User Panel
Posted: 11/14/2002 3:12:22 AM EDT
I know I don't!
[img]http://www.drudgereport.com/DATA.gif[/img] [url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/14/opinion/14SAFI.html?ex=1037854800&en=3778829e1bec3dc2&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE]Homeland Defense[/url] [b]You Are a Suspect By WILLIAM SAFIRE ASHINGTON — If the Homeland Security Act is not amended before passage, here is what will happen to you: Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend — all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as "a virtual, centralized grand database." To this computerized dossier on your private life from commercial sources, add every piece of information that government has about you — passport application, driver's license and bridge toll records, judicial and divorce records, complaints from nosy neighbors to the F.B.I., your lifetime paper trail plus the latest hidden camera surveillance — and you have the supersnoop's dream: a "Total Information Awareness" about every U.S. citizen. This is not some far-out Orwellian scenario. It is what will happen to your personal freedom in the next few weeks if John Poindexter gets the unprecedented power he seeks. Remember Poindexter? Brilliant man, first in his class at the Naval Academy, later earned a doctorate in physics, rose to national security adviser under President Ronald Reagan. He had this brilliant idea of secretly selling missiles to Iran to pay ransom for hostages, and with the illicit proceeds to illegally support contras in Nicaragua. A jury convicted Poindexter in 1990 on five felony counts of misleading Congress and making false statements, but an appeals court overturned the verdict because Congress had given him immunity for his testimony. He famously asserted, "The buck stops here," arguing that the White House staff, and not the president, was responsible for fateful decisions that might prove embarrassing. This ring-knocking master of deceit is back again with a plan even more scandalous than Iran-contra. He heads the "Information Awareness Office" in the otherwise excellent Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which spawned the Internet and stealth aircraft technology. Poindexter is now realizing his 20-year dream: getting the "data-mining" power to snoop on every public and private act of every American. Even the hastily passed U.S.A. Patriot Act, which widened the scope of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and weakened 15 privacy laws, raised requirements for the government to report secret eavesdropping to Congress and the courts. But Poindexter's assault on individual privacy rides roughshod over such oversight. He is determined to break down the wall between commercial snooping and secret government intrusion. The disgraced admiral dismisses such necessary differentiation as bureaucratic "stovepiping." And he has been given a $200 million budget to create computer dossiers on 300 million Americans. When George W. Bush was running for president, he stood foursquare in defense of each person's medical, financial and communications privacy. But Poindexter, whose contempt for the restraints of oversight drew the Reagan administration into its most serious blunder, is still operating on the presumption that on such a sweeping theft of privacy rights, the buck ends with him and not with the president. This time, however, he has been seizing power in the open. In the past week John Markoff of The Times, followed by Robert O'Harrow of The Washington Post, have revealed the extent of Poindexter's operation, but editorialists have not grasped its undermining of the Freedom of Information Act. Political awareness can overcome "Total Information Awareness," the combined force of commercial and government snooping. In a similar overreach, Attorney General Ashcroft tried his Terrorism Information and Prevention System (TIPS), but public outrage at the use of gossips and postal workers as snoops caused the House to shoot it down. The Senate should now do the same to this other exploitation of fear. The Latin motto over Poindexter"s new Pentagon office reads "Scientia Est Potentia" — "knowledge is power." Exactly: the government's infinite knowledge about you is its power over you. "We're just as concerned as the next person with protecting privacy," this brilliant mind blandly assured The Post. A jury found he spoke falsely before. [/b] I've already writen my Senators that I want them to vote no on this. I'm going to do it again for the Senator elect we have now. |
|
Definitely not for it.
Nor am I for the relaxation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Too intrusive. Very ugly. (Hey, Sweep - didja check out the Santa/Chimney Thread?) |
|
[img]http://ar15.com/members/albums/osprey21%2Fshadowgov%2D5k%2Ejpg[/img]
[brown]Brown Shirts[/brown] |
|
What a bunch of tin-foil hats! Don't you know there is a "War On Terror" going on?? If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Are you all anti-govt. wackos??
|
|
Quoted: What a bunch of tin-foil hats! Don't you know there is a "War On Terror" going on?? If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Are you all anti-govt. wackos?? View Quote Guilty as charged. My whacko status:[img]http://www.ar15.com/members/albums/82ndAbn%2Flaurelandhardy%2Egif[/img] |
|
With a budget of 37 billion $$$.
