Category Archives: Soft totalitarianism

About that SOTU: Did Anyone Realize Obama Was Working Off a New Constitution?

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Diana West.Net:

Feb 24

Written by: Diana West
Sunday, February 24, 2013 6:16 AM 

My latest Dispatch International article is an analysis of President Obama’s State of the Union address of February 12, 2013. The title my European editors gave it is, “President Obama Proposes New Constitution.” An eye-catching headline to be sure — although maybe what the president was really telling us is that he has already ratified his own new constitution and is busy enacting it.

From Dispatch International:

“Checks and balances” to be replaced by “the greater good”

WASHINGTON, D.C. President Barack Obama opened his 2013 State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress by quoting John F. Kennedy. Fifty-one years ago, JFK told assembled government leaders in the same ornate House chamber – the president’s cabinet, members of Congress, the twelve justices of the Supreme Court – that “the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress”.

Such rhetoric, then and now, couldn’t be more at odds with the “checks and balances” that America’s founding fathers built into the Constitution when they created three co-equal branches of government: the executive (the president), the legislative (Congress) and the judicial (the courts).

In 1962, Kennedy was addressing Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, which, one could argue, were more likely to be political (if not constitutional) partners than rivals. Today, however, Obama faces a divided Congress: a Democrat majority in the Senate but a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. In order to be “partners” in Obama’s idea of “progress”, House Republicans would have to surrender all remaining political and constitutional powers.

The presidential address that followed, in effect, laid out how they could do exactly that as President Obama ahistorically re-conceived the country’s core concepts in a manner best described as revolutionary. He further re-imagined the powers of the presidency itself.

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New police powers ‘will curb Press freedom’: Officers will be allowed to confiscate material from journalists

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Daily Mail:

  • Sweeping measures allow officers to demand information from sources
  • Changes may also see journalists forced to reveal whistleblowers’ identities
  • Worries over the affect new rules will have on freedom of speech

By Jack Doyle

PUBLISHED: 00:23 GMT, 15 February 2013 | UPDATED: 00:26 GMT, 15 February 2013

Police are set to be given powers to confiscate confidential material from reporters, sparking fears over press freedom in the UKPolice are set to be given powers to confiscate confidential material from reporters, sparking fears over press freedom in the UK. File picture

Police are set to be given new powers to seize confidential material from journalists.

In a worrying blow to Press freedom, the changes may also mean journalists will be forced to identify whistleblowers to the police.

Critics said the Home Office proposals, which follow recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson, would undermine investigative journalism and free speech.

It is feared that the changes will remove legal protections for anyone who releases material to reporters unless journalists can show their source did not breach confidentiality or act illegally.

The computer disc that contained the details of how MPs had been rampantly fiddling their expenses was technically stolen by a Westminster employee.

Padraig Reidy, of Index on Censorship, said: ‘These measures, if implemented, could have a real effect on journalism, free speech and the entire climate of  freedom in the UK.

‘They grievously undermine the concept of confidentiality between reporters and sources that is essential for investigative journalism.’

Currently, journalists have protection under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) from disclosing material to the police, even if  it had been obtained by a source  acting in breach of confidence or unlawfully.

But during the Leveson inquiry, the police argued those protections should be removed, and the judge agreed.

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Germany Monitoring Websites Critical of Muslim Immigration

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If criticizing critical government policies such as immigration and its effects on one’s own historical nation and culture is a criminal offense, then how is that not fascist totalitarianism?

a people for the government to serve the government

Watching the watcher watching

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mon, February 11, 2013

German authorities have officially confirmed that they are monitoring German-language Internet websites that are critical of Muslim immigration and the Islamization of Europe.

According to Manfred Murck, director of the Hamburg branch of the German domestic intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), his organization is studying whether German citizens who criticize Muslims and Islam on the Internet are fomenting hate and are thus criminally guilty of “breaching” the German constitution.

