Poll: WikiLeaks - Good or bad?

[moretimethansense]

I think it's somewhat misleading to generalize so heavily that the U.S. government is "good". That there might not be bad people within even a "good" national entity is just silly. That "good people" are necessarily doing "good things" is naieve.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to classify the government itself as "good", but rather the country as a whole. I was essentially trying to convey the idea that we're pretty set on not letting the world explode. Obviously, other countries are doing that too, and I'm obviously biased as an American myself, but from where I am, it doesn't really seem like the U.S. is doing anything explicitly bad that we're not desperately trying to fix right now.

Besides letting your government take away your right to privacy without a fight, invading a country under false pretenses, actively trying to circumvent the rights you fought so hard to get in the first place, treating illegal immigrants as though they were terrorists, happily torturing prisoners in the name of national security, developing a culture of racism against the Muslim people, covering up the murder of civilians, fostering a culture of ignorance by allowing the religious fundamentalists to decide what GOVERNMENT RAN SCHOOLS are allowed to teach and of course placing an actor on the terror alert watch list because he was in a film about environmentalism?

I know that not all Americans are so stupid, blind, malicious and idiotically patriotic the point they think they can do no wrong but saying that America is by any stretch of the imagination "good" is frankly absurd.

And to prove this isn't just blind America hate:
My country is frankly America' *****,our government does whatever yours says no matter how absurd,
Our school system is starting to get embarrassing, our judicial system is to be honest a joke, our politicians act like spoiled children not to mention the rampant corruption.

At any rate I think Wiki leaks is a good thing I'm of the opinion that the government should never be aloud to hide anything from it's people (with the exception of military tactics and maneuvers during times of war) Particularly not changes in laws and policies that could affect the people.

 

[Raool]

It's a bad thing. I mean, this could lead to full-scale wars. Confidential things are confidential for a reason. There are people's lives at stake, this is not a game.

And no, I'm not american.

 

[Athinira]

As long as governments have the attitude that the end justifies the means (like the waterboarding scandal under the Bush administration), then us treating their "rights to privacy" with the same respect isn't out of place at all.

Since Hillary Clinton has been the politician speaking the most about this, here is my advice for you Hillary: You reap as you sow.

 

[Asehujiko]

Well this morning it was announced on the news that the creator of the Wikileaks sight has been accused of a "sex crime" and is being hunted by the authorities! I will lay bets now it's released he's a Peado this will ensure an absolute discrediting of anything he has to say as no one will defend a "nonce"

He has committed a sex crime he has screwed about a hundred politicians!

He was accused of raping 2 women living 160km away from each other, who knew each other, one at 16:00, the other at 16:15, both attacks lasting an hour while from 15:00 to 17:00 he was holding a live press conference on international TV from a different country. Norway dropped the charges because both victims denied ever seeing the guy, let alone being assaulted by him and Sweden stopped hunting after half their parliament and several hundred reporters provided him an alibi, along with ~15000 people who watched the broadcast.

America however, is still trying to arrest him.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Things used to be rightly marked top secret, eg locations of military installations. Nowadays countries slap top secret on embarressing things. like killing members of the media or shelling civilians.

Governments should be held accountable for these things.

Wikileaks is doing something that the media should have been doing

This is pretty much my sentiment exactly. Obviously things like "THIS GUY IS A SLEEPER CELL AGENT," and "We've got guys hidden in a bunker here" have to be kept secret. Other than that, there's not really much that I think should be hidden from the public. If my government is fucking around in my bushes at night, yeah, I would like to know. Corruption is something that will only go away if it's exposed, and if it's present, then ignorance to it really just makes you a less suspecting victim.

Though I would like to note that wikileaks is extremely likely to have false information on it, so my skepticism of anything on it would probably prevent me from believing anything that's remotely far-fetched.

 

[the clockmaker]

On the topic of the sex scandal, sweeden is trying to arrest him, not the US. The US does not arrest Australians for raping swedes in Sweeden. The US is planning to arrest him, pending an investigation, because he stole, or recieved stolen documents classified as secret or above. Ya know, espionage.

On the topic of the leaks themselves, imagine that a government is a mind. A single mind. Every one of these diplomats is I dunno synapses or whatever and these leaks, none of which show evidence of war crimes or human rights abuses by the way are thoughts.

Think for a moment about all the thoughts that go through your mind every day, especially those about other people, 'wow, he's a tosser, she's ugly, that joke was retarded, I love her, I love him, I love lamp.' now you don't believe any of these things, not really, but the thought does flash through your mind.

Now imagine that everyone suddenly knew every thought you'd had about them. How do you think that this is going to affect your relationship? The fact is that sometimes things are better kept secret, at least until they have been around for long enough for the freedom of information act to kick in.

Also, he claims to have been in contact with 'Australian intelligence' now I don't know about you guys, but if my job was information dissemination, I would at least be able to name the agency that contacted me, ASIO ASIS DIO DSA or DSD, AFP maybe, no one who has had contact with these groups would simply call them Australian intelligence.

 

[Ithera]

It's hilarious, this is good stuff. Finally some honest opinions! Do they have the guts to stand for them? I's about time the public got to see some of their country's dirty laundry.