We could have just named the Sect. of Defense to protect our own shores and named a Sect. of War to take care of the rest of the world. BigDozer66 |
|
Yes there is a war on terror 'goon on'
Thats why the first order of congressional lame duckness was to pass another gun grabbing law.. The borders are still wide open 10,000 middle eastern men of terrorist age have been admitted to the USA Profiling will NOT be acceptable... White guys are always the first terrorist suspects regardless of what any dumb ole witnesses say... And even if any middle eastern men of the muslim religion are found to be terrorists they probably were run by white farm kids like Terry Nichols or super troopers like Timmy Mcveigh...there was NO John Doe #2 (what happend to John Doe #1?) And even though the WTC was bombed TWICE by Muslims...the offical word is (After CAIRN dumped millions into the media and politicans pockets) that no matter how many people they rape, murder, torture, of how many airplanes they fly into buildings, no matter how many buildings and people they blow up...no matter how many suicide bombers they send...no matter how many people they posion, infect with biologicals or nuke... Islam was, is and will always be...a Religon Of Peace.. .no evidence to the contrary will be found...or accepted |
|
Good thing we have all those [b]REPUBLICANS[/b] in DC these days.
[img]http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/ubb/graemlins/sheep.gif[/img] Scott |
|
[jackbootedthug][ar15fan]Hey this will let me round up more dopers. Cooooooooool. I can't wait until we re-enact prohibition so I can steal even more taxpayer's money to buy bad-ass tactical gear.[/ar15fan][/jackbootedthug]
|
|
Ironic that while claiming to protect our 2nd Amendment rights, they go after so many of the rest.
I hope this bill fails, but I doubt that it will. edited for spelling error |
|
Everything Admiral-Iamadisgracetomyuniform-Poindexter touches reeks of fascist totalitarianism. This bill as it stands is bad news. Damn! the number of freedom-loving countries is shrinking faster than a Sumatran rainforest.
|
|
I firmly beleive that the answer to our security problems in this country is not to get governement agencies more involved but to get citizens more involved. This means that citizens take some responsibility for their own protection. For some this may involve carrying a weapon, for other, vigilance of others. And most of all, members of a communities that harbor terrorists need to realize that their loyalties lie with the US, not their motherlands. There will never be enough police to protect us, we must be more active ourselves.
|
|
Quoted: I firmly beleive that the answer to our security problems in this country is not to get governement agencies more involved but to get citizens more involved. This means that citizens take some responsibility for their own protection. For some this may involve carrying a weapon, for other, vigilance of others. And most of all, members of a communities that harbor terrorists need to realize that their loyalties lie with the US, not their motherlands. There will never be enough police to protect us, we must be more active ourselves. View Quote You have the same logic as me. I will also take this a step further and say the same thing about crime as well. The more Beurocricy and money we throw at issue's, the worse off we're going to be. Stop pulling the rights of the law abiding and giving criminals more rights!! Everyone is SO WORRIED about a civy accidently taking out another civy, in hte name of defence. Meanwhile, we have FBI agents shooting innocent people in the face, and they get a paid vacation. [rolleyes] Where's the logic?? |
|
There are some good parts of the bill. It allows airline pilots to be armed. Who would have ever thought that would happen? It also allows Federal agencies to get rid of alot of dead wood without as much interference by the unions. I'll start worrying about the Government when they become more of a threat than the Islamic terrorists are right now.
|
|
Quoted: I firmly beleive that the answer to our security problems in this country is not to get governement agencies more involved but to get citizens more involved. View Quote Oh don't worry. With the TIPS program in effect, you will have plenty of chances to be reported by your neighbors for suspicion of terrorist activities and for having sniper weapons in your possession. Your hemp document worshipping days are numbered and this great democracy will be safer the sooner you (especially the libertarians) are all rounded up for treason. |
|
Quoted: I'll start worrying about the Government when they become more of a threat than the Islamic terrorists are right now. View Quote It seems like in some respects they already are. |
|
Quoted: Oh don't worry. With the TIPS program in effect, you will ha... <<< SNIP!! >>> View Quote Newsflash Sparky!! The TIPS program was voted DOWN by the REPUBLICAN-controlled House of Representatives back in July. [rolleyes] |
|
Quoted: Thats why the first order of congressional lame duckness was to pass another gun grabbing law.. View Quote I thought the first order was to vote for a $5k per year raise.... Profiling will NOT be acceptable... White guys are always the first terrorist suspects regardless of what any dumb ole witnesses say... View Quote So how can you say profiling will NOT be acceptable. It's perfectly acceptable in certain circumstances. Be reasonable...even profiling is subject to Affirmative Action laws! Islam was, is and will always be...a Religon Of Peace.. .no evidence to the contrary will be found...or accepted View Quote I'm still waiting for someone to explain why an America based representative group is considered more of an authority of Islam than the highest rankin clerics in the Middle East.... Homeland Defense? Department of Redundancy Department. We don't need it. Shake up the current beaurocracy, grab 'em by the scruff of the neck, and get them straightened out. Same amount of benefits, much less cost. |
|
I still don’t know why most of you guys would vote for Bush.
