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Take the Test to See If You Might Be Considered a “Potential Terrorist” By Government Officials
There have been so many anti-terrorism laws passed since 9/11 that it is hard to keep up on what kinds of things might get one on a “list” of suspected bad guys.
We’ve prepared this quick checklist so you can see if you might be doing something which might get hassled.
The following actions may get an American citizen living on U.S. soil labeled as a “suspected terrorist” today:
- Questioning war (even though war reduces our national security; and see this)
- Criticizing the government’s targeting of innocent civilians with drones (although killing innocent civilians with drones is one of the main things which increases terrorism. And see this)
- Stocking up on more than 7 days of food (even though all Mormons are taught to stockpile food, and most Hawaiians store up on extra food)
- (Not having a Facebook account may soon be added)
Holding the following beliefs may also be considered grounds for suspected terrorism:
- Liking the Founding Fathers
- Being a Christian
- Being “anti-nuclear”
- Being “anti-abortion”
- Being “anti-Catholic”
- Being “anti-global”
Many Americans assume that only “bad people” have to worry about draconian anti-terror laws.
But as the above lists show, this isn’t true.
When even Supreme Court Justices and congressmen worry that we are drifting into dictatorship, we should all be concerned.
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My take on it seems to be quite a bit different from yours.
As an active investor or trader - well, trader more than investor - you NEED the same kinds of information that the deep-pocketed Hedgies and vaunted "Black Pools" do, in order to compete with them successfully.
Being spoon-fed what the "authorized" US, UK, and Canadian major media feeds you is just nowhere near good enough. (And Goddess help those who depend on the likes of Cramer and the Fast Ninnies only - or the incredibly bad "research" most brokerages post on their websites.)
Despite what the HFTs and Short-oriented Hedgies want the rest of us to believe, trading - let alone investing - is an art more than a science, meaning it can't be determined solely by algorithms competing with felllow algorithms.
I believe the ONLY way human traders can have any sort of an edge without absurdly deep pockets is by keeping aware almost minute by minute of what is going on in the world and analyzing it with human insight through those amazing computers - our brains.
If being tagged and tracked ad infinitum for seeking out usable information is the price smart traders and investors have to pay - so be it.
But from a cost-effectiveness - and pure effectiveness - point of view, many government intelligence gatherers are operating under some very serious Garbage In, Garbage Out illusions if those they persist in harassing are merely market participants correctly performing their "jobs" as good traders and investors.
Good points well taken V, Govt agency GIGO illusions ... apt.
Basically the Govt should not interfere with or attempt to restrict the free movement and competition of knowledge in all markets, or the competition of ideas in any other domain, either.
My guess is the current retarded US Govt propensity to clamp-down on information and open discussion and association is going to be over-run either by economic and material realities, or by a spiral social and political rebellion against it.
You also get targetted for reading web-sites frequented by "known" dissidents, so simply reading and posting here flags you as a "person of interest."
Smile for that drone up above and thanks for playing, "You may be a terrorist."
What's a 'terrorist'? Why are you even talking about it? It's a word, so abused and twisted by neo-con wankers that it's lost all meaning and credibility even as a concept. It's a label trotted out with no basis or logic other than the threat and smear value of it's own accusation. I don't live in fear of some brainwashed Govt wanker reading what I write. Do you? Seriously? Decide what sort of person you are.
I don't want to hear how intimidated people are feeling of the alleged danger of speaking freely and truthfully or associating-freely, in public, or on the Internet, nor about paranoia of being targeted in some way for it. It sounds weak and insipid, and more like someone formulating an excuse to be apathetic and mealy-mouthed. That's what it sounds like.
The "Message" seems a lot to do with "Governments" of many descriptions preferring the plebs to shut up and not rock the establishment boat. Heaven forbid the masses realisation that they, and ONLY THEY have the power - not the Politicians and their hangers on - since without the people's work, the politicians don't get paid (and neither do their "friends").
However looking on the bright side history clearly (and repetitively) shows us all that the "people" can only be squeezed so much - then we have those nasty little rebellions called Civil Wars.
