Sneaking stuff into a budget bill

[star-warrior]

Never mind the tax breaks for the rich, and the possibility of foreign countries legally but shadily buying influence in Washington, it's "Goodbye privacy" you might have to worry about the whims of any internet firm handing over all your browsing data without any oversight.


http://usuncut.com/politics/9-heinous-items-sneaked-into-budget-bill/

6. CISA surveillance bill added

In the wake of the recent mass shooting in San Bernardino, Congress renewed its push for the Cyber Internet Security Act (CISA) a controversial internet surveillance bill that would give private companies legal immunity from sharing users’ most intimate data with the federal government.

 

[T-Rexx]

Those who would trade a little liberty for a little security deserve neither, and will lose both.

 

[Stardreamer]

Slipping things into bills is stock and trade for congress. I've often thought one of the reforms we should make is a requirement that riders and amendments to a bill HAVE to relate to the subject of the bill. I'm sure they will find some ways around it but at least it would be harder.

 

[hotatlboi]

Slipping things into bills is stock and trade for congress. I've often thought one of the reforms we should make is a requirement that riders and amendments to a bill HAVE to relate to the subject of the bill. I'm sure they will find some ways around it but at least it would be harder.

Some state legislatures have this rule.

 

[vidarr]

Some state legislatures have this rule.

Then you run into another problem of how to get bipartisan agreement.
Signing onto a bill that is against your party's platform would get you voted out in the next election.

Unless you have a way to get laws passed without kickbacks. In some ways this country would be a lot better off with just one political party.

 

[TX-Beau]

Yeah there is no country that would be better off with only one political party.

 

[vidarr]

Yeah there is no country that would be better off with only one political party.

Political parties don't stand for much when they can be bought.
When money is involved, it's hard to follow your principles and accept a loss politically. This is why we have gerrymandering and 'fixing' of the electoral process.

 

[vidarr]

Regarding privacy,
Congress will continue to use these terrorist attacks as reason to increase surveillance. Despite the fact that government rarely acts on the intel they receive on known terrorists.

The only defense against this is for the average citizen to play crypto wars and up your own security. By using Tor browser or your proxy of choice. Don't keep your phone on you all the time.

 

[frankfrank]

In some ways this country would be a lot better off with just one political party.

Yeah there is no country that would be better off with only one political party.

Including this one (the United States). Give the Democrats absolute power, and things might "get better" for about two years...but, then, it would go zappity-blazes-all-to-hell as the new partisan tiers of absolute corruption, hubris and immorality are finally implemented.

I don't *THINK* that the über-powerful Democrats would go around exterminating anybody (who has already been born...). No...I don't THINK they would...

 

[rareboy]

For all intents and purposes, the US is now a single party state. The Democrats and the Republicans are all owned by the same corporations and individuals.

 

[Benvolio]

Chicago is a one party city and it is both broke and the nurder capital of the US. Its democrat politicians have put the taxpayers 63 billion in debt.

 

[jbrown329]

Chicago is a one party city and it is both broke and the nurder capital of the US. Its democrat politicians have put the taxpayers 63 billion in debt.

Which has absolutely fucking NOTHING to do with the thread. Go away troll.

 

[jbrown329]

For all intents and purposes, the US is now a single party state. The Democrats and the Republicans are all owned by the same corporations and individuals.

Which is why there needs to be a Constitutional amendment doing away with Citizen's United. Then all federal elections need to be publicly funded. No outside monies. Period. And to appease the teabaggers, that includes money from Unions. Unions could endorse, but give no money. Super PACs need to go the way of the dinosaurs.

As for CISA, here's a good place to keep up on internet privacy. https://www.eff.org/

 

[Kabluey]

Which has absolutely fucking NOTHING to do with the thread. Go away troll.

Well said.

Ideally things unrelated to government spending sneak their way in across many democracies.
There should be a corruption score card keeping tabs on representatives who sponsor corporate favours and attacks on human rights as insertions to unrelated bills.

 

[jbrown329]

Well said.

Ideally things unrelated to government spending sneak their way in across many democracies.
There should be a corruption score card keeping tabs on representatives who sponsor corporate favours and attacks on human rights as insertions to unrelated bills.

There is. This pertains to the USA. http://sunlightfoundation.com/