Guys, you’re missing something altogether more intrusive; they can watch you from space! Orbiting satellites can see you waving in your backyard. Hell, I can see every detail Of our home down to our grandchildren’s toys in our backyard on google Earth. I even used it on a recent trip to visit my brother in NC near the outer banks. Not only did I find the motel I was staying in but could read the road signs. Even if it’s not in real time it’s scary when you think about it and the military DO have real time satellites. I was recently on a site that showed Times Square in real time, 24/7. I even have a camera looking at me, right now on my I pad. Who’s to say that we may be entering the Minority Report of the future soon?

Cap’t Jack

You make a good point Cap’t. Our privacy has gradually been eroded in lots of ways, not the least of which is the constant tracking of our every move on the internet by all sorts of private companies who aren’t even required to live within the same constitutional guidelines as the government.

I think all of our rights become endangered though when we start to argue that they have been infringed here so why not there. I’m afraid we live in a post 911 society that’s so afraid of its own shadow that they are willing to give the authorities as much power and as many tools as they want if it provides them with a greater sense of safety. Lots of cities now have cameras on every major corner. Some law enforcement agencies want the right to use infrared cameras during surveillance without requiring a warrant. When we have drones patrolling overhead on a routine basis what will be next? Perhaps we will give them the right to access our laptop webcams without our notice whenever they feel “justified”. Its not that hard to do.

the difficulty in getting people fired up about this sort of thing is that everyone always thinks they have nothing to hide so why should they worry, but its not really about having anything to hide. Its about having the right to have a life that’s your own. One where every moment isn’t potentially open for public scrutiny.

Plant trees for privacy and to improve the enviroment.

garythehuman - 14 August 2012 04:26 PM

Plant trees for privacy and to improve the enviroment.

Yeah, I like that idea better than potato guns.  Shooting potatoes in the air seems a waste of potentially tasty, crispy french fries.  Plus you don’t know where all those potatoes are going to land.