Am I just getting a little paranoid, or are things getting a little out of control in Washington?

Obama is touting a new bill called “Cybersecurity Act of 2009,” which will according to James Osborne with FOXNews will give the President the “authority to shut down Internet traffic to protect national security.”

First of all, what is on the Internet that is so sensitive to be classified as a National Secret or be so critical that is threatens National Security? I’ve read the DoD manuals and the various documents that state how sensitive systems should be configured. The rule is to keep it off of the Internet.

Sure, we could have rioting in the streets if we could not Twitter or browse Facebook, but I think the ability to shutdown the Internet is took much of a power grab (or impossible).

That leads me to think the real target for the legislation is pointed out in the following quote:

The government also would have access to digital data from a vast array of industries including banking, telecommunications and energy.

Ahh, that makes more sense.  He doesn’t think he will need to shutdown the Internet.  Obama just wants to see what you are wearing.

Check out the legislation here:

http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:763:./list/bss/d111SN.lst::|TOM:/bss/111search.html
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:768:./list/bss/d111SN.lst::|TOM:/bss/111search.html