Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: roo_ster on December 19, 2012, 11:31:15 PM

Title: Totalitarian War on Information
Post by: roo_ster on December 19, 2012, 11:31:15 PM

Wow, this has some serious implications.  I am sorry I missed it when it occurred.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2012/11/26/government-crushes-innovative-online-prediction-market

In a nutshell, gov't is using its power to regulate financial trading to shut down Intrade.  The apparatchik said, "You are trading futures without a license.  Stop or we will fine you $140k/event."  Intrade said, "OK, we would like to apply for a license."  Apparatchik said, "No license for you."

I have to agree with OV on this one:

Quote from: http://olegvolk.net/blog/2012/11/26/intrade-banned-a-very-bad-sign-for-our-future/

The only way totalitarian governments can exist in the long run is by suppressing accurate information. Today, US government forced Intrade.com to close, removing one of the most accurate prediction devices recently developed. This is one of many recent steps designed to make us into the New World equivalent of the USSR.

The thing is, when gov't really, truly wants to find something or predict something, they have done exactly what Intrade did: set up a market/bettor system.  They gave SMEs cash money and asked them to bet their money on the issue.  We found at least one lost nuke sub this way.

The bottom line is, gov't does not want a competitor in the information market and is willing to murder those that threaten to provide a better, less-adulterated product.

Didn't someone used to end their posts with, "But we don't live in a police state?"

Title: Re: Totalitarian War on Information
Post by: seeker_two on December 19, 2012, 11:43:04 PM

Add one more thing to the mix....

 http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/tech/social-media/newtown-social-media-crime/index.html?c=&page=2

.....and who determines what information is false?....

Title: Re: Totalitarian War on Information
Post by: zxcvbob on December 19, 2012, 11:51:28 PM

Quote from: seeker_two on December 19, 2012, 11:43:04 PM

Add one more thing to the mix....

 http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/tech/social-media/newtown-social-media-crime/index.html?c=&page=2

.....and who determines what information is false?....

The Ministry of Truth?

Title: Re: Totalitarian War on Information
Post by: longeyes on December 20, 2012, 01:47:32 AM

Look at the bright side.  When you can't believe anything beyond your own local experience, you will put your trust and energy into that local experience.  In the long run--who knows how long?--this will cause The Total State to crumble away.