Will do. I'll copy from your reply on down.

And yes, it did start out in academia but did not have enough funding which is why DoD took over at one point. At that time, though, it was joint effort by the scientific and military community. Not so much anymore now that the DoD, much like any giant corporation, will take a person's creative license and make it property of that business.

In reply to this comment by schmawy:
Man, this should be in-thread, you are most certainly not a troll! I'd be happy if you copy-pasted this whole thing back into the discussion. I totally agree that this is what America gets when they vote a Neo-con into office, and allow the administration to run rough-shod over their rights. I don't think we are even arguing? Like I said, I think those protesters lacked heart.

And didn't the itnertoobs come originally from the academic / scientific sphere? At least that's what I remember from being there. It was co-opted and propagated by the DOD to use toward their own nefarious ends.

In reply to this comment by deadgoon:
From my standpoint (and after reading all the info neatly referenced in the wiki article I posted) neither the protesters nor the police had any more right than the other. A majority of the protesters were breaking laws and orders set up for their safety as well as the safety of the police and other personnel. This didn't happen over one day. It was a few years of protest at this particular site and the worst of it culminated in the video that was posted.

I argue, like in the previous reply, it is the fault of the people electing who we do into office that makes this a tragedy. We believe that they are doing everything for "the good of America" or to "create a change" in America. When in fact, every law they create or every bill they design not only helps the lobbyist and stockholder but it also helps to further the separation, and segregation, of Americans by race, creed, color, sexual orientation and income. This isn't limited to one party.

BTW - without the military industrial complex you and I would not be using this medium to interact. The entire world has benefited greatly due to technological breakthrough because of war and conflict. Unfortunate? Yes and no.

In reply to this comment by schmawy:
Very true, and ages on the Sift vary greatly. You probably know that the Law affords "individual rights" to corporations as well. I take umbrage with that, as do many of the protesters. Military industrial complex makes Ike cry.

In reply to this comment by deadgoon:
In reply to this comment by schmawy:
In reply to this comment by deadgoon:
What is the Law? It's set up for an individual's right and protection.

And by calling us 'pups' you're meaning to imply that WE are naive?

Not so much "naive" as unwilling to believe that this isn't the fault of one man. If we are all over 18 on this thread, we all had a hand in electing the people making and breaking law in Washington, D. C.