Put away that video camera, it could be a felony!

[Fenring]

Something along those lines. Average citizens can only loose, while war profiteers do their dirty work. Sometimes those are the same people that create current politics, or more often have great influence over political decisions being made, with virtually zero public profile.

For instance in 1991. when war in Croatia broke out, a lot of monetary resources from within country as well as many donations from expatriates were used to buy weapons in spite of the embargo. In fact, thanks to the embargo, the state had to rely on weapon smugglers for procurement of weapons, and those are shady characters at best. Because all transactions were done secretly, there was a lot of headroom for profit on the side. In fact, there was so much headroom that when the volunteers came to the front, rifles and ammo were sold to them on site instead of receiving them for free as part of std. military equipment. To this day the general public is still in the dark as to where so much money disappeared while volunteers gave their saving and their lives on the front lines. Sadly we'll probably never know. Many of the responsible have either died by now, or have gone into self appointed exile, where the hand of law cannot reach them.

But that's just one facet of it. During the war the inner circle of the government used the current situation as an excuse to liquidate many industrial assets that Croatia had prior to break up of Yugoslavia. Many became wealthy virtually over night. I could go on, but it's too depressing.

Now, I'm not saying that anything as disgusting as this is happening in the US, but there's no denying that the US possesses a great war industrial complex with many jobs done for military outsourced to civilian contractors, and that, at least in some part, keeps the economy going. It's a kind of legitimized war profiteering, but with profits being shared more widely into the system, with average citizen benefiting as well. Also, one doesn't have to be particularly cunning to notice that most military actions conducted by US, Russia and other players, in the last 50+ years, can be characterized as moves to secure various resources and strategic interests, which eventually translate to resources. National pride is then used to sway public opinion into support of one's government's actions. Even the wisest have fallen for that one, because when politicians play the emotional cards, national pride is an ace.

[Guest24]

Originally Posted by jduke

Two points:
1 - dollars to donuts, the Harford state attorney is a Republican
2 - remember this the next time someone rags on the ACLU

1. no fair They are a predominantly D state, Jerry.

2. the aclu more than makes up for it in Bull Shi& lawsuits.

[hawkeyejohn14]

Originally Posted by jduke

Two points:
1 - dollars to donuts, the Harford state attorney is a Republican
2 - remember this the next time someone rags on the ACLU

1) you sir are correct: JOSEPH I. CASSILLY, State's Attorney (Republican)
2) good point!

[SergioK]

Common sense prevails!

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2010/09/motorcyclist_wins_taping_case.html

Motorcyclist wins taping case against state police

A Harford County Circuit Court judge ruled this afternoon that a motorcyclist who was arrested for videotaping his traffic stop by a Maryland State Trooper was within his rights to record the confrontation.

Judge Emory A Pitt Jr. tossed all the charges filed against Anthony Graber, leaving only speeding and other traffic violations, and most likely sparing him a trial that had been scheduled for Oct. 12. The judge ruled that Maryland's wire tap law allows recording of both voice and sound in areas where privacy cannot be expected. He ruled that a police officer on a traffic stop has no expectation of privacy.

"Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public," the judge wrote. "When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation."

[hawkeyejohn14]

Very happy to read this!

[PFFOG]

Somebody with a brain in the state finally intervened.

Now there is a state attorney that needs to get booted out of office for sure.

[Guest24]

Originally Posted by PFFOG

Somebody with a brain in the state finally intervened.

Now there is a state attorney that needs to get booted out of office for sure.

I wouldn't boot him, Richard. He was very essential in moving forward the cause of freedom. Everything in public is fair game for the pen and camera.

[SergioK]

Bubba... go back and re-read this: Motorcyclist jailed for 26 hours for videotaping gun-wielding cop

You are being as short sighted as the prosecutor. Do you really need a judge to tell you your actions are legal? After they raid your house, detain your family, you're still okay with yet another judge saying... oopsy, that wont' happen again?

I'd argue 'the cause' of freedom would NOT be necessary without such short sighted prosecutors and people who think the same way. I guess it's because I've lived in OTHER countries where there actually is common sense and there are more freedoms than in the U.S. That prosecutor lost sight of his role as a public servant so much so that he decided to actually prosecute a citizen that also happens to be a member of the military for something completely benign. He's a bad apple and needs to go.

[Guest24]

Sergio what I said was tongue-in-cheek, satire and all that. I had no intention of saying the prosecutor was correct. He does does further the cause of freedom with his buffoonery.

[PFFOG]

Originally Posted by Nail24

Sergio what I said was tongue-in-cheek, satire and all that. ...............

I need to design and get a utility patent a sarcasm smilie, I could make a fortune!!!

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by PFFOG

I need to design and get a utility patent a sarcasm smilie, I could make a fortune!!!

Here is a good starting point.