Slashdot Mirror
Bob Barr Weighs In On Trusted Computing Group
bearwayne writes "Former representative Bob Barr (R-GA), a conservative and non-technophile, who has now has teamed up with the ACLU to fight growth of the Federal government's infringements on Civil Liberties ala the Patriot Act, weighs in on the Trusted Computing Group/Alliance in this article at Creative Loafing. Among other things, he expresses concerns about censorship, loss of control over one's PC, and other corporate/government abuses."
These folks make the case far better than I can:
;)
EFF's position paper
The American Library Association
Joe Barr mentioned a couple good points in his article at Creative Loafing.
Here's the DOJ's take. When you read it, ask yourself who defines a terrorist, and would you be willing to believe them?
Finally, the USA PATRIOT Act
(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Hell, with a cool ass acronym like that for a name, how could you possibly be against it
(read: How could you possibly not be against it. Tortuously clever acronyms are often a sign of bad policy)
(Score: -1, Stupid)
"Good to see some conservatives waking up"
The Patriot Act passed the Senate 99-1. Looks like the "conservatives" barely got it through. Way to be a tool.
Barr was considered a weirdo becuase he actually believed in things, and wasn't the type to sign on to something just because HP, Sony, Microsoft, Intel and Nokia were willing to pony up. I'm sure he handled some pork and favors over the years, but he's known best for his strong opinions.
It's refreshing to read this, especially in CL. His position on this truly is the the same as conservative and libertarian thinkers, if not Republican policticians. Left and right can agree on a lot of things if you erase the party labels. This issue isn't about left vs. right, it's about insiders vs. outsiders.
Unfortunately, the Repubs who actually stood for something before they got into power now seem all too willing to stick their fingers in the air and follow the winds of public opinion, or if they feel no wind, to take some cash and mumble something about "creating jobs."
John Ashcroft did not pass the USA Patriot Act. It was, in fact, passed by bi-partisan majorities in both houses of congress. Ashcroft agressively implements laws, and makes no apologies for that. I kind of like that in an AG. If you don't like it, write Congress, don't bitch about Ashcroft. He did not bring you the Patriot Act, and he cannot make it go away.
Same goes for bitching about Bush and war in Iraq (the war in general, not specifics of the prosecution of it). It was also approved by Congress. Some of the same people who voted for both things are now complaining about them. Congress is supposed to be a co-equal branch of the US Government, they have tremendous power which they did not choose to wield.
and just how, pray tell, would the author of the virus get his code signed by the TCG?
God you are a fucking idiot. Do you really think the TCG will be smart enough to use a signing method that is unhackable. Sorry, NOTHING is unhackable. Someone out there with a lot of time, brains, and hatred for the TCG who wants to send a message will figure out some way to get their virus "signed" withhout the TCG and let it lose. It doesn't even have to be malicious, it could just be a message that says something along the lines of "Because of the TCG's stupidity, and yours for trusting them, I now control your machine"
Never underestimate the abilities of smart people with a bit of time and something to say.
Now go take a glock, point it to your head, and squeese the trigger gently. Then you won't have to worry about "debunking" what you think is FUD anymore, and the world will be short one fucking idiot. No big loss.