Should the President have the power to shut down the Internet?
 

America's Soapbox

Yea, I know no politicial threads! But if it were to happen-there would be no THE 370 Z.com!

Well the Internet is the last frontier that isn't controlled as of right now. All other media / entertainment is bought and paid for by people who are trying to push an agenda one way or another. According to Obama, he wants the power to shut the internet down in times of crisis or attack. Why? Well when there is a problem or attack of any kind would he want some truth told on the internet, or his propaganda pushed through your tv? The Internet has been a big headache for the people running the show for a long time. I have never seen tyranny pushed as hard and as in your face as this before.

Just the mere fact that this nonsense made it to the Senate demonstrates how ****** our country is at this point. I don't even think our politicians understand (or care about) the intent of the Internet - free exchange of information. Putting a policy like this into effect makes us just as ignorant as countries who block or censor Internet content in order to "protect the best interests of their citizens."

The real question should be, does the President (or Congress) understand what the internet is? If not, how can they even logically do anything such as this or any other proposal I have seen. I can tell you right now, most politicians have no clue what the internet really is or what it can/cannot do.

@theDreamer

The problem is, they DO understand what the internet is capable of. This is why the bill has gotten so far

:iagree:

It's kind of sad since many of these old, decrepit politicians have been active in politics since ARPANET was first conceived.

The Internet as a network infrastructure AND idea is not something a government should ever have a role in controlling.

The bottom line is that freedom of speech is becoming a thing of the past. Look at the peaceful protesters that protest at any G20 or any other large government meetings. They are met with swat teams and tear gas to try and discourage anyone voicing an opinion against total government control.

They understand what they internet is capable of in certain fields, illegal downloads, virus transporter, etc. They have yet to look out beyond these few items and actually see the depth of this growing market.
I do not doubt some understand how it hurts them, but that is not what should be looked at.

Not directly, when you put world leaders together now it is a large target for terrorists or other evil organizations (whatever they are called today) to strike.

@theDreamer

Now I know why you picked that name... your still asleep my friend. It's on record that at protests that there are paid government patsy's that cause trouble so the peaceful protesters all get gassed and sound cannons shot at them. It really is ridiculous the corruption that is in government these days. And I'm not just some conspiracy theory nut, I have done years of research on these sorts of things and it's really sickening. I have fallen so far down the rabbit hole that I can't see the light anymore.

What?
I know those things, but what I am saying is that Freedom of Speech is not a dead topic nor is it a thing of the past. The internet has brought this out again, and politicians fear it. What do people in power do when they fear something? They ban it or limit its access to the point people do not want it anymore. The problem is the government (not just the US) have no clue what to do and are trying to throw out random legislation to control this market.

<insert picture of a can of worms>

Fact is, most of us free-speaking Internet forum users strongly agree on the core of this matter.

well said

If there's a legitimate threat posed to us as a whole (incredilby unlikely), sure -- but seriously, are you guys worried that this might happen?

You should be more worried that Obama didn't repeal a lot of the more unsettling Bush/Cheney era Patriot Act laws that let the NSA engage in warantless wiretapping/email scouring -- one of the few true bones of contention I have with Obama -- :icon14:

Should the president be able to tell YOU to "Shut up?" and more importantly - do you have to listen to him?

It is not the fact will or will not happen, it is the fact that people are elected to represent this country and come up with the worst legislation ever, this is case in point.

Eh, Just keep in mind that WE are the future of America.

A modern society of Technology junkies. I'm from a very rural country town, and I feel like alot of elders, older people around me are nieve to the world, cultures, and different ideas. I have lived here my entire life, just like my parents, and I feel that I have so many more open minded views, opinions, and general ideas than they do. The reason I believe, is because I have been on the internet my whole life. Talking to people from all over the world, exchanging ideas, learning. The internet has exposed me to many cultures and beliefs, and implanted the idea that just because everyone around me believes one thing, that doesn't mean it's the only option. Silence the internet? Rubbish, I understand the purpose, but this fear of terrorism seems to be crushing everything that America claims to stand for, one media outlet at a time.

Allow me to rephrase: Should the president have the power to shut down free speech?

it's too late, see: patriot bill

:iagree:

The bill would just formalize the power they already have. Obviously they wouldn't ever shut down the "internet", but they can and do close or block websites with content they don't like or think is of a "sensitive" nature. When that tax-dodging kook flew his plane into the IRS building in North Austin a while back, the website where he posted his "manifesto" was down within the hour.

It seems like the government is becoming everything that we fought wars against!

it's downright shocking how close our current society is to what hitler wanted to do with germany in the long run(minus the jew-hating thing). if you need a reference for that statement, please read "1984"