Photographic gadfly to the state

Posted by deancameron on August 23, 2010 under Freedom Fighters, The TSA, U.S. Constitution, USA PATRIOT ACT | Be the First to Comment

If the Bill of Rights – Security Edition cards are anything, they are an art project. My goal is to begin a discussion: “What are you willing to give up in exchange for the feeling of security.” I always emphasize the word “feeling” because any action by anyone that claims there’s been an increase in “security” is impossible to falsify. It can only be a claim because it can’t be tested.

There haven’t been any massive terrorist attacks on major cities in the U.S. since the TSA and USA PATRIOT ACT has been around. Correlation is not causation. There’s no way to visit the parallel universe where our politicians remained calm and level-headed so the post-9/11 TSA and USA PATRIOT ACT don’t exist and we could see if there were terror attacks on major U.S. cities or not.

We’re required to take it on faith that the TSA is protecting us. Faith is fine if you like church and gambling but faith is worthless when facts are available.

Cut to: http://carlosmiller.com/. The blog is called “Photography is not a crime”. It will kill you. Carlos Miller actively antagonizes people to test laws. He’s trying to find out where the line is. He is a hero.

If you watch some of the videos, you realize that many of the people enforcing the laws, be they real cops or rent-a-cops, sometimes don’t even know the laws. Watch videos or read stories of other photographers who have been harassed and jailed by the overzealous will get your blood boiling.

And much of it is being done in the name of “fighting terrorism”: You can’t photograph a building because of terrorism. We are living in a world where the phrase “If you’ve got nothing to hide, then you shouldn’t mind if we search you…” is gaining ground. You and I know that it’s wrong, but our kids are going to think it’s weird if they’re not searched in public.

Whenever I hear friends or talking heads on t.v. discuss terrorism, I enjoy seeing how long it takes before they begin playing the “If I Were A Terrorist” game. The folks who don’t want you photographing buildings are masters at playing the “If I Were A Terrorist” game. “A terrorist wants photographs of buildings and subway stations and malls and other public and private places so they can study the place and then blow it up!!!!” and then we join them in the game by thinking… or saying… “A terrorist wouldn’t take pictures in the middle of the day…” the reply to that being: “See, that’s why I’m in law enforcement, because you never know what a terrorist looks like and looking like a regular guy and taking a photo in the middle of the day is exactly what a terrorist would do. THAT’S REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY!!!” and we are then playing this un-winnable game where privacy, rational thought and liberty lose.

Sometimes, Carlos is sort of a jerk. But that’s okay. He’s pissed off and those of us who are pissed off ALL OF THE TIME get a bit jerky now and again. Give him a break. Visit his site. He has a legal defense fund. He needs your money. Give him 10 bucks.

  • Share/Bookmark

Money Bomb

Posted by deancameron on August 19, 2010 under Freedom Fighters, Libertarian, U.S. Constitution, USA PATRIOT ACT | Be the First to Comment

He’s been maligned in the news. Labeled racist. Misquoted. Hated by the “people who matter”.

He must be doing something right.

Today and tomorrow (august 19 y august 20, 2010) Rand Paul is trying to set an internet moneybomb record.

http://www.randpaul2010.org

That’s all.

  • Share/Bookmark

Easily roll back the USA PATRIOT ACT

Posted by deancameron on September 30, 2009 under Freedom Fighters, Good News, Libertarian, The TSA, U.S. Constitution, USA PATRIOT ACT | Be the First to Comment


Downsize DC is embarking on yet another grassroots campaign (it’s what they do) to roll back the wildly unconstitutional USA PATRIOT ACT. (I exaggerate to clarify)

The good news is that some parts of the PATRIOT Act could expire at the end of the year. This provides an opportunity to roll back many of these dangerous provisions. Toward this end Senator Russ Feingold introduced the JUSTICE Act (S. 1686) on September 17, Constitution Day. JUSTICE stands for the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts.

Won’t you visit them?

  • Share/Bookmark

Steve Bierfeldt

Posted by deancameron on July 22, 2009 under Freedom Fighters, Good News, Libertarian, The TSA, U.S. Constitution | Be the First to Comment

dean cameron, steve bierfeldt, matt holdridge

dean cameron, steve bierfeldt, matt holdridge

After reading about Steve Bierfeldt’s run-in with the TSA at the Lambert-St. Louis airport, I sent him a few cards, luggage tags and keychains. When he made the completely unnecessary call to thank me, I learned that we would both be in Las Vegas the same weekend.

I’m on the left, Steve’s in the center and another Campaign For Liberty hero, Matt Holdridge, is on the right. This is us backstage at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Penn & Teller show at the beautiful Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is so nice, soft-spoken and modest. If you haven’t listened to the audio of the incident, you might want to. Goodness gracious.

  • Share/Bookmark

I am not afraid

Posted by deancameron on July 17, 2009 under Good News, Libertarian, The TSA, U.S. Constitution | Be the First to Comment

The freedom fighters at Downsize DC have a great campaign going on. Downsize DC wisely points out that 200 times more “innocent American civilians” have been killed in automobile accidents than terrorist attacks in the U.S. and that our leaders have grossly overreacted to the threat of terrorism.

Take a look:

I Am Not Afraid

  • Share/Bookmark