The BfV’s move marks a significant setback for the exercise of free speech in Germany and comes amid a months-long smear campaign led by a triple alliance of German multicultural elites, sundry Muslim groups and members of the mainstream media, who have been relentless in their efforts to discredit the so-called counter-jihad movement (also known as the “Islamophobes”) in Germany.

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Councils refuse to reveal number of homes they give to foreigners: Authorities stop giving figures amid worries over impact of immigration

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Many people I am sure have their own standard about where a government passes that fulcrum into totalitarianism. There are lots of markers where this could be reasonably argued. For me, it is where a government hides information from the public for fear that the public would object to, or attempt to alter public policy. I accept that in war time, some things may be kept secret. But what is the excuse in domestic policy such as this?

From the Daily Mail:

  • MPs have called for an inquiry into the suppression of council house information
  • Last year the Government acknowledged that nearly 800,000 public-owned houses are occupied by foreigners

By Steve Doughty

PUBLISHED: 00:49 GMT, 3 January 2013 | UPDATED: 07:55 GMT, 3 January 2013

Councils are trying to cover up the number of taxpayer-subsidised homes they are handing to foreigners, it was claimed yesterday.

Local authorities have stopped giving figures for how many houses and flats they have given to foreign citizens amid rising worries over the impacts of immigration, a report said.

Councils in London, where one in five publicly-financed homes are already known to be occupied by foreigners, are among those no longer supplying the figures.

Refusal: Local authorities have stopped giving figures for how many houses and flats they have given to foreign citizens amid rising worries over the impacts of immigration, a report saidRefusal: Local authorities have stopped giving figures for how many houses and flats they have given to foreign citizens amid rising worries over the impacts of immigration, a report said

Now MPs have called for an inquiry into the suppression of information on who gets council and housing association homes.

Labour’s Frank Field and Tory Nicholas Soames said in a statement on behalf of the cross-party Balanced Migration group: ‘This is a huge issue for many people.

‘The Government must now launch a full inquiry into what is going on in the allocation of social housing in London.’

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New York Newspaper to Release More Names of Gun Permit Owners After Uproar

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This is a truly horrible tactic by a newspaper. I think the publisher and editorial staff are richly deserving of similar treatment by others for what they are doing to legal and law abiding gun owners. I hope none of these people have stuff on their computers or in their homes that others might want to use for nefarious purposes. Because I can imagine their privacy will be as tenuous as they have made the privacy of these gun owners.

H/T Richard.

Townhall:

Dec 29, 2012 09:15 AM EST

Following the shooting in Newtown, CT a suburban New York newspaper sparked quite an uproar among gun enthusiasts by publishing names and addresses of residents who held pistol permits. Now this same newspaper is looking to publish even more names.

More names and addresses will be added to a map that was originally posted on Christmas Eve in the Journal News from White Plains, NY. The first map listed thousands of pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland county, which are just north of New York City.

Along with an article entitled “The gun owner next door: What you don’t know about the weapons in your neighborhood,” the map was compiled in response to the December 14 shooting deaths of 26 children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut, editors of the Gannett Corp.-owned newspaper said.

This next list will show the names of permit holders in Putnam County, New York. The county clerk told the newspaper that it is still compiling information.

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Fears over online censorship after Arab states call for global agreement to block websites and monitor emails

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Daily Mail:

  • Russia, Saudi Arabia and UAE among countries which signed have controversial new plan
  • Want to create multinational pact to allow countries to stop access to sites at eachother’s request
  • Includes measures that could allow authoritarian regimes to suppress opponents, critics warn
  • Has led to deep divisions at 193-country conference which is trying to re-write treaty on web regulation

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 07:32 EST, 10 December 2012 | UPDATED: 09:13 EST, 10 December 2012

An unexpected new proposal put forward by Arab states to create sweeping governmental powers to regulate the Internet today raised fears of an expansion of online censorship.

