Senate Debates Communications, Digital Overwatch 04/02/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
GENEVA, TERRA (PREFECTURE X)--The recent discovery of a Capellan spy ring,
centered on the Kressly Technologies facility on Epsilon Eridani, has renewed the
Republican Senate debate over establishing a nationwide communications and digital
traffic overwatch, which would be aimed at locating political insurgents and hostile
agents infiltrating The Republic before they become a threat to national security. As
expected by champions on both sides of the issue, emotions ran hot during the latest
discussions over the proposed bill, which would grant The Republic the authority to
eavesdrop on all forms of domestic and interplanetary communications within its
borders.
Speaking on behalf of the senators opposed to the bill, known as the Vasquez Bill for
its original author, Senator Jennifer Vasquez of New Kyoto (Prefecture VIII), Senator
Elan MacCain (Skye, Prefecture IX) took to the floor with an impassioned speech.
“Passing this bill puts another nail in the coffin for basic human liberties and civil
rights in The Republic,” said MacCain. “Not only does it deprive the common citizens
of their rights under a free and peace-loving state, but it also jeopardizes the basic
trust of the people in their government, and turns our leaders into watchdogs, no
better than the dictators of ages past.”
Proponents of the bill, however, have disagreed, saying that the need to protect The
Republic against both internal and external threats overrides the right of individual
secrecy. Senator Lina Derius (Fomalhaut, Prefecture X), championed the bill from the
floor of the Republican Senate.
“The security of The Republic and its people must be protected at whatever the cost,”
said Derius. “With a great deal of The Republic’s authority now vested in its various
local military leaders and planetary governors, and with many of those same citizens
suddenly perverting said authority to raise armies of questionable loyalty at best, and
overt treachery at worst, it has become of paramount importance that our intelligence
community obtains as much information as possible about potential internal threats.
What use is protecting our citizens’ right to privacy if we sacrifice their lives in so
doing? What hope does this body have of restoring order and peace if it cannot
maintain any semblance of central authority for the sake of personal vanities?”
With opinion on the Vasquez Bill divided almost evenly among the reduced Senate, and
an unprecedented third of the Legislature on the fence, the debate still rages on, and
may continue to do so for weeks according to some government analysts. Even on
the streets of The Republic itself, public opinion is sharply--and evenly--divided.
“It’s appalling, to say the least,” said Belinda Blair, an e-bank teller from Des Moines,
Terra. “I can’t believe the situation has come to this. Is the government now trying to
say it’s so scared that it has to watch all of us? That it suspects us all of being
potential terrorists or Liao spies? Today, they want to listen in on everything we say,
and read everything we write, but what about tomorrow? Will they want to install
holocameras in every home, so they can watch us in case we start using sign
language? Where will it all end?”
“I guess if one has nothing to hide, then one has nothing to fear,” said Shatori Nasaki,
a plant manager in New Tokyo, Terra. “The Republic is surrounded by enemies who
would see it fail, and are now seizing upon their chance to make it happen. If it takes
letting the government look through my spam to track them down, I don’t mind the
disruption.”
Towne Log
+ It’s amazing how far just a little paranoia goes, huh guys? :- Hippee
+ Come on, man. This is some serious stuff they’re talking about. Have you read
what’s in that bill? The Republic gets the right to monitor all your communications--
electronic, voice, video, even hardcopy--analyzing it for style and content. There’s
provisions for ‘just cause’ to be sure, but the provisions are flimsy, indeed. Hell, if the
powers-that-be want to lock you up for having too many zits on your face, they can
find an excuse in that legalese monstrosity! :- Chungabunga
+ I don’t know what’s scarier, Chungabunga. The implications of what you just said,
or the fact that you actually read legalese! :- RepMan
+ Another comedian! Sheesh! :- Chungabunga
+ Okay, look. I KNOW this is a serious thing, CB, but it seems to me the government’
s going to do what it’s probably been doing all along; they just want to make it legal-
like, now that there’s a credible threat. :- Kurious
+ House freaking LIAO is a credible threat!? What are you on, Kurious? :- WetWillie
+ Hey now! Liao has always been tough in the intelligence category. Sure, they’re the
smallest state nowadays, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t shifty. Nobody that small
could have come through the Succession Wars without some brains and cunning, you
know. :- XSOkay
+ What it all comes down to is this: Big Brother will be watching all of us if the Senate
passes that Kerensky-forsaken bill of theirs. At that point, the government wins the
right to read every little love note you type, and record every network site you visit. I
don’t know about any of you, but I find that kind of thing embarrassing and
dehumanizing. My life shouldn’t become a government nerd’s peep show! :-
Chungabunga
+ Agreed, Chungabunga. Besides, who watches the watchers? :- Hippee
+ Exactly, Hippee. :- Chungabunga
INN - Interstellar News Network
GENEVA, TERRA (PREFECTURE X)--The recent discovery of a Capellan spy ring,
centered on the Kressly Technologies facility on Epsilon Eridani, has renewed the
Republican Senate debate over establishing a nationwide communications and digital
traffic overwatch, which would be aimed at locating political insurgents and hostile
agents infiltrating The Republic before they become a threat to national security. As
expected by champions on both sides of the issue, emotions ran hot during the latest
discussions over the proposed bill, which would grant The Republic the authority to
eavesdrop on all forms of domestic and interplanetary communications within its
borders.