The patriot act along with citizen spies and now this. This guy has no idea what freedom is or how to protect this country. Some day he or some other liberal president will use the power he has asked for and received to destroy life as we know it in this fine country. I will not vote for him even if it means I don’t vote for president in the next election. THISISME |
|
Quoted: I still don’t know why most of you guys would vote for Bush. The patriot act along with citizen spies and now this. This guy has no idea what freedom is or how to protect this country. Some day he or some other liberal president will use the power he has asked for and received to destroy life as we know it in this fine country. I will not vote for him even if it means I don’t vote for president in the next election. THISISME View Quote I'm sorry, I must have missed were you had a better idea or an alternitive to bush? What did you say again about those things? |
|
MillerSHO, I would have rather have had Gore than Bush. He would have tightened our borders and done things by executive order that would have been challenged in the courts.
Bush has taken advantage of every crisis to grab unheard of power and place it all in the executive branch. And still our boarders are wide open. I would rather a liberal democrap sign unconstitutional laws than have a republican president do it to me. And bush is doing it to us in spades. Flame away, I don’t care. If the republicans think we like what they are doing they will do more and worse. If you let them know they are loosing you vote and support then they will rethink their power grabbing ways. Bush is selling you all down the river and you love him all the more for it. THISISME |
|
Perhaps some day when Americans are no longer free we will wish we had all voted for people who would fight for the things we believe in instead of encouraging those whose actions eventually enslaved us.
[url]http://www.constitutionparty.com[/url] THISISME |
|
If history is any judge, unconstitutional laws will be passed and unconstitutional actions will happen. Lincoln and the Civil War. Roosevelt and the New Deal and WWII Internment Camps.
Do I like it? No. Is some of it prudent? A more difficult question. |
|
Quoted: The TIPS program was voted DOWN by the REPUBLICAN-controlled House of Representatives back in July. View Quote Well then sir, I ask all real american patriots to write your senators and demand that the TIPS program be included in their version of the Homeland Defense bill. It is crucial that we have this important program to insure our great democracy is safe from domestic terrorism. |
|
I'm with Sweep, I don't want the HD bill to pass, if it even comes close to passing that would be too much for my liking. This is very serious business and we have to let our reps know that we are against this bill.
|
|
Quoted: Ironic that while claiming to protect our 2nd Amendment rights, they go after so many of the rest. I hope this bill fails, but I doubt that it will. edited for spelling error View Quote You've got to do more than hope, you have to act! Write your Senators now! |
|
When does the Senate vote on this POS Legislation?
BigDozer66 |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Ironic that while claiming to protect our 2nd Amendment rights, they go after so many of the rest. I hope this bill fails, but I doubt that it will. edited for spelling error View Quote You've got to do more than hope, you have to act! Write your Senators now! View Quote I plan to. Thanks for the push! |
|
Put me in the NO column. I don't need Comrade Dubya's Gestapo.
|
|
Quoted: I firmly beleive that the answer to our security problems in this country is not to get governement agencies more involved but to get citizens more involved. This means that citizens take some responsibility for their own protection. For some this may involve carrying a weapon, for other, vigilance of others. And most of all, members of a communities that harbor terrorists need to realize that their loyalties lie with the US, not their motherlands. There will never be enough police to protect us, we must be more active ourselves. View Quote Here here!!! I agree 100%. Unfortunately, the American individualism that built this country is slowly slipping away towards collectivism and individual weakness. It's up to us to carry on the tradition in our own families and our own communities so that when the day comes that upsets our society as we know it, we are already prepared to re-establish the values that made this country great! -Nick Viejo. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.