The plan, co-signed by Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, caused deep divisions when it was revealed over the weekend at a global conference which is attempting to re-write a longstanding treaty on web regulation.

A leaked draft of the Russia-led proposals would block some Internet locations and wrest control of allotting web addresses from a U.S.-based body.

It could allow governments to render websites within their borders inaccessible, even via proxy servers, and create multinational pacts in which countries could terminate access to websites at each others’ request.

A controversial proposal for a new treaty which would give countries more powers to block websites and monitor emails has been put forward by a group of Arab states at a global conference in Dubai (above)

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foster parents lost children for belonging to UKIP

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Foster parents ‘stigmatised and slandered’ for being members of Ukip

A couple had their three foster children taken away by a council on the grounds that their membership of the UK Independence Party meant that they supported “racist” policies.

The couple from near Rotherham who had the children they were fostering taken away after it was discovered they were supporters of UKIP

The couple from near Rotherham who had the children they were fostering taken away after it was discovered they were supporters of UKIP Photo: GEOFF PUGH

10:06PM GMT 23 Nov 2012

The husband and wife, who have been fostering for nearly seven years, said they were made to feel like criminals when a social worker told them that their views on immigration made them unsuitable carers.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the couple said they feared that there was a black mark against their name and they would not be able to foster again.

Last night campaigners representing foster parents described the decision as “ridiculous” and warned that it could deter other prospective foster parents from volunteering.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Ukip, described the actions of Rotherham borough council as “a bloody outrage” and “political prejudice of the very worst kind”.

Tim Loughton, the former children’s minister, said: “I will be very concerned if decisions have been made about the children’s future that were based on misguided political correctness around ethnic considerations.

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Russian news reports on creepy big-brother spy lamp posts

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Now this is ironic for those of us that remember the cold war. Russian media showing how the US government is planning to install lamp posts which spy on their own population. All part of the same paradigm. Let in millions upon millions of people who do not share our culture or our values way too fast to assimilate any of them, then pay massive amounts for them to retain their own culture and values, then when the 101% predictable problems appear due to so many who cannot possibly care about the host nations priorities, beliefs, values, property or even women etc. then we have to build a massively totalitarian state to maintain order. Frankly, and correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe it is a crime to counsel destruction of property, no American should tolerate one of these to exist. If private land owners or store owners want to surveil their own space thats one thing and even security areas by government is a kind of necessary exception but big brother lamp posts? I dunno.

RT:

Published: 15 May, 2012, 16:42
Edited: 15 May, 2012, 20:44

Street lights that can spy installed in some American cities

Street lights that can spy installed in some American cities

America welcomes a new brand of smart street lightning systems: energy-efficient, long-lasting, complete with LED screens to show ads. They can also spy on citizens in a way George Orwell would not have imagined in his worst nightmare.

­With a price tag of $3,000+ apiece, according to an ABC report, the street lights are now being rolled out in Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh, and may soon mushroom all across the country.

Part of the Intellistreets systems made by the company Illuminating Concepts, they have a number of “homeland security applications” attached.

Each has a microprocessor “essentially similar to an iPhone,” capable of wireless communication. Each can capture images and count people for the police through a digital camera, record conversations of passers-by and even give voice commands thanks to a built-in speaker.

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Bus driver sacked for being member of the BNP wins legal battle claiming dismissal was a breach of his human rights

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Mail Online:

  • Arthur Redfearn was sacked from his job driving a bus in Bradford, West Yorkshire
  • Judges ruled his employer Serco breached Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights – the Freedom of Assembly and Association
  • BNP leader Nick Griffin tweeted his congratulations to Arthur Redfearn

By Rachel Rickard Straus

PUBLISHED: 07:38 EST, 7 November 2012 | UPDATED: 09:56 EST, 7 November 2012

Victory: Arthur Redfearn won his case in the European Court of Human Rights Victory: Arthur Redfearn won his case in the European Court of Human Rights

A bus driver who was fired for being a member of the BNP has won a long legal battle claiming his dismissal was a breach of his human rights.

