Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Bob Barr Weighs In On Trusted Computing Group

Posted by timothy on from the surprise dept.

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."

4 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Good to see some conservatives waking up by sjgman9 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Even though Barr is out of Congress, he's still an influential Republican who can spread word to those still in power. He's more of a libertarian, but unless the specifications and implmentations of the Trusted Computing stuff comes to light, we should all cast a weary eye on it. A lack of vigilance in this day and age should not be an excuse for complaining about lost rights. We can fight this battle now before the TCPA is shoved down our throats, and more importantly, we can fight with our wallets. Why should we buy computers that we cannot control? As a computer programmer, the TCPA scares me.

    1. Re:Good to see some conservatives waking up by HBI · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Barr was/is considered a weirdo to most of the Republican party. He isn't part of the ruling wing. His help is about equivalent to getting McCain's help - not much.

      The Republicans have a central elite groupthink that would make the Democrats blush. In unity there is power, they believe. This is true, but in unity also lies stodgy responses to external stimuli. In a year or so the Republicans will wake up in general and realize that this whole Ashcroft scenario is costing them big time.

      Probably on 11/05/04.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
  2. Bob Barr was against Medical Marijana in DC by red+elk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have a hard time believing Bob Barr is for civil liberties and people deciding their own laws- The people of Washington DC voted to use medical marijuana with a YES Vote and it was immediately blocked by Barr.

    So, he is for civil liberties and freedom ONLY if you agree if its 'morally' acceptable. Does it really matter that it was Marijana? Regardless of Washington DC being a federal district, The whole point is the people have voted and decided on an issue and it was completely overruled by the Federal Government. The hypocrisy is amazing! How can you be worried about censorship, Patriot Act, and government abuses when you were the very person who prevented the people from governing themselves?

    We need to wake up and see the whole story.

    1. Re:Bob Barr was against Medical Marijana in DC by craw · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Bob Barr, the author of the Defense of Marriage Act has been married three times and has been in court for failing to pay child support.

      Bob Barr kept campaigning for public office despite the request of his second wife that he stop because she was recupperating from beast cancer. He lost, soon after dumped her and immediately moved in with another women (his third wife).

      Bob Barr, leading the crusade against the adulterous Bill Clinton. Bob Barr, one of the Congressman "outed" out by Larry Flint, as having committed adultery (see above).

      Bob Barr, photographed licking whipped cream off the breast of a stripper at a fund-raising event.

      Bob Barr, pro-life advocate drove his second wife to and from the clinic where she had an abortion.

      The list goes on and on.

      Wonder why he is such a privacy advocate?