"The signal-to-noise ratio on this thread is quite low, but you are one of the few voices of reason.
Those screaming various insults are not actually debating the points made, with a few exceptions. This inability to rationally address points reflects poorly on the quality of people contributing to this forum, but it probably provides some insight into the mindset of the general GOP membership as well.
Of course the classic is simply attacking posters for saying anything remotely in agreement with Paul’s statement, without addressing the statement as well."
I haven't finished reading the rest of the thread, but I had to stop here to say thank you for your posts! I was beginning to wonder if I was on FR or a government cheerleading site. I honestly am amazed at the reaction here, when conservatives typically (unlike lefties) have some skepticism of government, and understand how important it is to be vigilant in regard to our freedom and individual rights. To me this thread is sad, very very sad.
“I haven’t finished reading the rest of the thread, but I had to stop here to say thank you for your posts! I was beginning to wonder if I was on FR or a government cheerleading site. I honestly am amazed at the reaction here, when conservatives typically (unlike lefties) have some skepticism of government, and understand how important it is to be vigilant in regard to our freedom and individual rights. To me this thread is sad, very very sad.”
Same here. Seeing these incendiary threads the last few weeks, reading the comments, and looking up the actual entire quote myself, I’ve come to take a 2nd look at Paul and what he actually says, vs what others have sometimes misrepresented him as saying.
He made a good point - I work in the IT industry and I worry about the power that things like credit records, other databases, etc have over people. With personal privacy goes individual liberty. Personal financial information about you is owned by a company. They make money by reporting information about you that you might contest to another entity that pays them for it.
Digital communications like cell phones provide location information base on tower triangulation. Etc etc. How can conservatives not question the impact these technologies have on our liberty?