And a LOT of European nations have interesting histories of Civil Wars don't they . . . . . . .
Once all of these folks are eliminated, it won't be any place I want to live. Compared to their new world, death isn't really that scary.
I'm pretty fucking insulted.
The authors/writers/bloggers/ etc who post on the Zerohedge.
Anyone who mourns/whines/on the zerohedge forum.
Anyone who makes fun of helicopter cash dispenser.
Anyone who votes Librarian?
Anyone who votes Republic/Democrat?
Anyone who fails to fill out voter registration,
Anyone who is not a federal employee, union worker;
Anyone who has a facebook account,
Anyone who defaults on the student loan, and,finally, catch all clause,
All others not mentioned/indicted above.
This article exhibits a misunderstanding of how it really works.
Your are a terrorist if:
1) You harbor pro-Catholic beliefs
2) You harbor anti-Catholic beliefs
Your liberty consists of the area between the two.
You can replace Catholic with any concept you wish.
At least I don't drive a van or wear a hoodie
What if you live in a van down by the river? Does that count?
Wearing a Snuggie
Wearing a beard
Funneling trillions of dollars of public funds oversees
Lying to congress
Lower lip quivering when speaking
Inability to give a direct answer to a direct question
Showing no remorse for anything…
"reading Zerohedge"
i'm guilty as charged !!!
to all those counts !!
also if you don't worship odummer and pray to him on your knees you are also a "TERRORIST"..although real terrorists are odummer's muslim brothers. They can do NO HARM.
Where is "owning a firearm" or "having more than 6 rounds for said firearm"???
Who is watching the watchers?
We are all terrorists now. Our only hope is to flood the Internet with so many key words that big brother has to hire everybody to keep up with it.
Does posting on ZH count?
JOHN HANCOCK MOTHER FUCKERS
Well stated.
Well, George, hopefully there will be 1 camp for everyone at ZH!
At least we'll have a great time until they gas our asses!
dupe
Being Christian or anti-Christian. That about covers it.
They better add "agnostic" to the list to close the loophole ...
That's me on the rendition list (I ain't American,bud). I've done everything except 1) wear a hoodie, 2) drive a van and 3) impose my religious values on others. Since I'm a (Not particularly good) Catholic, I guess I'm in for some "enhanced" treatment by those who blame me for everything from the Inquisition to the Holocaust.
Many people come to ZH to sniff out financial insider info (That does happen sometimes), tips on investing (ha!), air their indignations, generally try to make sense of the simple/complex interplay of econopolitical bullshit, and of course some come to earn their money from whatever intel organization is paying them to spread the muck - which is unfortunately becoming more prevalent in proportion to ZH's appearances in the mainstream. I come here to learn (Hey, I may be better qualified than 98% of the Earth's population, but I'm the first to admit my ignorance of basically everything), kid around, and touch base with Mr.Zeitgeist.
Just like the rules of Fight Club/ZH, I have my own rules on how I conduct myself in life, but since my ethos no.1 is, 'Never impose your values on others, for good reasons or bad', I ain't going to tell you. What most discussions boil down to, what most of the important issues of the day in our boring daily lives condense into, are these:
1) Our liberties and those who try to take our liberties away ostensibly for our own good.
2) Our innate abhorrence of criminal behaviour wherever it may occur without "Exceptionalism". The definition of crime being - a) Assault b) Theft c) Murder.
3) Our freedom, upto and including our inborn freedom to self-harm if we wished to do so.
We/I bitch and moan when any of the three are touched upon, because it is only natural for intelligent people to argue passionately for what they believe infringes on their personal space, for whatever may eventually impinge on their personal lives through simple extrapolation of common behaviour. If that makes me a "terrorist", then I am deeply sorry for having terrfied you. That is neither my intent nor inclination.
GW, Thanks as always mate for your efforts. I've always believed that the only people who should be monitored, recorded, taped and analyzed 24/7 are the people who watch us. The government. Their potential for harm is so much greater, it has been discussed to death since ancient Rome: "Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?"
