If the Jackboot fits...

[toscas_kiss]

Fuck, but America is getting scary.

The "Department of Homeland Security"? Anyone else hearing the strains of Deutschland Uber Alles here?

And this new Operations TIPS (Terrorism Information and Prevention System)?

The Washington Post reports the only public information about the program, in fact, is on a government Web site, which describes it as "a nationwide program giving millions of American truckers, letter carriers, train conductors, ship captains, utility employees, and others a formal way to report suspicious terrorist activity." Yep, Your mail carrier, your meter reader, the cable guy - all possible government informants.

And once targeted as a possible suspect, Government agents now have what amounts to unlimited warrant to spy on people, their family and associates, search their property and investigate them with the right to prosecute anyone (such as a local library) who informs them of the investigation. They can also arrest and detain anyone "suspected" of terrorist activities and hold them indefinitely, without charge and without an Attorney.

So much for the American Constitution.

You can sign up yourself up for the new Amercian Stasi at President Bush's Citizen Corps, who now have an official affiliation with the National Security Council.

The backlash has started already - you can inform on informants here Operation TIPS-TIPS: Report TIPS informants and it's suggested you mark their property with an appropriate Illuminati sign:

And just to scare the bejeezus out of you, here's what Herman Goering said at his war crimes trial, explaining how easily he and his fellow Nazis hijacked Germany's democratic government:

"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

And this is what John Ashcroft said, defending the Patriot Act:

"To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: 'Your tactics only aid terrorists, for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve.'"

You can read the full article here.

George Orwell is spinning in his grave.

Comments

[jmtorres.livejournal.com]

The "Department of Homeland Security"? Anyone else hearing the strains of Deutschland Uber Alles here?
...
George Orwell is spinning in his grave.


I've been saying for at least a year now that "Homeland Security" had a newspeak feel to it.

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Yep. Very scary. You have to wonder who thought that one up.

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Ugh. That is so vile. I've just sent those links on to a huge number of people. We'll probably all be watched now, of course. Did you see that there's a big note on the Citizen Corps page saying privacy policies do not apply?

Ugh.

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Yep. Pretty freaking insane. We'll just have to hope Blair doesn't get anything similar through, gods know they'd love to. The Government today laid a draft Order in Parliament to extend the powers of detention in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act (ATCSA) for a further twelve months. :-(

[rivier.livejournal.com]

Absolutely in all seriousness, what's happening globally and locally over the recent months, and now days, is troubling me like nothing I can recall before. Reagan bombing Libya, first Gulf War, and all the rest... nothing against this. And I'm thinking that my passivity taints me every bit as much as if I were one of the malevolent ones.

I badly need to be taken out of myself, with a good slobby evening on the couch and booze and very fine company and the discussion of shiny, shiny ephemeral porn. Any suggestions, dear?

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

It's the powerlessness that scares me.

Cool! Give me a ring (you still have my mobile # don't you?) and we'll organise. This Friday? Next week?

[tallycola.livejournal.com]

and now days, is troubling me like nothing I can recall before. Reagan bombing Libya, first Gulf War, and all the rest... nothing against this. And I'm thinking that my passivity taints me every bit as much as if I were one of the malevolent ones.

...and hearing you this just made me feel worse. :(

[ripperlyn.livejournal.com]

god, that makes me ill.

[sidara.livejournal.com]

yup, that sounds about right for my government, the one being led by the idiot shrub. all i can say that if gets elected again for another four more years, canada will be looking really tempting from where i sit right now ;)

[kurenai-bara.livejournal.com]

The Washington Post reports the only public information about the program, in fact, is on a government Web site, which describes it as "a nationwide program giving millions of American truckers, letter carriers, train conductors, ship captains, utility employees, and others a formal way to report suspicious terrorist activity." Yep, Your mail carrier, your meter reader, the cable guy - all possible government informants.

From what I've read, the postal authorities have refused to comply with Operation TIPS. Also, when the Senate recently approved the Pentagon's budget, they told them they could not use or set aside any of the money for that spy network the Pentagon wanted to set up--one where every bit of personal information (i.e., bank account transactions and medical records, even) could be investigated--whether you were a suspect or not. Not to mention, the ACLU were on the verge of suing the Pentagon if they went ahead with their plans.

So...there are some people who are trying to bring a halt to the plans the President and his cronies have to rob us completely of our privacy. Though...I do agree with you: America is teetering on becoming an Orwellian regime.

I'm betting (hoping!) he'll lose the election in 2004.

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

It makes me very happy to hear not everyone in the US government has gone stark raving insane! Thank gods for the ACLU!
And I'm definitely crossing my fingers for a 'lose' next year too.

[juleskicks.livejournal.com]

I know. I know, it's fucking scary. My father is with the CIA, and I don't want to have to check myself before I say anything to him, but I'm really afraid that it might get to that point. We've gotten into so many fights over things like this.

It's just... ugh.

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

Yep. :-(

[spubba.livejournal.com]

Sigh. No one listens to me. No one *ever* listened to me. The wheels were in motion years and years ago. I am not surprised. What's next, book burnings? Oh wait.

[kwobtchan.livejournal.com]

Well, looks like I go buy some chalk. I think I'll get some in mint green <3.

Then I'll move to England. Or way out in the country with my onisama. It's all a question of learning to like tea or shoot trespassers...

[toscas-kiss.livejournal.com]

You don't like tea? [shocked look] ;-)

[kwobtchan.livejournal.com]

Some herbal tea I like, and "black tea" (AKA Ocha) but tea-tea I kinda lost my taste for when I was little. See, my tousan was addicted to it (served cold) and I used to fix it for him and a little for myself. So it's more still sick of it I suppose.