News
How the internet will fall, step one: Remove anonymity
Should I have the right to spread “disinformation” on the internet? Some would say I do not. Thankfully, I have no intention of ever knowingly doing such a thing, but knowing that I can is part of what makes the internet what it is. More importantly, the anonymity the internet provides is one of the cornerstones for its usefulness in modern society.
If a leaked memo last week is any indicator of what’s to come, then my anonymity may no longer be sacred online.
Senate Democrats Are Circulating Plans for Government Takeover of the Internet
Here’s how Warner is suggesting we deal:
Mandatory location verification. The paper suggests forcing social media platforms to authenticate and disclose the geographic origin of all user accounts or posts.
Mandatory identity verification: The paper suggests forcing social media and tech platforms to authenticate user identities and only allow “authentic” accounts (“inauthentic accounts not only pose threats to our democratic process…but undermine the integrity of digital markets”), with “failure to appropriately address inauthentic account activity” punishable as “a violation of both SEC disclosure rules and/or Section 5 of the [Federal Trade Commission] Act.”
Bot labeling: Warner’s paper suggests forcing companies to somehow label bots or be penalized (no word from Warner on how this is remotely feasible)
Define popular tech as “essential facilities.” These would be subject to all sorts of heightened rules and controls, says the paper, offering Google Maps as an example of the kinds of apps or platforms that might count. “The law would not mandate that a dominant provider offer the serve for free,” writes Warner. “Rather, it would be required to offer it on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms” provided by the government.
Considering how bad the likely interference by Russian operatives through social media really was, it’s easy to see why many would embrace these measures. Nobody wants foreign entities swaying our elections, but what cost are we willing to pay to be protected?
This is a clear example of DC once again attempting to overstep its own powers. We do not need them telling private internet companies what to do and how to handle their members. If Facebook wants to implement these types of measures, so be it. As long as they’re doing so willingly, it’s fine. However, the government does not need to step in. They do not need to “protect” us from our own stupidity.
If I fall for a hoax article claiming President Trump urinated on Russian prostitutes, that’s on me.
Anonymity sucks, but it’s important
To be fair, I have been victim to anonymous trolls on the internet. It bugs me that they can say what they want about or towards me while hiding behind the moniker braveliberal1949, but I would never condone taking his/her right to troll me. They have their reasons for being anonymous and I will fight for their right to remain hidden behind their online persona.
Some would point to Russian interference as a reason to support attacks on our online privacy. It sucks that they can have teams of meat puppets out there trying to mislead as many people as possible. But that’s part of the game. It’s a tactic in the online war we all fight wittingly or not, one that requires diligence but NOT government interference. If they want to help expose foreign actors, that’s on them. They should not use Russia or anyone else as a reason to take away our digital rights just as they shouldn’t have used 9/11 as a reason to take away our other freedoms.
It’s a pretty crazy world online. There’s plenty of bad ideas, false concepts, fake news, and actors intent on hurting us. We have to deal with them. The government cannot provide us with a solution that won’t do more harm than good.
A massive drug trafficking operation by law enforcement in North Carolina resulted in the arrests of six illegal immigrants with connections to a Mexican drug cartel. The organization, which is a competitor of the Sinaloa cartel made famous by its jailed leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was operating along the east coast pushing drugs ranging from cocaine to methamphetamine.
Oscar Rangel-Gutierrez, Raul Rangel-Gutierrez, Regulo Rangel Gutierrez, Rodolfo Martinez, Rigoberto Rangel-Gutierrez and Francisco Garcia-Martinez were arrested and tied to the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
“Members of the investigative team believe — based on wire intercepts, surveillance and other facts discovered from the investigation — that Oscar and Regulo transport illicit proceeds, derived from the sales of narcotics, when they travel from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte,” according to federal court documents, as WMBF reported.
BREAKING: 6 illegal immigrants linked to Mexican cartel arrested in North Carolina for drug trafficking operationhttps://t.co/meTVnrU69D
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 17, 2019
My Take
What makes this so concerning is that Jalisco New Generation cartel is known to operate mostly out of Tijuana on the west coast of Mexico, shipping drugs along the porous southern California border. For them to be reaching all the way to the east coast is telling of their influence and reach.
Unfortunately, leftists believe in Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s solution, which is to stop drug trafficking by making it harder to cross the border at the ports of entry.
Progressives often refer to statistics that show most drug busts happen at the ports of entry, ignoring the obvious fact that fewer drug traffickers are caught when they breach the border away from ports of entry.
Foreign Affairs
Would the White House pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to form government with left-leaning parties?