A pity we don't get to see some of the REALLY classified things. I bet there are some really monstrous dealings going on. Acts so despicable even Satan himself calls it quits.

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Good? Dunno. Bad? Don't think so. Hilarious? Definately. Soo funny watching the U.S and other nations scramble to try and protect their diplomatic relations when documents come to light revealing what senior government members ACTUALLY think about other countries and their leadership

Seems like the whole world is taking on a 'No personal opinions here, only official company policy', and having these sorts of things come out it just fantastic. The way they try and demonise the person responsible for revealing the truth about what people think is pure gold. Who knew that countries were run by actual mortal people with thoughts and opinions, and not shiny clean Automatons of kind words and no cultural feelings one way or the other.

I think I'll /rant, otherwise this could go on a bit.

So yeah. Good on you WikiLeaks. People should be proud of their opinions and their diversity.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I'm really not a particular advocate of free speech and all, but, in this case, very positive.

I believe that WikiLeaks are basically combatting one of the main problems of democracy - that being the voting public's lack of access to information, based on which they can make an educated decision.

Yes, it might lead to unfortunate situations in foreign policies, so I can't say they're good. But I can't fault the things they're doing and the reaction of the U.S. government means they're doing something right.

Though I would like to note that wikileaks is extremely likely to have false information on it, so my skepticism of anything on it would probably prevent me from believing anything that's remotely far-fetched.

Well, if that were the case, then it's a fairly decent diplomacy smear job by someone.

However, in that case, I think the U.S.A. and the other countries of the world would've had a different reaction - how can they hold someone responsible for leaking info that was never there in the first place.

Also, they're going for the banks now, who did the sensible thing of calling "bullshit". Really, whether it's true information or false information, that's the only thing they can do.

 

[drdamo]

If you value you country, its beliefs and the people that live in it there is no need to lie or hide the truth. If your excuse is that the information might harm your people or your country you shouldn't have gone that far for it to become as such. Armies are there to protect both the country and its residents. Soldiers choose to risk their lives for both. How come theres alot of choices made by governments and military that endanger their country and people despite that fact?
War is bloody, war is gruesome and humans aren't perfect; misstakes are made.
Trying to convince the world you are a protagonist with noble causes while you hide the flaws of humanity will only keep the fires of war burning under false pretenses.
War will never bring peace, it will bring peace out of fear; obedience.
And the slumbering anger and hatred will eventually grow, reaching a boiling point and history will repeat itself, again and again and again.
"War. War never changes."

 

[fozzy360]

Necessary, although I don't think I can assign it good or bad.

Well put. I'm not sure if this exactly good or bad because that seems too simple, but I think the people should know, as long as what's released isn't putting people's lives at risk (I understand that this leak necessarily isn't).

On the other hand, the stuff about the other leaders sound hilarious. Kiddafi has a busty blonde Ukrainian nurse at his side? Haters gonna hate.

America however, is still trying to arrest him.

I though INTERPOL made the warrant.

 

[Choppaduel]

Good. The powers that be need to be afraid of their dirty secrets being exposed, it helps keep them in check. keeps them from acting like even more of a prick than they already are.

 

[The Youth Counselor]

On the front page of every newspaper or news website, the instant you turn to any television news you only see hogwash. The same stories repeated over and over, celebrity gossip, unimportant political gossip, and cute stories followed by the weather after the commercial break.

Wikileaks does the job the mainstream news media is unwilling to do: Inform the truth to the public and expose injustice.

 

[Daveman]

It's good. Because nothing important is released that puts soldiers at risk, which is what the governments say, but it does show you some of the things they don't want you to know because they know that people wont agree with it or it contradicts something they've said.

 

[Kwaren]

I hate secrets of all kinds. Nothing should be hidden. I support this.

 

[Hellz_Barz]

Also, he claims to have been in contact with 'Australian intelligence' now I don't know about you guys, but if my job was information dissemination, I would at least be able to name the agency that contacted me, ASIO ASIS DIO DSA or DSD, AFP maybe, no one who has had contact with these groups would simply call them Australian intelligence.

He must mean something else when he said Australian Intelligence, cause no way would any arm of the government sellout America. Unless hes got a new source amongst them, but i doubt it cause those departments are way too conservative to be on his side.

 

[Buccura]

I think it's good, however I can see it turning into something bad if left too unchecked.

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

I think it's VERY good.

BUT...i dislike it when family people in midrange positions get headhunted cause of it.
Lots of innocent everyday people in their last leak.

 

[the clockmaker]

Also, he claims to have been in contact with 'Australian intelligence' now I don't know about you guys, but if my job was information dissemination, I would at least be able to name the agency that contacted me, ASIO ASIS DIO DSA or DSD, AFP maybe, no one who has had contact with these groups would simply call them Australian intelligence.

He must mean something else when he said Australian Intelligence, cause no way would any arm of the government sellout America. Unless hes got a new source amongst them, but i doubt it cause those departments are way too conservative to be on his side.

Thats what Im saying, the DSD for example has a motto of 'protect our secrets, reveal their own'. Does that sound like the kind of agency that would cooperate with someone who is trying to reveal our secrets? I think he's talking out of his arse.