Obama and Cas Sunstein: proposal to "cognitively infiltrate" anti-government groups

[bludex]

Salon.com
Glenn Greenwald
Jan. 15, 2010

Obama confidant's spine-chilling proposal

Cass Sunstein wants the government to "cognitively infiltrate" anti-government groups

excerpt: "... how could it possibly be justified for the U.S. Government to institute covert programs designed to undermine anti-government "conspiracy theories," discredit government critics, and increase faith and trust in government pronouncements? Because, says Sunstein, such powers are warranted only when wielded by truly well-intentioned government officials who want to spread The Truth and Do Good -- i.e., when used by people like Cass Sunstein and Barack Obama:

Throughout, we assume a well-motivated government that aims to eliminate conspiracy theories, or draw their poison, if and only if social welfare is improved by doing so.

But it's precisely because the Government is so often not "well-motivated" that such powers are so dangerous. Advocating them on the ground that "we will use them well" is every authoritarian's claim.

... "

[draggar]

Freedom of what?

[Gerry]

Glenn is a very smart guy (from viewing his bio) and yes, he is a liberal.

But he also has his own agenda for saying what he says in his "unamerican" or anti-american blurbs...

He has articles to promote
He has books to promote
and he has his lifestyle to promote

For those reasons, he is and has been taking shots at the way the US justice system and constituional law is interpreted.

For instance, what Brazil recognizes as a "relationship" has nothing to do with US law, with the exception that he wants to push forward his agenda by making the comparisons.

Well, all I can say is that same relationship status carries death sentences in other countries.