WikiLeaks: Patriotic, Unpatriotic?

Which way do you lean? I haven't yet made up my mind.

Right now I'm weighting the "Loose lips sink ships" and "Government should be transparent" positions.

Well without really having the right to call it patriotic or unpatriotic due to my country of residence...

I do think it's a good thing, too many lies up top is a pretty scary prospect.

Careful posting this, it might get locked for some lame *** reason with no ifs, ands, or buts.

Big Brother is watching /tinfoilhat

government should fear it's people, the people shouldn't fear the government, just sayin'

i've got a very limited income right now, i donated to several causes when i was active army and made money

wikileaks is one of two causes i still donate to

when a government thinks it can keep secrets, you get guantanamos, and suspected terrorists with secret trials that violate the bill of rights

you get secret wiretaps the government didn't think we'd find out about

you get signing statements that G.W. thought he could slip by an apathetic public/media

i agree with jet

government should fear its people, not vice versa

i can think of few things more valuable than a government that thinks twice before trying to steal away constitutional rights in the shadows

(yes, i know that the diplomatic cables were not about taking our rights. that's not what i'm getting at. i want them nervous about keeping secrets in general)

This subject was banned from this forum by mods :(

You also get the creation of new enemies without the people's knowledge.

Not the subject itself. Discussing (content) and like I did post the content of said documents is what we have to not do.

i think it was banned because someone posted a summary of some of the leaked information which would be technically illegal

hopefully no one will do that this time around

Oh? I'm sorry I wasn't aware.

I have just had several patients comment one way on the issue and wanted to see what others out there thought about it.

not the subject

just don't post any of the illegally obtained info

Just be careful about what you post.

i hope it doesn't sound like posturing

but when i was in, i would have gladly accepted the increased risk

of my proverbial ship sinking

in exchange for the free exercise of freedom of speech and freedom of the press (among other rights)

that we were originally commissioned to protect

Sev, would you consider the freedom of speech to include illegally obtained documents?

The problem with this is not what the documents contain, but is it right to release any secret documents from the gov't?

It's one thing to blow the whistle on the actions of a company, another thing to release items the gov't doesn't want the public to see, regardless of it's content.

Don't forgot about the blatantly treason of taking such docs, despite their lack of security guarding them.

i think unofficial leaks(which have been around for quite a while and are pretty damned integral to the press role as government watchdog) to the press would actually fall more under freedom of the press than freedom of speech

but i believe that idealistically(i'm not sure how supreme court would rule on it) it falls under constitutional protection

If the government is for and by the people, why don't the people have the right to know exactly everything that the government is doing in their name?

you know over nine thousand babies just died, right?

yes

Definitely true too.

However they're laws in effect for people who take stuff like this.

i say the treason is in the signing statements

the treason is in the TSA repeal of our fourth amendment rights

the treason is in the wiretaps

it's a two way street

I got a lot to say on this subject. But I won't. I would just end up saying something (by accident) that would get this thread deleted as well lol.

Besides, time for bed here anyway :(

I agree. There seems to be some double standard with some press groups over WikiLeaks. The Press has used the type of documents WikiLeaks is leaking in the past. They usually do it in a focused manner though. The argument for them might be focused leaks vs. a shotgun approach, where the presses job is to decide where to dig and what to report. WikiLeaks leaves that decision up to the general public.

well, i mean, wikileaks is the press. it includes sources, but at its heart, it is a network of journalists.

Lol I'm trying to think of the way to word this...

The guy took the documents that he had no right to. It's theft is it not?

But yeah definitely what you said applies, so until the gov't straightens out, this type of thing will happen.

sure.

i mean as a british spy, roald dahl(one of many, many, many examples) did things that were both technically illegal, and patriotic

i do not believe the two categories are mutually exclusive

just checking. You got any sugar? I'm feeling drowsy