Monitor Thy Neighbor (Commentary by Congressman Ron Paul)

Ron Paul via MEW ^ | 07.23.02 | Ron Paul

[Registered]

Monitor Thy Neighbor

Publisher: Middle East News Press Release Network

By: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Posted: 2002-07-23

Opposition to the Patriot Act, legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President last year, is growing. Americans are beginning to understand that many precious liberties have been put in jeopardy by the government's rush to enact new laws in the wake of September 11th. Federal law enforcement agencies now have broad authority to conduct secret, warrantless searches of homes; monitor phone and internet activity; access financial records; and undertake large-scale tracking of American citizens through huge databases. We're told this is necessary to fight the unending war on terror, but in truth the federal government has been seeking these powers for years. September 11th simply provided an excuse to accelerate the process and convince all of us to relinquish more and more of our privacy to the federal government.

Now the Justice department wants to extend the new investigative powers to private citizens. It recently unveiled Operation TIPS – Terrorism Information and Prevention System – as part of President Bush's Citizen Corps initiative. The goal is to enlist thousands or even millions of Americans to act as spies for the government, reporting suspicious activity to officials using a handy toll-free hotline. The Justice department especially hopes to enlist mailmen, delivery drivers, plumbers, gas-meter readers, and the like, as they have access to private homes and businesses in their daily work. As usual, the war on terror is offered as justification for this proposal.

This almost might be funny if it were not real. Imagine the rampant abuses possible with a national spy program. Busybodies across the country will clamor to join the effort and act as self-appointed neighborhood vigilantes. Unscrupulous individuals of every stripe will abuse the program by snitching on ex-spouses, personal enemies, and racial groups they don't like. Bickering neighbors will enjoy calling in to report unkempt lawns and barking dogs as sure signs of nefarious activity. I certainly hope the Justice department employs some very patient people to field the flood of useless calls.

If a government-sponsored snitch program sounds pretty bad to you, you're not alone. Some commentators draw parallels between Operation TIPS and the citizen informants of the former East German Stasi secret police. Of course, suggesting the obvious – that citizen spy programs are incompatible with a free society – invites denunciations and sharp reminders that "we're at war." Remember, however, that wars have been used throughout modern history to justify rapid expansion of state power at the expense of personal liberty. We cannot remain free if we allow the endless, undeclared war on terror to serve as an excuse for giving up every last vestige of our privacy.

I applaud Congressman Dick Armey for adding a provision to the homeland security bill that would prohibit the Justice department from implementing the TIPS program. His opposition brings needed public attention to this terrible idea. But even if Congress supports him, there is no guarantee another informant proposal will not surface soon thereafter. Congressional oversight of administrative agencies (consider the Treasury department and its renegade IRS) is nonexistent. The Justice department almost certainly will seek another way to implement the program, with or without congressional approval.

Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves what kind of society we hope to leave our children and grandchildren. A civilized and free society would not be discussing, much less seriously debating, any proposal to enlist private citizens to act as federal neighborhood snitches.


Ron Paul, M.D., represents the 14th Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives.

[freeeee]

<< STANDING APPLAUSE >>

Thanks for posting this.

[steve50]

Ron Paul seems to be about the only true republican left in the party. I wonder how much longer he will run for office, he around 60 or so?

[Huck]

Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves what kind of society we hope to leave our children and grandchildren. A civilized and free society would not be discussing, much less seriously debating, any proposal to enlist private citizens to act as federal neighborhood snitches.

So the real question then is what kind of uncivilized society we hope to leave our children. You can't expect uncivilized people to leave behind a civilized society, can you?

[rdb3]

Ron Paul seems to be about the only true republican left in the party.

I like Rep. Ron Paul a lot. But he's not a Republican. He's really a libertarian who ran and won as a Republican.

Not that I'm complaining. I'm not.

[Lexington Green]

“What we thought we needed to fear from liberals, we find being championed by conservatives. Right now, George Bush and his fellow travelers compose the greatest threat to freedom and constitutional government that exists. Instead of fighting terrorism, they are actually destroying the very principles of liberty that they claim to be protecting.” - Chuck Baldwin

[steve50]

I don't think the republicans are republicans anymore. Paul is the closet thing we have left to one. We've been highjacked by the statist neocon crowd, little more than the dems of the 60's,IMO

[rdb3]

We've been highjacked by the statist neocon crowd, little more than the dems of the 60's,IMO

According to this mentality of yours, what was the point of me leaving the RATS?

You get attacked either way.

[steve50]

If the only difference is a R or a D after the name there is no difference how you register. Many people have joined the republican party because of it's move to the left. I don't think you beat the party of big government by becoming it.

[rdb3]

Well, let me say this. Since "neo-con" is defined as having moved from liberal to conservative, I wear that label as a badge of honor.

Others deride it.

Whatever.

But I know that I will not venture out into the fringes. To me, anyone on the Right who so openly throws out the term "neo-con" as an insult is on the fringe.

[ExpandNATO]

So if in my job as sysadmin, I come across files and email that looks like terrorists actually planning something and then actually report it I am now no better than a Stasi snitch.

So if I find out someone is illegally here from the Middle East and I report it, I am now a Stasi snitch.

Ron Paul sounds about the same as the communists complaining about the people who revealed their activities during the Cold War or the librarians who refused to reveal what Soviet diplomats were reading up on.

Perception of police state triumphs over concrete reality.

[steve50]

That's how you define neocon. Most political observers have different definitions. The fact that those in our party who coined the phrase are now trying to distance themselves from it is interesting.

[Old philosopher]

Ron Paul is absolutely correct. He is one of the very few in Congress who might be considered "True Patriots", men who put the country first rather than their own selfish interests, but his is a lonely voice.

The Terrorists we have to fear the most are those esconced within our government. in the White House, in both Houses of Congress and even a few in the SCOTUS, to say nothing of the ones hidden within the ranks of the bureaucrats.

We desperately need to clean out the Washington Establishment, and by that I mean Politicians on both sides of the aisle, and return this country to what it was originally and was meant to be, A Republic.

That's my opinion

[Reagan Man]

More anti-government rhetoric from the hero of the libertarian crowd of misfits, malcontents and militants everywhere. Ron Paul needs to get a new approach to politics and life. His current attempts to undermine our civilized society, clearly isn't working and his support beyond the lunatic fringe here on FR is non-existent. Paul's district is 60% Democrat. He would be better served if he became a Democrat. He certainly isn't a Republican and can't be considered a well rounded conservative either, in any true sense of the word.

[Consort]

I remember the stories about the good old days when neighbors sat out on the porch or stoop and kept an eye on each others kids; when the cops on the beat knew the residents by name and checked the doors of businesses at night to make sure that they were locked.... This was, in effect, neighbors and law enforcement monitoring each other.... Now, people " just don't want to get involved".

[caltrop]

Ron Paul was born August 20, 1935.

[Sir Gawain]

Are you freeping on my tax dollars, spook?

I see you have no problem with the loss of freedoms. If that's what it means to be a conservative, then I don't think I want to be labeled one either.

[Askel5]

A civilized and free society would not be discussing, much less seriously debating, any proposal to enlist private citizens to act as federal neighborhood snitches.

One would think.

Let's hope TIPS supporters here at FR are not indicative of the nation at large.

[Registered]

Rhetoric? You didn't address anything specific that you disagree with Paul on. Talk about double standards.