Ah, that’s why the last link was mangled, because I had to login first. This one’s all good.
This really irks me. The government announces a specific threat requiring these anti-terrorism measures to be rushed through. I hate being a conspiracy theorist, but I am. It just seems all too convenient, allowing the government to push through laws which are beyond the pale.
And the title of the post comes from this excerpt from the story
The amendment means people can be charged even if they are only considering carrying out a terrorist act, but have not yet decided when or where.
Or even if they’re going to do it. I’ve considered punching people in the face before, but haven’t done it. Should I have been detained for premeditated assault?
It just makes me angry. And angry that expressing that frustration or anger could theoretically have me detained for harbouring or promoting ill-will towards the government or the prime minister.
UPDATE: I felt, on rereading hours later while falling asleep at my desk, some of that could be said differently. It’s not that the laws themselves are a terrible idea if we really need to protect ourselves, but they are open to incredible abuses of power. That’s why these new terror laws are ‘beyond the pale’. While the current government may in all sincerity promise not to abuse the power they wield, do they control every administrator of that power? Technically, yes. Realistically, no. While technically every law enforcement agency and all personnell may be government employees, they can’t all be controlled centrally. That’s enough from me. can’t stay awake any longer.
3 comments ↓
“Minority Report”, anyone? Being arrested for thinking about something? Bit of all the Big Brother aspects of “1984″ coming through there. Most displeased. The power- and control-freaks amongst us will be fighting each other for the opportunity to be the ones who decide exactly what constitutes “considering carrying out”.
Weep for humanity.
Of course we’ll all be expected to sheepishly agree if many terrorists are detained. But what if you still can’t prove anything after detaining them for 90 days without needing to give a reason? Just let them go?
And if there IS a terrorist attack now after these laws have been introduced, I will go ballistic if anyone says, “SEE?! We need these terror laws to protect ourselves!”
“Have a look around,” I’ll say. “A terrorist attack just succeeded. Your terror laws did jack-all to stop it.”
thought crime
Leave a Comment