ATS Shut Down? HR 1955 Bill Could

I concur with the poster who said if the government wanted to shut ATS down it would already be over. The tools and means are already available to enforce whatever they will, and we already live in a state where anyone can be 'disappeared' if "they" felt the need.

The technology to monitor, catalog, and report internet activity by user has been in place for years. If you're wondering what could make them consider you a terrorist, it's simple; all it takes is one person within the national security network to mark you and it's done. No oversight, no reporting, no accountability. Depending on how egregious the event, we might never even know the circumstances under which you were 'detained.'

This site embodies no threat the order they represent. It is more likely an unwitting useful tool for some twisted analytical activity intended to gauge the effectiveness of disinformation campaigns, and other such PR activities.

Originally posted by ro01xc08
Just move the ATS servers outside of the US. It would be interesting to see them shut down a non US based website. Just need to check if abovetopsecret has been registered in other domains. We'd just have to remind them that US law only extends as far as US borders.

Its nice to see they are proposing laws that go against free speech, and the constitution, and even the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I'd love to see what theories would sprout up if this site was shut down... there would be many saying "I was right about (insert crazy thing) and they shut it down to silence us!!!11one!!eleventy" This site does have some very informative threads, but some are just pure crazy.... That's why I keep coming back

[edit on 25/3/08 by ro01xc08]

Iran is always an option, they have no copyright laws!

Well I wrote my senators this morning. I don't know what good it will do. My congressman voted in favor which doesn't really surprise me. A real earmarkaholic douchebag. A Democrat too... but I guess nobody wants to appear weak on terr'ism. It would just be nice if they gave a damn about that piece of paper they're sworn to uphold. Probably too much to ask.

Well,

Its been nice knowing all of you!

Had a great time here

I think that if ATS is going to be shut down, then you might as well start using it NOW!

stop bickering about what's real or not. Make up your own decision without reading about who is pro/con. Read about everything, despite how crazy it sounds!

ATS has a lot to offer here.

If this site already taught you how to think critically, and judge a circumstance from various points of view, then the 'man' can't take that away from you by shutting down a site.

Peace.

[edit on 26-3-2008 by quintar]

Originally posted by ro01xc08
Just move the ATS servers outside of the US. It would be interesting to see them shut down a non US based website.

"They do it all the time because the U.S. works with other governments to assist their crazy covert fascist tactics".


Just need to check if abovetopsecret has been registered in other domains. We'd just have to remind them that US law only extends as far as US borders.

"They think they run the world and need no reminder from us as to who is in charge...look around- you think they really care? I am surprised they push bills into laws at all anymore!


[edit on 25/3/08 by ro01xc08]

All we need to is mirror the site. The government is easy to rickroll because they are so arrogant. To shut down ATS they would need to pull the plug on the net. This can be done and is a likely possibility. The only reason its still around is because they have a use for it themselves!

I would mirror the site as would many- due to bandwidth problems, we'd lose some of the functionality and cool effects like animated avatars- but they cannot control the flow of information without cutting themselves off in the process. As soon as they figure that out- they will flip the switch.

Start databasing contact info with people's who's opinions you like just in case!

Yes, there is crazy stuff and truth on here!

edited because I still have not figured out how to catch quote and answers like the savvy members... I am off to the help forums!

[edit on 26-3-2008 by dk3000]

I'm not sure how it works, but it seems like in my country when something is going to be proposed as law the vagueness helps to tie everything up in debate until its time for everybody to go on their little holiday. It's usually something that will deflect interest from something that could do some good and make a difference. The politicians take plenty of time to mud sling and rehash the past so that the important parts can be obscured. Once it is passed it doesn't work properly and its too late to fix it because election time has rolled around again. Great job if you can get one. Wouldn't this bill be counter productive if it were applied to ATS? A lot of the threads I've followed have had participants accusing each other of being government disinfo agents. If there indeed is such a thing. It would be easier for your government to hire a few people to use its resources to participate in ATS threads and twist the facts and info in anything they might be involved or interested in just enough to influence our viewers. Why shoot the horse if they can buy a few carrots ? Thanks.

Where is the press on this? Shouldn't they be concerned that the whole pretext for their existence is being threatened here?

If these laws had been in place during Watergate..., ah never mind. Why rehash what we can already imagine would have happened? It sucks watching your patriotism being slowly transmuted into something like terrorism.

To think, I served 12 years to protect these jokers and their ilk, so they could turn around and sell us out like this.

Originally posted by DimensionalDetective
This is PRECISELY the type of things that the sleeping populace better be aware and alarmed of...

This fits right in with the Pentagon's spewing of "The Internet should be treated as an Enemy Weapons System".

The US Government would probably be much better of without any people in the world. Which, come to think of it, might be just what they're aiming for.

Originally posted by apc
Well I wrote my senators this morning. I don't know what good it will do. My congressman voted in favor which doesn't really surprise me. A real earmarkaholic douchebag. A Democrat too... but I guess nobody wants to appear weak on terr'ism. It would just be nice if they gave a damn about that piece of paper they're sworn to uphold. Probably too much to ask.

APC,

400 votes, I think damn near everyone voted for this one that is what scared the hell out of me.

I wrote mine as well. I am expecting a canned letter back any day now.

Originally posted by Maxmars
I concur with the poster who said if the government wanted to shut ATS down it would already be over. The tools and means are already available to enforce whatever they will, and we already live in a state where anyone can be 'disappeared' if "they" felt the need.

This is a very good point, but this bill allows them to go after anyone saying almost anything, on any forum they deem forceful or against the government.

It completely destroys the 1st amendment.

As a diehard to the bitterest end moderate and skeptic, I don't see the bill making it through the Senate and becoming law. If it did somehow, I don't see ATS in any real danger. ATS has actual middle-of-the-road news stories with enough Right and Left wing fringe issues to keep agencies like the NSA, NRO, and CIA monitoring the moods and replys for months. (It wouldn't surprise me that their spying right now.)

No, ATS is too valuable an insight into the psyche of modern down-to-earth America to be shelved by some law or bill infringing on the 1st amendment. Its like a person diagnosed with a curable disease, take away too many tests and doctors and you have no way of knowing how far the disease has been eliminated.

And thats not to say that ATS is a disease, don't call in the libel lawyers phu-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not law yet. There's still time to contact your state senator about this before it's too late. I started a thread a while back with info on how to contact them about this
www.abovetopsecret.com...

I dont think writing our congressman will matter they have totlal control over us. If they want it it will pass. Im even affraid to comment, because I maight be put on a watch list for being a terrorist Also I have to worry for my wifes job because she work for the gov. The may take it out on her

As far as I can see, this implicates most of the US Government, as well as the media networks as terrorsist.

These laws themselves, along with building camps, etc., are an implied or threatened use of force to achieve political objectives.

Originally posted by Realtruth
I wrote mine as well. I am expecting a canned letter back any day now.

I got a reply today from one of my senators, McCaskill (D), who is on the Senate Committee for Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs that is reviewing the legislation. It seemed to have actually been written just for me too! A couple paragraphs basically amounting to, paraphrasing, "it's not as bad as it's being made out to be," and, "I'm keeping an eye on it to make sure civil rights are not violated."

I don't know her well enough to say if I can trust her. I made the perception of this bill pretty clear. So we'll just have to see what happens.




[edit on 27-3-2008 by apc]

reply to post by apc


Wow! Nice work.



Kudos to you and your senator for actually writing you back personally. I wish somehow we could get this featured on ATS. lol

I didn't think senators were actually real.

Originally posted by Realtruth
HR 1955 Bill

en.wikipedia.org...

One is the perceived overly broad and vague definitions of "force", “home grown terrorism” and “violent radicalization” (section 899A). Critics charge that the vagueness in these definitions would permit the government to classify many types of venerated American political activity, such as civil disobedience, as terrorism. Critics frequently cite Section 899A which reads, in part: "The use, planned use, or threatened use, of force ...to coerce the ..government, (or) civilian population ..in furtherance of political or social objectives",[17] as particularly problematic. They argue that major societal reforms which are now accepted but were perceived at the time as threatening to the government, such as civil rights, suffrage, and others, would be classified as terrorism.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

All the things mentioned in Section 899A are already illegal under other laws, which unfortunately are not enforced.

Hmm it can't shut down. We all have a freedom of speech and can believe in what we want, even if its fictional. If our thoughts and beliefs bring in conspiracies why would they worry? They obviously have something to worry about then...

What should be pointed out is that 10 of the 14 sponsors are Democrats. That should tell you that even if a Democrat is elected President, we're in for more of the same. It's what many of us have been saying on ATS all along, it doesn't matter who is in power, THEY are all one big happy family, spending all of their time figuring out how to get money and power away from OUR families. A pox on THEIR house!