[Riddick]

All,

With all of the talk of terrorism lately, any type of political discussion seems to be the "in" thing. I used to be a Federal Agent for a short period of time and at that time (prior to 9/11) the government was extremely interested in keeping tabs on militia groups and any other "group of interest". A lot of the topics on this site and beliefs of a significant amount of individuals would definitely fall into that category.

I know for a fact that the government has increased the funding for "cyber-security" by millions of dollars and is attempting to put a stop to any terrorist attacks on the Internet, as well as monitor any "anti-government" websites.

What is a terrorist? I would suggest to anyone to read the Patriot Act (one and two) and several other government articles regarding this definition. The definition is so vague that a terrorist could be anyone that disagrees with anything the government does. Very eye-opening indeed.

One scary thing that is happening is that the government is putting together a giant database on all gun owners. After 9/11 happened, the color-code system went into effect and anytime the code goes to "elevated" or above, people who legally purchase any type of gun get their information recorded on a permanent government database.

Anything else below "elevated" stays on the books for a limited amount of time and then is destroyed. Funny thing is that this stupid color-coded system has never been below elevated in the three years that it's been in place.

Makes one wonder why Bush let the weapons ban lapse. Could it be that the powers that be are tracking everyone now in order to pull the plug on any type of armed resistance later on down the road?

[Guest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', ' ')A lot of the topics on this site and beliefs of a significant amount of individuals would definitely fall into that category.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', 'A')ll,

With all of the talk of terrorism lately, any type of political discussion seems to be the "in" thing. I used to be a Federal Agent for a short period of time and at that time (prior to 9/11) the government was extremely interested in keeping tabs on militia groups and any other "group of interest".
...
One scary thing that is happening is that the government is putting together a giant database on all gun owners.
...
Could it be that the powers that be are tracking everyone now in order to pull the plug on any type of armed resistance later on down the road?

[Kingcoal]

Yes, if the founding fathers could only see the country today... Actually, they would probably organize the foundation of "New America" on some island in the South Pacific.

[The_Virginian]

Riddick,

Thank you for the heads up, but I kinda knew it any how.

Since no one here is advocating anything illegal, I don't fear the Federal wrath.

Gun Owners Of America has been telling folks there is no way to be sure that gun purchases were "erased", and were likely kept for future refrence... i always asumed they did...just like no fingerprint (once in the computers) is ever realy "destroyed"...

The Gov uses "Chioce point" and other credit reporting co.s to build up files, the "Patriot" Act only makes it legal for them to do it with out a fat contractor as a recorder of said database...

In fact, if i was a govenrment agent, the best way to legaly harass a website deemed undesireable, would be to post a "warning", quite like you did, about how "You are being monitored" etc. etc. etc.

Aint Psych-Ops fun?

[lotrfan55345]

But then how will we know that the FBI/CIA agent is real not just some guy wanting attention - a troll?

[Freud]

Of course they're keeping tabs... they've had a telephone and email system in place for over 20 years.

This site amongst thousands of others on the net have been red flagged since their inceptions.

There would be a reader amongst us who pops in from their various other duty sites (after a system message directing them from a word search script dictates) and tabulates the sentiment, and possibly, certain poster's statements.... forwards them to a profiler who either stamps them "bullshit conspiracy theorist from the midwest" or "flag this one/move to their dossier.... keep a quiet eye on them".

Thankfully, we're all too mundane and status quo to bother with... as we'll never amount to anything unless the unfathomable happens and even then, most of us would perish in the reality of what we can only imagine and still won't happen as we'd like to wager by our disjointed and emotionally crippled musings of apocolyptic superpower termination.

But let's face it... I, as I'm sure you all do, enjoy thumbing my/our noses at the machine from a percieved afar. It's a healthy outlet, keeps us in our benevolent best, and personally..... I'm hoping a cushy government job offer comes through my email account

(seriously, my contract is up in 3 months... wise all reading person. Let's do lunch)

[Riddick]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The_Virginian', 'R')iddick,

In fact, if i was a govenrment agent, the best way to legaly harass a website deemed undesireable, would be to post a "warning", quite like you did, about how "You are being monitored" etc. etc. etc.

Aint Psych-Ops fun?

[Riddick]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', 'O')f course they're keeping tabs... they've had a telephone and email system in place for over 20 years.

