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joether -> RE: Drones Over America: Tyranny at Home (7/5/2010 11:52:09 AM)
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I dont mean this as a 'smack' against you directly, pahunkboy. But you might learn something of it. The problem I keep encountering with conservatives and their philosophy is one of paradox. They want dynamically opposite things at the same time, with none of the responsibility to handle either. Your first paragraphy of your opening concept, is the use of drones in America. Within it, you believe the use of military technology shouldnt be in control of state or private groups/companies/agencies. This is a paradox.
Conservatives want these same drones to be used along the borders of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. To spot drug smugglers and illegal immigrants alike. They have no problem if those drones are used to spy on those in our country, who are aiding either group.
But other technology is also been transferred from military application to civilian or private use: drugs, vehicles, tools, fabrics, energy, you name it. Dare I say it, but firearms, came directly from the military. How many private citizens own an M1 Grand? M4 Commando? the M1911? Or even the 'civie' version of the .50 Cal Barrett (the M82A1...I think?)? How about the use of body armor?
And yes, conservatives, like liberals, eat up all these items. How common is it, for young republicans, to dress up in military fatiques, grab their airsoft/paintball rifles, and employ tactics from military schools? All the time! I meet up with them in extremely high numbers. It is surprising to them, when they find I'm a liberal minded person.
We'd like to think, that any technology would be used for the best of circumstances. But, technology has two uses: For the betterment of Humanity, and its destruction. Nuclear power is very easily understood of this concept: A) We use it to power our homes and in medicine but B) nuclear weapons are the most awesome force of destruction that coudl be used. Which is the point, that the conservative 'paradox' comes in to play. You want drones to be used in a limited manner. Your fear, is they would be used to violate a US Citizen's privacy (under the 4th Amendment). The only way to do that, is to A) Develop regulations imposing what 'can' and 'can not' be done with the technology and B) Regulators or enforcement persons to keep people in line. The paradox here, is the exact same for the Oil Industry: 30 years of deregulating it, and it helps to create the massive problem in the Gulf of Mexico. Conservatives want it both ways, with none of the responsibility!
I think drones would have huge applications for civilian use. We could find lost hikers in the middle of nowhere for a 1/10th the cost of a helicoper or single engine craft. Could use one to help study biology (immigration of birds, movement of surface sea life, human development against wildlife) or physics (studying climate change effects on an area over several years). The technology could be used to help fight forest fires, or report on storms that would normally endanger humans. And yes, it could be used to report on speeding cars....since they...like those illegal immigrants you conservatives bitch about...BREAK THE LAW!
However, unlike you pahunkboy, I'm for regulation and regulators to the use of the technology. There should be methods and concepts that are for the betterment of the USA. And those regulations and regulators (whom we check are doing their job) need to be in place, nationwide, before something REALLY bad takes places.
Unfortunately, we can expect none of this to be worked out in Congress, thanks to conservative Republican 'philosophy'.
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