On the surface, it may be difficult to imagine President Trump, a Republican, quietly pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next Israeli government in a coalition with left-leaning parties should he win the April elections. But dig a little deeper and the thought becomes plausible. Why? Because it’s very likely his much-touted Middle East peace plan includes provisions for the Palestinians that conservatives in Israel may not allow.
A pair of articles out of Israel hint at this possibility:
Is there any proof to this at all? If so it needs to be pushed back against with everything we have. @CarolineGlick https://t.co/JkClm9IKmH
— Jeremy “All about the Benjamins 🎶” Frankel (@FrankelJeremy) February 17, 2019
This is enough reason to hold your nose and vote Likud…Gantz will agree to give away our country…
US will push for coalition with Gantz'
US will try to influence makeup of next coalition, like they tried with Obama https://t.co/dX3eP4905X— Safta Miriam (@MiriamSafta) February 17, 2019
My Take
It isn’t just those supporting such a move who are talking about it. New Right candidate Caroline Glick told the Jerusalem Post in an interview: “It’s mystifying that [Trump administration officials] think there’s a deal to be made when there so obviously isn’t one from the Palestinian perspective.”
Just as President Obama wanted to make his mark with the Iranian nuclear deal, so too would President Trump want to do what no world leader has been able to truly accomplish in history: a negotiated and firm peace in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. It would be a crowning achievement if that was the only thing in his legacy. It would be truly historic.
Of course, most experts on Middle East affairs agree that there’s no chance for such a deal or a lasting peace without a two-state solution on the table, which is almost certainly what the Trump administration is going to push on Israel. The left in the Jewish state seem amicable to the idea, but conservatives are generally opposed. Doing so would weaken them militarily, forcing them to cover areas they currently control and bringing the potential for attacks against Israel nearly impossible to repel.
It’s the hope of any American leader to bring peace to the Middle East because it’s never been done before. Unfortunately, the path to peace is one that would eventually be covered with Israeli blood. That’s the nature of the hatred towards the Jews.
Disgraced former Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) has been released from federal prison ahead of the completion of his 21-month term for good behavior. He is currently in a Residential Re-entry Management facility in Brooklyn, New York, where he will remain until his full release in May.
He will be on probation for three years after his release and must register as a sex offender.
Anthony Weiner released from federal prison early under re-entry program – CBS News https://t.co/Z4N9SpZBGZ pic.twitter.com/hF6U6PeHWM
— Tamara ∟ (@Tamazalez) February 17, 2019
My Take
Something tells me this isn’t the last we’re going to see from Anthony Weiner. He’s not only a sick, sexual pervert, but he’s also a narcissist who can be easily made to believe the people want him back in public office.
Allie Beth Stuckey recognizes the cognitive dissonance of many on the left
PragerU: Does race really matter?
6 illegal aliens, rivals of El Chapo, arrested in massive drug sting
What are the spiritual beings in the Bible?
Would the White House pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to form government with left-leaning parties?
Why we need to believe Ephesians 6:12 today, perhaps more than ever before
Democrats are building a terrifying platform as they embrace hyper-leftism
Scoffers and mockers of the Bible must be told the Bible warned of them
Being in favor of legal immigration is not racist
Title 10: How border wall construction could start tomorrow without Congress or a national emergency
Allie Beth Stuckey recognizes the cognitive dissonance of many on the left
This old Tweet by Jussie Smollett may have been prescient as a condemnation of his gullible supporters
As Benjamin Netanyahu meets with world leaders, focus centers on Iran in Syria
Thomas Massie on the creeping leftism of the GOP
Jason Chaffetz: AOC ‘really is the leader of the Democratic Party at this moment’
-
Conspiracy Theory2 days agoDid the ‘party of science’ prank themselves with the greatest practical joke ever, the ‘Green New Deal’?
-
Culture and Religion1 day agoJussie Smollett reveals the left’s greatest weakness
-
Culture and Religion16 hours agoWhy didn’t the Green New Deal include the issue of Liberty Control?
-
Immigration1 day agoTomi Lahren, Jesse Watters discuss securing portions of border where walls are impractical
-
Culture and Religion11 hours agoThe Catholic-Mulsim fraternity deal is anti-Biblical
-
Entertainment and Sports14 hours agoThis old Tweet by Jussie Smollett may have been prescient as a condemnation of his gullible supporters
-
Democrats11 hours agoSex offender Anthony Weiner released from federal prison early
-
Guns and Crime8 hours ago6 illegal aliens, rivals of El Chapo, arrested in massive drug sting