federal government was more forgiving, and they let him resign and go on his way.
Mr Wolf has a blog at www.JoshWolf.net.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Press Freedom, Josh Wolf, William Alsup
Josh Wolf was jailed last week for contempt of court by judge William Alsup, after refusing to release unedited video footage, because investigators believe it may contain footage of a police car being set on fire during a G8 protest in San Francisco, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In an odd twist of fate type thing, he was brought before federal judiciary authorities because it was a federal vehicle. If it had been owned by the state of California, Mr Wolf would not have been in prison, as California protects such things as press freedom.
In a totally unrelated incident, there was once a US president who was born in California in 1913. He was called Richard M. Nixon, and he didn't like giving tapes to courts, either. In fact, when the Supreme Court said they wanted some of the tape recordings he had, he deleted about eighteen and a half minutes of their content, what many people consider to be the important eighteen and a half minutes. Back in the day though, the federal government was more forgiving, and they let him resign and go on his way.
Mr Wolf has a blog at www.JoshWolf.net.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Press Freedom, Josh Wolf, William Alsup
06 August 2006
It's Not Illegal, It's a Response to a Threat
At the New York Times National section, there's a navigation tool
in the middle, listing sub-sections you can visit to find what you're looking for. One might assume that if you wanted to learn about civil liberties issues, you would visit the "Supreme Court" sub-section. In reality, though, such articles are in what the NYT calls the "Threats and Responses" sub-section. That's right, it's not a violation of the Bill of Rights, it's just a response to a threat.
One such response was the suggestion by several lawmakers to fire a professor in Wisconsin be fired for some of his more peculiar ideas. There is a picture of the professor, too, and he looks very threatening.
The White House likes to frighten the American people with stories of such threats: threats to the nation, threats to future generations, threats to the Christian way of life, and other such terrifying ideas. Then, anything outrageous they do is not outrageous, it's just to keep us safe, a response to a threat.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Bill of Rights, Terrorism, Academic Freedom, New York Times, Politics of Fear
in the middle, listing sub-sections you can visit to find what you're looking for. One might assume that if you wanted to learn about civil liberties issues, you would visit the "Supreme Court" sub-section. In reality, though, such articles are in what the NYT calls the "Threats and Responses" sub-section. That's right, it's not a violation of the Bill of Rights, it's just a response to a threat.
One such response was the suggestion by several lawmakers to fire a professor in Wisconsin be fired for some of his more peculiar ideas. There is a picture of the professor, too, and he looks very threatening.
The White House likes to frighten the American people with stories of such threats: threats to the nation, threats to future generations, threats to the Christian way of life, and other such terrifying ideas. Then, anything outrageous they do is not outrageous, it's just to keep us safe, a response to a threat.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Bill of Rights, Terrorism, Academic Freedom, New York Times, Politics of Fear
05 August 2006
Getting Around the First Amendment
The first amendment is intended to protect our freedom of speech, among other things. That right is on of the most essential in America, and violating it, although many on the Supreme Court might disagree, is illegal. Now the Bush administration has found a way around this inconvenient part of our law system: using someone else's law system.
In 2003, George Bush signed the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention, or Cybercrime Treaty, which requires that signatories aid each other in investigating and/or prosecuting for breaking the first country's laws, regardless of the rights guaranteed in the assisting nation. According to an an article by the ACLU, the senate has now ratified it. Thus, the FBI may investigate an American for a cyber-related occurrence that is protected under the Bill of Rights, because another country might not protect that right. Some signing nations are emerging democracies, and may not have the same protections as the US, such as Ukraine and Bulgaria.
In some ways, this should be a huge issue that the senate would now feel ashamed of ratifying, but in other ways our first amendment rights have been taken since they were created.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Cybercrime Treaty, Internet, Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention
In 2003, George Bush signed the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention, or Cybercrime Treaty, which requires that signatories aid each other in investigating and/or prosecuting for breaking the first country's laws, regardless of the rights guaranteed in the assisting nation. According to an an article by the ACLU, the senate has now ratified it. Thus, the FBI may investigate an American for a cyber-related occurrence that is protected under the Bill of Rights, because another country might not protect that right. Some signing nations are emerging democracies, and may not have the same protections as the US, such as Ukraine and Bulgaria.
In some ways, this should be a huge issue that the senate would now feel ashamed of ratifying, but in other ways our first amendment rights have been taken since they were created.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, First Amendment, Free Speech, Cybercrime Treaty, Internet, Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention
04 August 2006
Election Fraud Soon to be Hidden
As almost everyone knows, the 2000 election did not result in the popularly elected president actually becoming president. Fewer people are aware that there were a number of uncertainties associated with the 2004 election. The paper ballots in Ohio, the state with perhaps the most issues, are set to be destroyed on September 3rd, according to Save the Ballots.org. Over 170,000 people who intended to vote never did, and 130,000 ballots were never counted. Over 10,500 people who voted for gay marriage also voted for George Bush, according to official records, which is more than a somewhat unusual way to vote.