Speaking on behalf of the senators opposed to the bill, known as the Vasquez Bill for
its original author, Senator Jennifer Vasquez of New Kyoto (Prefecture VIII), Senator
Elan MacCain (Skye, Prefecture IX) took to the floor with an impassioned speech.
“Passing this bill puts another nail in the coffin for basic human liberties and civil
rights in The Republic,” said MacCain. “Not only does it deprive the common citizens
of their rights under a free and peace-loving state, but it also jeopardizes the basic
trust of the people in their government, and turns our leaders into watchdogs, no
better than the dictators of ages past.”
Proponents of the bill, however, have disagreed, saying that the need to protect The
Republic against both internal and external threats overrides the right of individual
secrecy. Senator Lina Derius (Fomalhaut, Prefecture X), championed the bill from the
floor of the Republican Senate.
“The security of The Republic and its people must be protected at whatever the cost,”
said Derius. “With a great deal of The Republic’s authority now vested in its various
local military leaders and planetary governors, and with many of those same citizens
suddenly perverting said authority to raise armies of questionable loyalty at best, and
overt treachery at worst, it has become of paramount importance that our intelligence
community obtains as much information as possible about potential internal threats.
What use is protecting our citizens’ right to privacy if we sacrifice their lives in so
doing? What hope does this body have of restoring order and peace if it cannot
maintain any semblance of central authority for the sake of personal vanities?”
With opinion on the Vasquez Bill divided almost evenly among the reduced Senate, and
an unprecedented third of the Legislature on the fence, the debate still rages on, and
may continue to do so for weeks according to some government analysts. Even on
the streets of The Republic itself, public opinion is sharply--and evenly--divided.
“It’s appalling, to say the least,” said Belinda Blair, an e-bank teller from Des Moines,
Terra. “I can’t believe the situation has come to this. Is the government now trying to
say it’s so scared that it has to watch all of us? That it suspects us all of being
potential terrorists or Liao spies? Today, they want to listen in on everything we say,
and read everything we write, but what about tomorrow? Will they want to install
holocameras in every home, so they can watch us in case we start using sign
language? Where will it all end?”
“I guess if one has nothing to hide, then one has nothing to fear,” said Shatori Nasaki,
a plant manager in New Tokyo, Terra. “The Republic is surrounded by enemies who
would see it fail, and are now seizing upon their chance to make it happen. If it takes
letting the government look through my spam to track them down, I don’t mind the
disruption.”
Towne Log
+ It’s amazing how far just a little paranoia goes, huh guys? :- Hippee
+ Come on, man. This is some serious stuff they’re talking about. Have you read
what’s in that bill? The Republic gets the right to monitor all your communications--
electronic, voice, video, even hardcopy--analyzing it for style and content. There’s
provisions for ‘just cause’ to be sure, but the provisions are flimsy, indeed. Hell, if the
powers-that-be want to lock you up for having too many zits on your face, they can
find an excuse in that legalese monstrosity! :- Chungabunga
+ I don’t know what’s scarier, Chungabunga. The implications of what you just said,
or the fact that you actually read legalese! :- RepMan
+ Another comedian! Sheesh! :- Chungabunga
+ Okay, look. I KNOW this is a serious thing, CB, but it seems to me the government’
s going to do what it’s probably been doing all along; they just want to make it legal-
like, now that there’s a credible threat. :- Kurious
+ House freaking LIAO is a credible threat!? What are you on, Kurious? :- WetWillie
+ Hey now! Liao has always been tough in the intelligence category. Sure, they’re the
smallest state nowadays, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t shifty. Nobody that small
could have come through the Succession Wars without some brains and cunning, you
know. :- XSOkay
+ What it all comes down to is this: Big Brother will be watching all of us if the Senate
passes that Kerensky-forsaken bill of theirs. At that point, the government wins the
right to read every little love note you type, and record every network site you visit. I
don’t know about any of you, but I find that kind of thing embarrassing and
dehumanizing. My life shouldn’t become a government nerd’s peep show! :-
Chungabunga
+ Agreed, Chungabunga. Besides, who watches the watchers? :- Hippee
+ Exactly, Hippee. :- Chungabunga
| April 2, 3133 |