General Chat (Non-Music-Related)

Billy from what I have heard, is the FBI secured a court order, to force Apple to create a program to allow backdoor informational gathering by the FBI. IT was not a court order to "unlock" the one phone. It was an order to work in a way that would provide the FBI a way to "unlock" any phone that was Apple.

This is one little skirmish...

That's about what I was thinking, if it were just one phone, I don't think it would be such an issue. I haven't seen enough info to be sure, it's pretty confusing.

Then just a half hour ago I saw a video clip of the FBI director (I think that's who) saying they just want the info from this phone, and Apple can keep the phone. If that's true, maybe I could go for it. What he said was they want Apple to create software to unlock this specific phone, they can hold the phone.

On the one hand, if they can show a warrant, indicating the info is needed for a criminal investigation, I don't have a problem with it. On a case by case basis, if they can show a definite link to an investigation. This one would qualify.

On the other hand, if what the FBI actually wants is a blanket back door for every phone between my house and Jupiter, not such a good idea.

What baffles me, is this has been done for years without all the public uproar. FBI wiretaps, legally installed with warrants, were used against mafia types 50 years ago. Courts have used text messages from defendants' phones for years. Phone and bank records have been used so many times nobody questions it any more.

But why has this been played out in public? The same thing has already been done a number of times, and if I got my info right, it was the FBI that brought this to public attention, not Apple. As in the request was made public for no reason I can think of...instead of quietly as usual, and most companies normally are willing to help a criminal investigation.

What's the difference this time? Why all the public hoopla? Something doesn't smell right...I'm not sure who to believe any more, the info we're getting is confusing, but the whole thing just doesn't pass the smell test.

Billy, Jook, the scary thing is it is time to throw all the money changers out of the temple. That includes Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Clinton, Sanders, and any one else that has any ties to an out of control government.

You guys make some great points. Forgive me if I have become a bit cynical.

Apple could have cracked that phone but the Fed genuises buggered it up trying to reset password.

who do I trust? hmmmm...? Apple? Not a lot but some
Fed Gov - not at all. So stay out my phone you bums.

Talbot

Jimmy is correct.
Slavery and all other forms of involuntary servitude are forbidden within the United States and all places under their authority, unless it is punishment for a crime for which the person (corporation) has been properly convicted.

It really sucks, and makes it hard to understand our system, that judges and other big shots are partisan. I think such people are a bloody disgrace.

We have laws and their job is to enforce those laws. The supreme court fiasco really underlines what a load of crap we tolerate at higher levels.

Talbot

Actually that was not a partisan ruling from a NY judge.
That was a ruling in support of the 13th amendment of our constitution and the basic law of the land.

I know this seems very twisted, but if the government is allowed to break the most basic law... Then why have any law at all?

Glen

None of that constitutional stuff really matters. Look at SCOTUS and see how they vote - they vote their politics, not rule of law. You might note that there are NO constitutional gun laws yet 20k of them are in existence. How can that be?

Yet abortion, which is never mentioned in the constitution but was considered a horror in the time it was written, as all the phony scholars know as well as I do, comes under some 'penumbra?' Rule of law, gotta love it.

Look at Ted Cruz and Barrack Obama - both are supposed to be big time constitutional scholars but both think bombing the snot out of anyone they please is just fine. That stealing our money at gunpoint to do more of it is just fine. That having Federal Police growing by leaps and bounds is just fine - going to protect our freedom, of course.

The only difference between these packs of snarling , murderous beasts is the local tin pot dictator they pretend to support. And that changes almost daily.

Pissing on my leg and telling me it's raining, that's what those creeps are up to.

If one likes constant war, venality, and lies ,one cannot go wrong with Democrats and Republicans.

Talbot