"I've always believed that the only people who should be monitored, recorded, taped and analyzed 24/7 are the people who watch us. The government."
High Def video camera streaming live to the web in EVERY government office. EVERY. All documents produced by government available for public inspection. ALL. Every email immediately available for public scrutiny. NO EXCEPTIONS. NONE. They have the technology to assassinate someone from 1000 miles away, and capture all electronic communication in the name of "security". They can figure this out.
We pay for it. We own it, not them.
1984 in reverse.
"Terrorist", the new "racist".
I try my best everyday to be an honorable man. I try to do the right thing. I try to treat people nice, even if I don't like them. I teach my son these things.
By the governments standards we are both terrorists. He is just 11 and he is gonna have to carry a world of weight on his shoulders over his lifetime.
I feel bad for the kids. They don't have any idea what they are going to inherate.
Feel free to use your brain for a moment. George is engaging in a touch of hyperbole here, so chances are 99.999999999% nobody gives a hoot about either you or your son. There are not enough people who work for the government to both keep track of, and round up those who "might" (that was GW's word) make some list that nobody is going to tabulate anyway. Do a few dozen of these things, AND tell perfect strangers in a Starbucks that you plan an armed insurrection, and the odds of you catching some GS-14's attention (if he isn't surfing porn) go up. Probably they'd still miss you. They aren't that competent. If being paranoid is something you enjoy, then go ahead and be afraid, but the fear is unwarranted.
There's a lot of needless worry being fanned here. In a way it is almost a perverse kind of self-flattery, in that "you" might be so significant that some G-Man feels it necessary to keep you under watch. If you aren't making direct and believable threats against a public official or the public in general, and you aren't stockpiling saltpeter and sulfur, chances are nobody in the government knows you exist. You're not that important to them. If you want to "be somebody",then it might hurt the ego to know nobody really cares, but if you enjoy living a quiet and unbothered existence, it should be good news.
Allow me to summarize Cosimo's post:
"Don't worry, be happy."
"It can't happen here."
"Who needs privacy if you have nothing to hide?"
Teach your children well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVaqZajq-I&feature=fvwrel
As I read your post the words to this song came to mind,
Thank you.
I regret that I have only 1 upvote to give ...
The good thing is that all government officials can be judged terroroists according to those points. A lot of them will be if tyranny is not stopped before getting that far.
Welcome to Bolshevism!
"I cornhole a communist for fun. But for a green card, I gonna fuck him real good".....Tony Montana
Wait! That's not right, is it?
I'm logged into ZH AND the gun safe is a mere 4 feet away to my left,, so I'm like a whole terrorist cell unto myself.
You shouldn't trust anybody driving a van anyhow, unless there's an Aztec princess with tits the size of basketballs painted on the side. You just don't see enough of those any more.
Hey, that reminds me ...
(Oops, sorry, back to the main topic!!)
I may be forever grateful to you for this link (after sending it to my wife) ... or not
oh oh ...
Anyone on ZH is a terrorist. Well except a few like RobotTrader.
What about the AnAnonymous guy who is always raving about "American citizenship"? Or the guy who substitutes the letter "k" for everything ... I think his name is Joyful?
They must be non-terrorists in the eyes of the government because no one can understand a single thing they're saying! </sarc>
Raving? Nope, simply reporting.
American citizenship? Nah, 'americanism'
But indeed, it is better for 'americans' to kick the can on that point.
As to terrorists, it is another fantasy by 'americans' to fancy themselves as terrorists, while they know they are.
As for anywhere, power does not waste time or energy on squashing non threats.
'Americans' posting their moods, their fears, their fantasical musings on this site are no threats to 'american' power institutions.
On the contrary, they are very welcome because they help to sell the illusion that 'americanism' supports freedom of speech.
No 'american' posting on this site will be arrested as none of them constitute a threat to an 'american' power institution.
Them posting on here is just as people who were sent to preach in the desert. Non threats.
But, hey, 'americans' love to depict themselves as they are not so they fancy over theirs being a threat to a power institution and therefore terrorists.