After the paper trail is destroyed, there will be no way to verify the official counts, or to prove them inaccurate. A more complete report on the occurrences of 2004 across the nation can be found at the Project Censored website. They include the fact that the number of votes was greater than the number of registered voters even though some participation rates in Democratic strongholds apparently fell to 8%. Now, all evidence of this in Ohio is going to disappear.
Imagine if Richard Nixon had removed 18 and a half minutes of tape recordings to cover up Watergate, or if the government kept portions of a 47-volume history of the Vietnam War classified. The American people would be outraged. They'd stand up, call for knowledge of what their government was doing, and demand their rights. It's government by the people, for the people, right?
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, 2004 Election, Ohio, Voting Rights, Paper Trail, Election Fraud
After the paper trail is destroyed, there will be no way to verify the official counts, or to prove them inaccurate. A more complete report on the occurrences of 2004 across the nation can be found at the Project Censored website. They include the fact that the number of votes was greater than the number of registered voters even though some participation rates in Democratic strongholds apparently fell to 8%. Now, all evidence of this in Ohio is going to disappear.
Imagine if Richard Nixon had removed 18 and a half minutes of tape recordings to cover up Watergate, or if the government kept portions of a 47-volume history of the Vietnam War classified. The American people would be outraged. They'd stand up, call for knowledge of what their government was doing, and demand their rights. It's government by the people, for the people, right?
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, 2004 Election, Ohio, Voting Rights, Paper Trail, Election Fraud
03 August 2006
The Evolution of the Kansas Board of Education
The Kansas Board of Education has come a long way since removing almost all mention of evolution from the high school biology curriculum in 1999. Voters in Kansas voted for moderates that favored evolution in Republican primaries last week, according to the The New York Times.
The First Amendment requires a separation between church and state, thus, religious views cannot be taught in public schools. Intelligent Design is not supported by any actual facts or believed in by anyone not religious, and its connection to religious beliefs is not disputed. One wonders what went wrong in 1999.
When it comes to boards of education, the best curriculums survive to next September, and the Biblical biology classes mandated by the religious right were killed off by Kansas voters.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Censorship, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Education, Kansas, First Amendment, Religion
The First Amendment requires a separation between church and state, thus, religious views cannot be taught in public schools. Intelligent Design is not supported by any actual facts or believed in by anyone not religious, and its connection to religious beliefs is not disputed. One wonders what went wrong in 1999.
When it comes to boards of education, the best curriculums survive to next September, and the Biblical biology classes mandated by the religious right were killed off by Kansas voters.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Censorship, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Education, Kansas, First Amendment, Religion
02 August 2006
Miniature Flags a Threat to Cheney
In Mid-July, Vice President Dick Cheney came to Davenport, Iowa. A number of people organized a protest, and many of them had small flags on sticks, according to an article by The Progressive. The police protecting the VP consfiscated the small flags, to protect Cheney from the threat they clearly posed.
On occasion, Mr. Cheney wears small lapel pins with American flags shown on them. On the back lies the danger. Lapel pins are secured by a sharp, pointed object. Mr. Cheney should stop wearing these immediately. They could cause him serious harm.
More importantly though, he should stop hunting. Though he may not be aware of it, guns are actually more threatening to his well-being than flags are. They can even result in almost instantaneous death. As an unfortunate incident some time ago demonstrated, Mr. Cheney's aim is, sadly, deteriorating. It may no longer be safe for him to use guns.
Also deemed a threat was a photographer at the event.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Censorship, Dick Cheney, Hunting, Davenport, Cheney Hunting, Small Flags, Free Speech
On occasion, Mr. Cheney wears small lapel pins with American flags shown on them. On the back lies the danger. Lapel pins are secured by a sharp, pointed object. Mr. Cheney should stop wearing these immediately. They could cause him serious harm.
More importantly though, he should stop hunting. Though he may not be aware of it, guns are actually more threatening to his well-being than flags are. They can even result in almost instantaneous death. As an unfortunate incident some time ago demonstrated, Mr. Cheney's aim is, sadly, deteriorating. It may no longer be safe for him to use guns.
Also deemed a threat was a photographer at the event.
Tags: Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Censorship, Dick Cheney, Hunting, Davenport, Cheney Hunting, Small Flags, Free Speech
01 August 2006
Censorship at Home, Censorship Abroad
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