Oh dear, this sounds very intense. Harold, we can't do without you!
On another level, I'm of two minds about this whole story. I don't like government monitoring of citizens without our knowledge, so for that reason I can be sympathetic to Vigilance, but I also have sympathy for Finch. He is limiting what can be done with the Machine's output and what information can be drawn from it's sources, understanding the very human temptation to misuse power, so he's handling it the most responsibly of any of them in limiting his end to helping people in danger with only a SS#. And yet even he condones violent acts committed to protect their "numbers."
Now Decima I have no sympathy for. Unbridled access to the data IS dangerous to our freedoms, and the Northern Lights access with the Patriot Act's ability to authorize incarceration and action without trial is even more of a danger to our freedom and our whole system of government, so that is another way abuse of the system can enter the picture. Harold did his best to put limits on the system and on access to it, but as we have seen, any system can ultimately be abused. Collier's family story was a good example of the system's use by the government bureaucracy in an abusive way.
But vigilantism is also not OK. We are a country governed by law, and so something like Vigilance isn't OK either. They are assuming the very "godlike" power that they fault the government for. So they are no better than the ones they accuse of abuses. Collier is like a modern Robespierre, good intentions gone amok with unbridled power, taking upon himself and his group the roles of judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner--not a good combination.
NOTE: Name-calling, personal attacks, spamming, excessive self-promotion, condescending pomposity, general assiness, racism, sexism, any-other-ism, homophobia, acrophobia, and destructive (versus constructive) criticism will get you BANNED from the party.
That is awesome. I can't wait for the finale.
ReplyDeleteOnly a few hours left. I am caught in two minds - should I watch this or not?
ReplyDeleteNope. Will wait for the episode. Want to experience the awesomeness in it's entirety.
Oh dear, this sounds very intense. Harold, we can't do without you!
ReplyDeleteOn another level, I'm of two minds about this whole story. I don't like government monitoring of citizens without our knowledge, so for that reason I can be sympathetic to Vigilance, but I also have sympathy for Finch. He is limiting what can be done with the Machine's output and what information can be drawn from it's sources, understanding the very human temptation to misuse power, so he's handling it the most responsibly of any of them in limiting his end to helping people in danger with only a SS#. And yet even he condones violent acts committed to protect their "numbers."
Now Decima I have no sympathy for. Unbridled access to the data IS dangerous to our freedoms, and the Northern Lights access with the Patriot Act's ability to authorize incarceration and action without trial is even more of a danger to our freedom and our whole system of government, so that is another way abuse of the system can enter the picture. Harold did his best to put limits on the system and on access to it, but as we have seen, any system can ultimately be abused. Collier's family story was a good example of the system's use by the government bureaucracy in an abusive way.
But vigilantism is also not OK. We are a country governed by law, and so something like Vigilance isn't OK either. They are assuming the very "godlike" power that they fault the government for. So they are no better than the ones they accuse of abuses. Collier is like a modern Robespierre, good intentions gone amok with unbridled power, taking upon himself and his group the roles of judge, jury, prosecutor, and executioner--not a good combination.
Do it.
ReplyDeleteSurely Root and her Nerd Herd will block the transmissions from being seen, don't you think? Finch can't have his face all over tv and the internet!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Collier needs to die...a LOT.
ReplyDelete