From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Sat May 13 2000 - 20:50:05 MDT
ABlainey@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 14/05/00 01:52:11 GMT Daylight Time,
> zero_powers@hotmail.com writes:
>
> > The fact that the US is one of the biggest emigre destinations on the
> > planet, I think, says a lot about who (as between Lorrey and me) is more
> > right about the nature of the US. But, hey, in a debate as emotionally
> > charged as this one, who needs to be bogged down with something like
> factual
> >
> > reality? :)
> >
>
> I think Mike has a heathly dose of paranioa, which is fine. As a UK
> citizen looking to emigrate to the US I can say that personal freedom doesn't
> really come into the equation. Here I am under almost constant survaillance.
> When I drive to work there are cameras that can read my number plate and
> store it, at work I am monitored by security cameras and likewise when I pick
> up some shopping on the way home. my government monitors any e-mail I send
> and my calls at work taped.
> I don't feel in the least comprimised or feel my civil rights have been
> infringed. This probably reflects the gradual introduction that has taken
> place here, which has been heavily publicized in a positive light.
Alex is living the life of a lobster who is well on his way to being
well done, as he has bought the story that his cooks tell him that this
is actually a hot tub spa made for his enjoyment and convenience... oh,
this shell cracker? Well, thats just so we can give you a chiropractic
re-alignment, really, its for your own good...pass the butter, please...
> If anything, I am worried by the higher rate of crime in the US and would
> feel safer if the level of survaillance was as great there as here. It looks
> like the British Government has done a very good spin job on this subject as
> it isn't an issue that the public are concerned about.
As many of us have said before, the US has a small small fraction of the
number of property crimes as the UK has, and overall violent crime is on
a downward trend, while it is going up in the UK, as well as the fact
that most crime occurs in the big cities. NH and VT have homicide rates
equal to Britain while other crime categories are far lower, and many
other states similar to ours have similar crime rates. The states and
cities with the highest crime rates are the ones that put the greatest
limits on the rights of the individual, which is not an accident.
I am free to say just about anything in my email (outside of making
threats against the President), and it is not monitored. The government
doesn't know how many jars of jam I buy at the market, and they don't
know what route I take to and from work. They don't know who spends the
night with me, and they don't know who I talk to over the phone.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 15:28:36 MST