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Monitor Thy Neighbor (Commentary by Congressman Ron Paul)
Ron Paul via MEW ^ | 07.23.02 | Ron Paul

Posted on 07/23/2002 8:04:51 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: government; spy; tips
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To: nanny
>>>I don't mind debating, but let's leave out the namecalling, shall we?

Namecalling?

You are seriously mistaken. How about an example of namecalling, by me, directed at you.

>>>Just because we cannot go back to the smaller form of government this country had, doesn't preclude our getting rid of much of the bloat that strangles the citizens of this country.

I already addressed that issue in my remarks at RE:#110. Two points. First, if we reform our tax structure, we can stop feeding the bloated bureaucracy in Wash-DC. That will go a long way to reducing the size and scope of the federal government. Second, if we seriously work to cut waste, fraud and abuse, across the board, from the federal budget, we will save billions of dollars.

The fact is, you are a self professed libertarian anarchist, who wants to do away with 99.9% of the federal government. As I've already said, that would lead to chaos and anarchy. 99% of American's want no part of that political philosophy.

141 posted on 07/24/2002 3:48:48 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: subterfuge
>>>You fouled up a perfectly good thread Reagan Man!

That's your opinion. I've been debating the issues. Others wanted a love fest for the libertarian Ron Paul. Wake up.

142 posted on 07/24/2002 3:52:22 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Reagan Man
"From your remarks, I conclude you're an anti-government fanatic. You're in the sub 1/2% crowd, along with the libertarians and other fringe extremists." Now that might be polite conversation where you live, but not in my part of the world.

Actually, I was being a little over the top regarding percentages, but what percent of the government do you think we need - really need?

Neither libertarian nor anarchist.

143 posted on 07/24/2002 6:06:42 PM PDT by nanny
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To: Reagan Man
That's your opinion. I've been debating the issues. Others wanted a love fest for the libertarian Ron Paul. Wake up.

THIS....

To: Registered

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.

15 posted on 7/23/02 9:08 AM Pacific by Reagan Man

...does not constitute "debating the issues" in any debate society I have ever heard of... could you point out where it MIGHT? Besides between your ears... Thanks.

144 posted on 07/24/2002 7:07:25 PM PDT by dcwusmc
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To: dcwusmc
My initial remarks about Ron Paul, were right on the money. I offered a well constructed overview presentation that exposed Ron Paul's support for extremist politics. He opposes President Bush and the Republican Party agenda on most issues and has falsely represented his agenda. Paul is not a Republican and isn't a true conservative either. He has always been a Libertarian.

>>>This...does not constitute "debating the issues" in any debate society I have ever heard of...

Debate society? Get real!

Free Republic is a free wheeling open public forum. You're pissed off at the world because you've been completely outclassed and have been incapable of defending your extremist politics. I've kicked your butt from one end of FR to the other, time and again, with well reasoned, intelligent and substantive political arguments.

Face it. Your confrontational strategy is a complete and utter failure, just like your libertarian politics.

145 posted on 07/24/2002 9:06:33 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: dcwusmc; Reagan Man
...does not constitute "debating the issues"

Near as I can tell from reading the thread, RM sees the issues a little differently. To him the pertinent issue seems to be that there are people who disagree with him. They're in his country, on this forum, and some of them are even in Congress. They won't agree with him, they won't pack their bags and leave the country, they won't shut up, JimRob won't ban them, he can't kill them, and he's not happy about it. Apparently it just really sucks to be him.

146 posted on 07/24/2002 9:12:01 PM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: nanny
>>>Now that might be polite conversation where you live, but not in my part of the world.

That's politics. If you can't take the heat, stay away from the fire.

>>>but what percent of the government do you think we need - really need?

It's dangerous for anyone to speculate on such serious subject matters, especially since I'm not an economist. But I think if the Congress got real serious about reforming the tax structure, cutting back on waste, fraud and abuse and abolishing unconstitutional departments, like the Dept of Education, I think the federal government could be reduced by 1/3rd. More realistically speaking, that figure would probably be about 20%. Hell, right now I'd settle for 5%-10% across the board reductions.

I believe we have many well meaning conservative Republicans, who just don't have the majority power to make the changes they know are necessary for the future of our nation. But the answer to America's problems, won't be found in voting for third party candidates.

Well, third parties have been notoriously unsuccessful; they usually wind up dividing the very people that should be united. And then we elect the wrong kind–the side we’re out to defeat wins.
Ronald Reagan July 1975

147 posted on 07/24/2002 9:24:34 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Born in a Rage
...What does it have that we don't already have?

A cute ditty: "Tattle tale, tattle tale, sitting on a bull's tail.

When the bull begins to pee, you can have a cup of tea."

148 posted on 07/24/2002 9:25:43 PM PDT by shetlan
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To: Reagan Man
My goodness. you are in fine fettle this morning. aside from the fact that you are about as effective as a one-legged man in an a$$-kicking contest or a one armed paper hanger, your remarks about Ron Paul are nothing but invective and barbra streisand. I think the only reason you are still tolerated on FR is for comic relief and to show the newbies what a statist gooberment troll is like. You contribute nothing to debates except drivel mcnuggets and not even GOOD drivel. Even Texaggie makes more sense than you do...

I am not pissed off at anything except statist jackals such as you (and YOU are unworthy of being pissed at so I just laugh at you...as do most other posters who have more than one brain cell. I mean, let's face it, if it took rubbing only TWO braincells together to start a fire, you'd freeze to death in the dark for lack of raw material.) nor are you capable of kicking ANYONE's ass unless they are handcuffed and helpless AND you are holding a gun.
149 posted on 07/25/2002 8:04:07 AM PDT by dcwusmc
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To: dcwusmc
Man, you are one BIG YAWN! LMAO

You're a boring and ignorant creature, who whines and carries on like a ten year old crybaby.

Return to your netherworld and leave us rational folks alone. Its obvious, when God was handing out brains, he passed you right by. He didn't even think you where worth his time and neither do I.

I'm sure you have something more to say. Carry on you stooge.

150 posted on 07/25/2002 9:10:55 AM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Reagan Man
Actually, we are discussing our country - not politics. And I won't stoop to that level or rhetoric.

I would love just 5 to 10%, but I asked what percentage of present government we actually needed. You idea that waste, fraud, is 1/3 - I think fraud and waste are at least 1/3, probably more. I think inefficiency is at least another 20%. Now as to the meddling in our everyday - I know even hard core conservatives would disagree on that, but it is huge.

I say let the federal government manage defense and I still maintain they are not doing a good job of defending our own land. Let them take care of the jobs given them in the constitution - not continually see how many of the residual powers they can usurp by 'interpreting' the constitution.

As to many well-meaning Republican, I don't know. It is cynical, I will admit, but I believe by the time someone has made it to WAshington, probably before, he/she have sold their votes to the highest bidder and can no longer have any care what the people or the country needs.

I liked Ronald Reagan as President and he was probably right at the time, but I believe with all my heart, h ad Ross Perot been in the game to win, he would have done so. He did not intend to win, else he wouldn't have done the drop out 'because someone wanted to mess up his daughter's wedding'. There are really some people out there that swallowed that ridiculous story. But, no, the third parties we have now would not have a chance, but I believe we need a good third choice. The present system reminds me of what they say about professional wrestling - "You be the bad guy this time and next time it will be my turn." Just as long as they keep the people in line, it really doesn't matter to them.

151 posted on 07/26/2002 12:30:03 PM PDT by nanny
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