[Riddick]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '.') It's a healthy outlet, keeps us in our benevolent best, and personally..... I'm hoping a cushy government job offer comes through my email account

(seriously, my contract is up in 3 months... wise all reading person. Let's do lunch)

[Freud]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '.') It's a healthy outlet, keeps us in our benevolent best, and personally..... I'm hoping a cushy government job offer comes through my email account

(seriously, my contract is up in 3 months... wise all reading person. Let's do lunch)

[Riddick]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '.') It's a healthy outlet, keeps us in our benevolent best, and personally..... I'm hoping a cushy government job offer comes through my email account

(seriously, my contract is up in 3 months... wise all reading person. Let's do lunch)

[Freud]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '.') It's a healthy outlet, keeps us in our benevolent best, and personally..... I'm hoping a cushy government job offer comes through my email account

(seriously, my contract is up in 3 months... wise all reading person. Let's do lunch)

[Onion]

If the government is watching this site it is only confirmation that they are idiots which is further supported by the following:

I live in a rural area, one of the larger counties in the state land wise, but one of the lowest population wise. Two of the school districts with a combined student population of 1500 applied for a $3,000,000 grant from Homeland Security and got it. The likelyhood of a terrorist attack out here in the boonies is about as high a likelyhood of a Libertarian being elected president. Also, a town of around 2,000 population just got a Homeland Security grant of $85,000 to buy a tanker truck for the local volunteer fire department. Just a bunch of porkbarrel as both grants just were announced before the election.

This is why I think that government solutions to peak oil are a disaster themselves in the making. There are thousands of bizarre ideas for solving this problem. Almost universally they are screwy, but there remotely may be a sleeper somehere in the bunch. If private individuals use their own money to explore these ideas, then at least most of them will be tested and proven worthless with only the individual losing his money being hurt. If government takes our money and selects their favorite projects, then many of these ideas may not be tested. And if the government takes on solving the peak oil problem, it is just as likely that they will choose a bad path. Clearly they have already chosen the path of capturing the known oil reserves via force. Also, they have made noises like they want to persue hydrogen and fusion, both of which look to be a bottomless pit of waste.

So for those of you who support big government, you are getting your due. Just drop your pants, grab your ankles, and get it over with, cause no matter what you do, with government solutions you will get screwed.

[Freud]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Onion', 'I')f the government is watching this site it is only confirmation that they are idiots which is further supported by the following:

I live in a rural area, one of the larger counties in the state land wise, but one of the lowest population wise. Two of the school districts with a combined student population of 1500 applied for a $3,000,000 grant from Homeland Security and got it. The likelyhood of a terrorist attack out here in the boonies is about as high a likelyhood of a Libertarian being elected president. Also, a town of around 2,000 population just got a Homeland Security grant of $85,000 to buy a tanker truck for the local volunteer fire department. Just a bunch of porkbarrel as both grants just were announced before the election.

This is why I think that government solutions to peak oil are a disaster themselves in the making. There are thousands of bizarre ideas for solving this problem. Almost universally they are screwy, but there remotely may be a sleeper somehere in the bunch. If private individuals use their own money to explore these ideas, then at least most of them will be tested and proven worthless with only the individual losing his money being hurt. If government takes our money and selects their favorite projects, then many of these ideas may not be tested. And if the government takes on solving the peak oil problem, it is just as likely that they will choose a bad path. Clearly they have already chosen the path of capturing the known oil reserves via force. Also, they have made noises like they want to persue hydrogen and fusion, both of which look to be a bottomless pit of waste.

So for those of you who support big government, you are getting your due. Just drop your pants, grab your ankles, and get it over with, cause no matter what you do, with government solutions you will get screwed.

[Phil]

Some of you might remember the divulgence on peakoil.net in early Spring of this year that something like 30% of the hits of the previous month were from .gov and .mil domains. For some reason, within a couple weeks, that information was removed.

[Chocky]

Could it just be that people working for the government or military were accessing this site out of their own interest? I'm guessing a fairly large proportion of Americans work for either the government or military

[pea-jay]

I work for the government, and I can tell you that my agency prefers to remain ignorant of the Peak Oil subject matter. Doesn't stop me from researching though.

I think it is important to differntiate between the policy makers who make the decisions you guys rail against and the civil servants that actually do the work. I question the judgement and even intelligence of policy makers, but if you go further down the chain of command you will find a lot of dedicated intelligent individuals that do really care how things turn out.

Three important things to remember:
* Never say "fire" in a crowded theater
* Never say "bomb" at an airport security checkpoint
* Never say "peak oil" at an economic development forum

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Freud', '
')Of course they're keeping tabs... they've had a telephone and email system in place for over 20 years.

This site amongst thousands of others on the net have been red flagged since their inceptions.

[BabyHuey]

We "PeakOilers" (or whatever we're called [and I'll include myself since I used to post a lot on EnergyResources before I became a mere lurker]) cannot be considered a threat because we can't organize. We believe in selfish genes, every man for himself, nature red in tooth and nail, etc. That renders us harmless in comparison to the bullschidt mongers who run the world.

I mean, really, how could any of us attract a following if we don't promise to empower people in one way or another? All true leaders are power sharers. People flock to them like flies to feces, and that's how the whole world is organized. We, in contrast, promise disempowerment. What sort of politician could possibly perceive us as a threat?