DRONE INDUSTRY STEPPING UP LOBBYING CAMPAIGN

This guy calls himself a representative from an aerospace "trade organization".  In truth they are a lobby group that promotes expanded use of drones all over the country and around the world.

18 states and many local governments are now considering banning drone flights.  The city of Charlottesville, Virginia recently passed a two-year moratorium on drones.

There are numerous health and safety questions that must be answered.  Airspace over Maine is already quite busy.  Drones have proven to frequently crash.  Civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan report severe depression from the incessant humming that comes from endless drone flights over their heads.

More than 500 aerospace companies are eager to develop this new drone market.  The drone industry is  pushing back hard against those who say local police should be required to secure search warrants before using drones to snoop on the public.  Industry lawyers say we have nothing to fear – that all we have to do is ask local police and they will be transparent about their drone use.

In an ironic turn, President Obama, who began his presidency denouncing predecessor George W. Bush's expansive use of executive power and lack of transparency, is now using similar tactics — including secret justifications and undisclosed intelligence assessments.

Obama has been asked to explain his views on the limits of executive power in using lethal force against U.S. citizens, especially when operating on U.S. soil. In fact some in Congress have asked Obama whether he thought the Administration could legally carry out drone strikes inside the United States. In response, Obama emphasized that the Administration “has not carried out” such strikes and “has no intention of doing so.”

The question the public is asking is not whether the Administration has or intends to carry out drone strikes inside the United States, but whether it believes it has the authority to do so. This is an important question that cannot be ignored.

Already we are facing a severe loss of our liberties with the recent signing of the NDAA that allows indefinite detention of citizens without charges or legal representation.  Warrantless wiretapping is also a serious concern.

Throughout American history we have been reminded that government has over and over again used every available tool to repress legitimate dissent – drones will be no different.

We must take proactive steps to ban these surveillance systems now while we still can.