Thanks for the working link, Gina.

As to the ability to edit our posts: I believe this site uses the Symphony framework, and that the forum is created via a plugin called sfSimpleForum.  If this is the case, it's intended only to be a simple forum, rather than one of the uber-robust beasts we're used to in most places on the internet; my guess is that editing posts is simply not supported, but I did not confirm this.

However, Symphony is Open Source (same as the aforementioned robust beasts) -- that is, the core application code is free to download, work on, develop for, change, alter and make better -- so anyone with a grasp of the PHP programming language could undertake the development of a feature to allow the editing of posts and then subsequently "release it back into the wild" as we say, so that others could benefit from the functionality as well.

Not sure if you're interested, but if you do check out what Open Source is about -- think about how this movement makes Micro$oft quake in its monopolistic boots! ;)

I think, alar, that calling anyone excersising their RIGHTS foolish is absent minded at best.  While it is perfectly legal for any one to take a picture of you in public, we live here instead of Beverly Hills for a reason.  It's important for people to voice their opinions to the people they elected.  This is an issue that many people have strong feelings about, in public or not.  I really do hope that the city decides to hold its citizens opinions in high regard when encountering such a topic.  My opinion and my belifes differ on this one because personaly I could care less about the cameras.  I belive, however that more money means more government.  More government is not on my agenda as they already own thirty percent of my pay check.  After all they are not around to stop crime, they are around to add to the cities coffers.

Thanks for your civil opposition.  You take my comment about foolishly exercising a particular right out of context here.  To clarify, what I referred to as foolish is for someone to attempt to get out of, say, a traffic ticket for blowing a red light -- when there is a picture record of it happening.  I would add that when someone is caught doing something, but refuses to take responsibility for their actions (by paying a small fine, for example) on the chance they might get "off the hook" ... this needlessly spends our tax dollars in Court proceedings.

In regard to city coffers, I don't know exact numbers, but it would appear that it's not particularly laden if the "state of the city" (closed beach, lackluster events, debt, etc) is any indication.

I agree that these cameras probably do very little, if anything, to deter crime, but on the other hand, I am in full support of the City making a few bucks by collecting fines from those who commit them.  I believe that posting a camera is much cheaper/easier than posting a street-cop on the corner 24/7 to do a similar job -- safer, more reliable and no one has to freeze cheeks through the winter to keep it up.

The civil servents that preside over the courts are payed even if you don't contest your ticket.  Waste our tax money?  There are much, much bigger wastes of taxes than someone doing what they feel to be correct.  We are not moral police.  We the people rely on each other to provide for our rights when the need arises, a small pitance in taxes.  Our federal governments war on terror for example, not only has this not made us safer but energy costs are sky high in a large part to the war machine.  Insane amounts of money.  Or the buying off of third world debt?  Or New York being almost incapable of reaching a balanced budget in the resonable time constraints they are given?  Or the crazy amounts of money wasted on the cell towers on the northway, this is an issue of public saftey.  Whats the debate?  Or how about the city putting up a parking garage that wasn't needed and isn't used.  Or the city rebuilding the area between the Green Room and Ashleys furniture over and over.  You would think they would try to bring more good jobs into the area to increase population and collect more taxes.  Instead we are lacking in jobs and their answer is to raise the taxes.  These are the wastes of tax money we should be focused on, not a court preceding.  People should take responsiblity for their actions, I agree.  If someone thinks they need to use the courts, no matter how small the issue, we should support their right to do this.  For if we don't exersise our rights we lose them.

Lifeorliberty.. while you have some good points in what you posted, I find the war on terror point you made wrong and simply disrespectful. When people like YOU say that the war on terror was a mistake, a blunder, or has not made our nation, let alone the world safer, it offends me. When you make statements like that they are disrespectful to the soldiers and people who put their lives on the line so you can sit behind a keyboard and screen to nit pick and talk about the job they do. Have a problem with the administration, that is totally fine and understandable, but don't say the war hasn't made us safer when it simply has. Personally, I would love to send all of you over seas to see what it is like when fighting the enemies we face. You would then understand what is at stake.

To me, this thread is getting off topic. I knew when reading it that people would post up their own thoughts about "big brother" and other Government issues since it seems like a majority of the people on here may have a bone to pick with Washington. I am not a moderator or in charge of this site, only a visitor, but it would be nice to keep this thread on topic.