Arthur Redfearn, 56, was sacked from his job in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where he drove mainly Asian adults and children with disabilities.

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled today his employer Serco Ltd dismissed him only because of his membership of a political party.

This breaks Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights – the Freedom of Assembly and Association, the chamber of the court ruled.

The seven judges came to this conclusion on a 4-3 majority.

The court said neither passengers or colleagues had complained about Mr Redfearn, who was considered a ‘first-class employee’ before his BNP membership became public knowledge.

‘The Court was struck by the fact that he had been summarily dismissed following complaints about problems which had never actually occurred, without any apparent consideration being given to the possibility of transferring him to a non-customer facing role,’ it added.

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Anti-Sharia Activist Takes Leeds City Council To Tribunal

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ICLA Liberties Alliance:

By • on November 5, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact: Chris Knowles: Email: brus…@gmail.com Tel: +44(0)7805 185214

Anti-Sharia Activist Takes Leeds City Council To Tribunal

5 November 2012, Wakefield, UK: Chris Knowles a human rights activist from the International Civil Liberties Alliance (ICLA) has confirmed that he has initiated Employment Tribunal proceedings against Leeds City Council.  Mr Knowles’ case for unfair dismissal is scheduled to be heard by the Employment Tribunal on 13 March 2013. Mr Knowles who is assisted by the United States based The Legal Project, an activity of the Middle East Forum, said:

“The action taken against me by Leeds City Council is an outrageous and unacceptable attack on my fundamental human rights.  The right to freedom of expression is an essential part of any democratic society.  Leeds City Council conducted itself in the manner of a tyrant engaged in Star Chamber justice.  The Council’s action is both vindictive and politically motivated.  It is the equivalent of being dismissed for engagement in Trade Union activities.”

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Whatever happened to Free Speech? Cf UAF in Walthamstow and EDL in Westminster –

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New English Review:

Saturday, 27 October 2012

Readers will remember the appalling way the EDL were treated while exercising our democratic freedom to meet and protest in Walthamstow last month.  Today was set as the return to Walthamstow.

However last week Tommy Robinson and 53 men were arrested on the outskirts of London. Kev Carroll was arrested in Luton. Tommy Robinson remains in custody until after Christmas on charges concerning irregularities to the passport he used to visit the US for the commemoration of 11/9 last month. The other men are charged with conspiracy to cause a breach of the peace and allowed bail, on condition they do not enter East London. Paul Weston, leader of the British Freedom Party who was arrested for potentially causing a breach of the peace wile attempting to visit Tommy in prison has been released without charge.

Next the Home Seecretary Teresa May set a ban on all marches in four London boroughs for 30 days. Those boroughs were Waltham Forest, in order to prevent today’s proposed march, Islington, just in case anyone approached the Finsbury Park Mosque, Tower Hamlets, lest anyone contemplate a demonstration at the East London Mosque, and Newham (site of the proposed Megagmosque). According to the notice on WalthamForest’s website this order prevented ALL marches, except funeral processions and those commonly or customarily held in the area, which would cover something like the local Scouts annual St George’s Day parade. The Home Secretary does not have power to ban static demonstrations. However the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police issued an order under S14 of the Public Order Act 1986 banning any EDL event in London, other than a permitted rally outside the Houses of Parliament between 1pm and 2pm. One hour only, only in that spot. I was not served with S14 a notice but a man known to me has given me his copy which is below.

The UAF and their subsidiary organisation We Are Waltham Forest decided not to cancel their demo but to hold it as a “Victory Rally” As a former resident of Walthamstow who retains family connections I always had business there this weekend and decided I would lawfully go about it this morning. There was a strong police presence at all the transport hubs and railway stations. At Walthamstow Central Station UAF stewards were exhibiting their banners and attempting to sell their newspapers.

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