...aaand back to the thread (with a nod to Thoth2 who plainly knows his onions.)
Yes. One million informers to be recruited and a collosal amount of information for the state to chew over.
If you think that all this information, when it becomes available, will be restricted to the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security in its fight against terrorism and not shared between every law enforcement body in America you're very sweet.
Arguments about Stalinist Russia and the Stasi be damned. It'll mean an appreciable difference to the lifestyle of every American citizen and it won't take long.
(I also think it's curious that those who see the least to object to in this plan are the same people who grumble the most about the interference of the state in the lives of American citizens.)
Most of the posts in this thread express negative emotions towards this program. Maybe the best thing to do is make a start on getting all those millions of slots filled with people who dislike this trend towards Big Brother, authoritarianism/fascism and the accompanying erosion of decent American values. I joined it yesterday.
This Citizen Corps thing is redundant; I am extremely skeptical that it will do anything to reduce terrorism, or the threat of terrorism. Also, the 'terror alert' color code is dumb in the extreme. There have been so many red and yellow alerts since the program was instigated that it's now approaching the 'crying wolf' syndrome. Any terror group who wants to strike will just wait until it's a "low risk day".
In a few weeks, it will be the first anniversary if 9-11. You can bet that everyone will be on tenterhooks this September 11, red alerts all over, but it's probably more likely that a strike will occur on the 7th, or the 10th or the 12th etc, just when its more unexpected.
<strong>I have a solution. You must all volunteer. Encourage your friends to do the same.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey! There's nothing to say you must be American (that I can see) on the form! We'll all join up and protect the err "motherland" for you from the safety of Yoorp (doesn't seem we need a Citizen's Corp here for some reason).
Comments
Yes. One million informers to be recruited and a collosal amount of information for the state to chew over.
If you think that all this information, when it becomes available, will be restricted to the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security in its fight against terrorism and not shared between every law enforcement body in America you're very sweet.
Arguments about Stalinist Russia and the Stasi be damned. It'll mean an appreciable difference to the lifestyle of every American citizen and it won't take long.
(I also think it's curious that those who see the least to object to in this plan are the same people who grumble the most about the interference of the state in the lives of American citizens.)
I've videotaped numerous suspicious activities in my neigborhood. And, my CCTV captures interesting stuff as well.
This Citizen Corps thing is redundant; I am extremely skeptical that it will do anything to reduce terrorism, or the threat of terrorism. Also, the 'terror alert' color code is dumb in the extreme. There have been so many red and yellow alerts since the program was instigated that it's now approaching the 'crying wolf' syndrome. Any terror group who wants to strike will just wait until it's a "low risk day".
In a few weeks, it will be the first anniversary if 9-11. You can bet that everyone will be on tenterhooks this September 11, red alerts all over, but it's probably more likely that a strike will occur on the 7th, or the 10th or the 12th etc, just when its more unexpected.
<strong>I have a solution. You must all volunteer. Encourage your friends to do the same.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey! There's nothing to say you must be American (that I can see) on the form! We'll all join up and protect the err "motherland" for you from the safety of Yoorp (doesn't seem we need a Citizen's Corp here for some reason).
[ 07-19-2002: Message edited by: Harald ]</p>
[ 07-19-2002: Message edited by: Harald ]</p>