The Plattsburgh Pipeline Forums are for the community and so far everyone has kept in "clean". Spam is taken care of and the language as another user has pointed out is "clean".  I delete any post that involve foul language and if I do miss one you can always report it to info@plattsburghpipeline.com.

Thanks PP

When people like YOU say that the war on terror was a mistake, a blunder, or has not made our nation, let alone the world safer, it offends me. When you make statements like that they are disrespectful to the soldiers and people who put their lives on the line so you can sit behind a keyboard and screen to nit pick and talk about the job they do. Have a problem with the administration, that is totally fine and understandable, but don't say the war hasn't made us safer when it simply has.

People like whom, Kibbles?  Why don't you clarify just exactly what you mean by that. 

Perhaps you should grow some thicker skin.  LifeorLiberty's comment about the War on Terror was pretty mild.  How has the War on Terror improved our countries image in the eyes of the world?  How has it made us safer?  How does violence make anyone safer?  How is fighting terror with terror not offensive to everyone?  Last time I checked, this country was founded on dissent and protest, free spreech...things that our soldiers have died for to help protect that right.  They are dieing for it right now, and while both you and I sit at home, we see that right being taken away from us before I very eyes.  The RNC/DNC protests were perfect evidence of that - police in full riot gear arresting and assaulting peaceful protestors in the streets - denying them their rights as guaranteed in the Bill of Rigths.  Journalists being silenced, harrassed, and arrested for covering it.

What's offensive to me are people who say such nonsense as I would love to send all of you over seas to see what it is like when fighting the enemies we face.  That same US vs. THEM mentality and so called "enemies" that our goverments tell us is a threat to our "way of life" is what I find offensive.  It's a lie, and always has been.  It's what keeps the world divided and in constant war...and for what?   It's not about keeping us safe, it's about keeping certain people rich and powerful.   Its called keeping the Status Quo.  

Rich, I think it is great that you have something to feel strongly about. There are too many people out there that do not care and it is nice to see someone, reguardless of what they believe, speaking out about what they feel is wrong. I agree fully with your point about the DNC/RNC protests! However, I think we will disagree about the war on terror. What I meant by my post is that I know that many people who are against the war (for whatever reason) really have not seen it first hand and who we are fighting against. What you see and hear on the news, no matter who you listen to, is biased and there are very few outlets that give the WHOLE story. What I also meant is that if you meet a terrorist face to face, they don't want to talk to you! They don't care, and frankly, the terrorists and who they follow thrive on Americans being against the war. I don't expect you to believe me, but I would expect that you research your position on the war! Just keep an open mind because it is people like you, who feel so strongly like I do, who really matter because we can educate others. I ask you to think of this: What about World War Two? Do you feel that facism was not a threat to our way of life? There are many other things I could cite as threats to our way of life and they are not lies. I agree that there have been subjects through out our history, and modern times, that have suffered the effect of being blown out of porortion and shown as threats, but are not.

  I love my country whether you think so or not I don't care.  It's the goverment I am not to sure of some times.  I was behind Bush when he came to the people and said they (Iraq) were a credible threat.  But guess what they lied!!!  Just remember this country was founded by farmers, miners, philosiphers, inventors, doctors, and most important of all FREETHINKERS.  Years were spent debateing and amending the documents like the constitution, bill of rights, the democratic system of government, great men gave us these articles and they should be cherished.  Instead you are willing to toss them to the side just to falsely misplace some of your own fear.  Don't tell me I don't support the troops, I support the troops.  I want to bring them home from Iraq, where we don't belong.  Thats the best support of all, let's help them from needless death.  If the PATRIOT act is keeping us so much safer than why have more than 400 states and local governments in forty- three states enacted resoulutions protecting their 62 million residents from their own big brother?  I sure am glad we have citizens such as Bernie Sanders from Vermont to stand up for us.  Want an example?  How about Patriot act section 215, This would have given the government the right to see and maintain logs of what your reading.  How does my reading make you safer?  Bernie asked the same thing and stopped the legislation.  I support us finding and destroying who ever was responcible for 9-11.  There is nothing more disgusting I have ever experianced then when my fellow Americans were needlessly killed.   I can remember being a young teen seeing the Oklahoma city bombing on tv and asking my self why do people do this to each other.  Please wake up and do a little research about past government "interventions". The Palmer Raids, and COINTELPRO may be a good place to start.  Both events are reoccuring today as we speak and as before it's not helping.

"Amercica will never be destoyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Abraham Lincoln