First this "GEORGE" asshole kalls me a 'non-terrorist,' and then aligns me with yu!...the yapping dog of Han Citizenism run amok! What a day of infamy!
Well, look, yu faux kommunist of the kapitalist-roader kind, as long as we're tag teamin here, let's get a kouple o things straight/
first, I don't know and I don't kare what kaused yu to drop the ÄMERICAN CITIZENISM schtick in favor of just Americanism, but as long as yur workin the ring with Dr. J, yu gonna need to get familiar with da letter K...OK?!?!
I know that English is not yur first language n'all, but you'll have to trust me on this one: konsistency is king....so it's AMERIKA from now on;;; got it grasshopper?
Second...I'm in no way amused by the author's attempt to insinuate as to my bein as hard to understand as yurself...my syntactical strategies to surmount the sionist assault upon merikan means of self expression are in no way equivalent to yur torture n waterboarding of the language...while admittedly yu've kome a long way in word styling here, it's no longer acceptable for yur kontributions to break down into inscrutable Han citizen mumbo jumbo like they do in the last paragraph most often now....get a proof reader, or get outta the ring!
Well, there's no sayin just who or what this "GEORGE" klown will drag into the match as a partner...but his assiduous grovelling outside the gates of the moneypowerz mansions for a gig as gatekeeper bespeaks the worst of possibilities...if he drags the Clinton bitch into the ring as tag teamin partner, yu'll have to be the one to go after her...kno way I'll be gettin anywhere near that Hellion!
Somebody gettin under yur skin "George"?!>!>!>?
I believe I have just been singled out for the supreme akkolade of having been lashed by the limp wristed writer who be the moneypowerz lokal lackey!!!
I am honoured "George"...Honoured.
Please get the 'c' key on your keyboard fixed.
Kan't.
I refused to pay the kosher food scam tax an\or live like a slave in my own kountry, so I had to leave before being "zundled"....
Damn kabbalists tried to break into my komputer for as to fry it, but I'm so far at the edge of their radar that the only harm they kould do was skrew around with the c key...hey - it works intermittently OK>!>?
btw...please get that kosher killer klown mafia thing fixed back there in NORTE MERIKA will ya? I wouldn't mind komin back to visit sometime -I'd love to see a Jamiraquoi or Wayne Shorter Koncert!
George Washington:
As defined in the National Defense Authorization Act; Title X, Subtitle D, sub-sections 1021 and 1022:
You have been designated a malcontent and are now considered a threat to National Security of the United States of America. The Stellar Wind Worldwide HydraSquid Algorithm has detected an anomaly from your IP address and hereby orders you to surrender yourself to the nearest law enforcement agency. A Skynet airborne drone has been dispatched to your MGRS coordinates to ensure compliance with this directive. Upon your voluntary arrival at LEA, you will then be relocated to one of the DHS re-education facilities in an undisclosed location.
This is the only notice you will receive.
Resistance or non-compliance will be met with extreme prejudice.
END OF COMMUNICATION
Resistance is futile, assimilation inevitable.
Your life, as it has been, is over.
From this time forward, you will service US.
You know AlaricBalth, that is NOT funny!
Made me laugh. Staging a situation that does not exist... How 'american'
You know, by 'american' standards (and one must insist on that, there is no value alien to 'americanism' to size up the situation), freedom of speech refers to a subversive dimension speech, that is one that can destroy an institution of power.
No 'american' of this site measures up to that notion of freedom of speech. No 'american' is a threat to any 'american' power institution.
On the very contrary, as those 'americans' insist they are practising freedom of speech, they allow the other 'americans', those who are in power, to claim that 'americanism' supports freedom of speech.
And therefore, their musings are very welcomed by 'americans' in charge.
'Americans' work in pair, one side working to enable the other in their lie...
One side fancy over bravery they do not have, speaking openly against the powers that be and the other side fancy over support to freedom of speech.
That is the 'american' cheap propaganda/fantasy show.
The reality is that the one side's musings are no threats to the other side while when confronting with the risks of freedom of speech, the other side censors lavishly.