Latest #NSA ruling

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An excerpt from this article

U.S. NEWS
Judge Backs the NSA's Surveillance
Ruling on U.S. Phone Data Contradicts Recent Decision, Boosting Likelihood of Supreme Court Review

Judge Pauley:

"No doubt, the bulk telephony metadata collection program vacuums up information about virtually every telephone call to, from, or within the United States. That is by design, as it allows the NSA to detect relationships so attenuated and ephemeral they would otherwise escape notice," he wrote. "As the September 11th attacks demonstrate, the cost of missing such a thread can be horrific."

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This is a perfect example of hype (in the name of National Security and terrorism) over substance..

Lets examine the statement "the cost of missing such a thread can be horrific"

While I agree the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans (13 years ago), whose only mistake was showing up for work, is, as defined, horrific lets take a common sense look at the use of the word "horrific" in this particular instance.

Is it equally "horrific" that..

Something close to 2,500 Americans die every single year from choking on "food"?

Mostly children, the most innocent among us..

That some 2,700 Americans die every year from "fire".

"A smoking gun isn’t the only thing that can kill — smoking, flaming and burning homes typically kill thousands of folks each year."

That 25,000 Americans die every year from "falls".

"Falls killed about 25,000 people in 2009, according to the National Safety Council, with those over age 65 making up the vast majority of the victims."

That 39,000 Americans die every year from "drugs".

"Drugs account for more than 10 times the amount of poisoning deaths of all other substances, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Top culprits are opioid pain medications, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone, with cocaine and heroin ranked second and third." (I might add many if not most of these drugs are legally obtained).

That 42,000 Americans die every single year from "auto accidents".

"If motorists would stop texting, cell-phone yakking, applying makeup and eating while driving, we’d surely have fewer than the 36,000 deaths associated with motor vehicle crashes the National Safety Council reported for 2009. Distracted driving is the No. 1 offender and young adults are the No. 1 offenders, with their fatal crash rate three times higher than any other age group."

2,000 Americans die each year of drowning..

Lets add up these annual death totals to arrive at 113,200 American deaths PER YEAR.

This is where I end up..

As "horrific" as it may be that 3,000 Americans died as the result of a terrorist attack 13 years ago (an average annual death rate of 230 Americans per year as a result of terrorism, excluding the 12 terrorism deaths attributed to Maj. Nidel Hasan since they are classified by our own government as "work place violence").

So my question is a rather simple one..

Where are the TRILLIONS of dollars of taxpayer fiat to battle the top 5 leading causes of American death over the last 13 years that total 1,471,600 vs not only the fiat, but loss of life and limb involved in ever present "war on terror"?

There's a big difference in passing mandatory seat belt laws and indiscriminately peering at every phone call, email and web browse of every person on the planet, including those of the people you are obligated to protect from just such Orwellian abuses of power.

Are you willing to give up your constitutionally garanteed right to privacy from government intrusion to fight the 10 times more likely death caused by fire?

I will vote for liberty and freedom every single time..

Greg

Above data from Top 5 Causes of Accidental Death in the United States

Happy Holidays plus a nice poem :) - Desiderata Poem by Max Ehrmann

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My cousin shared this poem with me & I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share it with you as well ;)

The happiest of holiday wishes to everyone ;)

-Greg
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Desiderata Poem by Max Ehrmann

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.