Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

How do we not have a totalitarian state?

You can't publish evidence of state war crimes without the CIA doing a character assassination job on you (pending a real assassination).

You can't travel anonymously.

You can't publish anonymously.

You can't make bank transfers out of the country for arbitrary purposes.

You can't deposit or withdraw cash above a trivial amount without significant scrutiny which is reported to the government. Financial companies failing to report can be criminally liable; it is illegal for them to protect your privacy.

It's illegal to not let the state know where you habitually sleep (state ID/driver's license requirements).

You can't drive from place to place without being subject to arbitrary "I smelled marijuana" search.

Every single phone call, SMS, and email is logged by the government.

Every single train and airplane ride is logged by the government in realtime, and government ID is required to board planes (and some trains).

Every single payment card swipe is logged by the government in realtime, and has been since 2008.

The government can, at any time, with zero burden of proof, freeze any/all of your payment cards and deposit accounts.

The government can, at any time, with zero burden of proof, freeze your ability to send/receive electronic payments.

You can't make private transactions (e.g. at a casino) over a trivial amount in cash without having to submit identity documents.

Our government runs a global network of extrajudicial torture prisons.

Our government regularly uses illegal and inhumane conditions against children to dissuade people from seeking human rights (specifically to asylum).

Our government runs an extrajudicial network of assassination robots that target citizens and foreigners alike, with basically zero oversight about who they kill or why.

Our government has been known to retaliate with bogus charges against anyone who stands publicly against their illegal activities, e.g. Joseph Nacchio.

I'm really confused as to what would have to happen for you to think that we do live in a totalitarian state.




You forgot a few:

Government watch lists / no fly lists which have little to no oversight and no appeal process.

National Security Letters (NSLs) which have overly broad powers, minimal oversight, and include permanent gag orders.


What you're describing is authoritarian, not totalitarian. A totalitarian state has only one political party with all others being banned.


Does an impenetrable and indiscernible duopoly count? I'm pretty sure the US only has two flavors of one "continuous war" party that serves the military/corporate interests that conduct 24/7 electronic surveillance of everyone in power.


Have you ever contacted your federal representatives? Who is your representative? I’ll contact them for you.


> It's illegal to not let the state know where you habitually sleep (state ID/driver's license requirements).

Today I learned the government expects me to sleep in my PO Box.


Yeah, that claim is wrong on a couple of levels. The requirement in at least three states for ID or a DL is that you provide an address you can receive mail at. It doesn't have to be where you live.

Also, even if you did have to provide your residence for your ID/DL, there's no law that says you have to get an ID/DL in the first place. Not having one will make life hard, but it isn't illegal.


Oh, you’re not American? Kind of overstepping a little.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: