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.

[SerpentDove]

>> 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.<<

The problem, as I see it, is that the TIPS program seekes to give citizens the legal authority to gather evidence from you, in your own home, without a warrant. in other words, these aforementioned citizens will become duly authorized officers of the law who do not have to abide by the Constitutional prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.

They circumvent the judicial authority of issuing a warrant based on reasonable suspicion, and give the newly-appointed "police" unchecked (and unconstitutional) access to the houses and effects private citizens.

If that is not a "police state" I would like you to please explain to me why it is not. I will fight to the death so that my country does not give in to this.

Good day t'ya.

[SerpentDove]

This is one more shining example of why I believe George W. Bush has no respect for the Constitution of the United States.

[steve-b]

Better loosen your tinfoil hat; it's cutting off the circulation to your brain.

[steve-b]

I don't ever expect to be taken seriously

An example of the twice-a-day phenomenon.

[ExpandNATO]

Why make it official?

How about the terrorist who ranted and raved in front of a government bureaucrat about how it would be just be terrible if some Washington monuments were destroyed. Did she report it when it would have done some good? Would anyone have cared even if she had?

TIPS would be superfluous in a healthy society. Most would keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. This one needs a government program. I am not happy about it, but the world is what it is.

[Jefferson Adams]

If that is not a "police state" I would like you to please explain to me why it is not.

Precisely. And you're right about King George and the Constitution as well, unfortunately.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Or let's hope and pray that the GOP will not only reclaim the Senate, but also grab a stronger majority in the House. Imagine that...A great GOP President AND a GOP Congress -- at the same time so the GOP can really show the nation what it is all about. For once in my lifetime, please! From my heart and soul to God's ears...

[southern rock]

I hope the Democratic National Comittie is paying you well to play this little character they have created and written for you to preform under the name "Reagan Man".

A litte too obvious.

[Protagoras]

More anti-government rhetoric from the hero of the libertarian crowd of misfits, malcontents and militants everywhere.

Personal attack, no refutation of the comments

Ron Paul needs to get a new approach to politics and life.

More comments about the author, no refutation of the comments

His current attempts to undermine our civilized society,

More attacks on the author, this time with lies. Again, no refutation or debate.

and his support beyond the lunatic fringe here on FR is non-existent.

New attacks on third parties. Attacks on his supporters, name calling and lies. No refutation or reference to the articles contents.

Paul's district is 60% Democrat.

Irrelevant and off topic. No discourse on the topic of the article.

He would be better served if he became a Democrat.

Unsolicited advice, off topic.

He certainly isn't a Republican and can't be considered a well rounded conservative either, in any true sense of the word.

Off topic and inaccurate.

Great debating skills, thanks for the addition to the thread.

[Paid4This]

Paul's district is 60% Democrat.

With that comment alone you show your ignorance of his district. My advice? Get on a thread where you have something to add other than ignorance or lies.

[DAnconia55]

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

Props to Dick Armey, too..

He either is really sure of himself, or has accumulated a LOT of power in his tenure.

He's also solidly pro-capitalism.

[DAnconia55]

LOL... you're an extremist now?

Odd. It took a Republican president to get you called that....

[StriperSniper]

And he's leaving, he doesn't have to pull any punches.

[steve50]

Actually, the proper term for old style Republican is RINO.


Good point. We have 3 factions, at least, in the party now. RINOs, neocons, and true conservatives. Although many would argue the RINOs and neocons are subsets of the same faction

[steve50]

I don't think Armey has much in common with the RLC. They seem to be the closest to the old party principles.

[Jhoffa_]

This is a great article. Not that I alwayys agree with ron Paul, but more often than not if our liberties are in question he if there to defend them. It's truly a shame that this administration is so dense and short sighted as to support a citizen snitch corps. It seems as though Dubya never met a civil liberty he cared for or was willing to defend.

Something else that's not being asked when it comes to this issue is: What do they expect to find anyway? Truthfully, what is this gestapo supposed to accomplish? Do they think the cable guy is going to find a scud missle set up on someone's coffee table? Do they think a terrorist is going to ask the meter reader for a hand setting up their amateur SAM site? Come on, this is nothing more than an increasingly dense and hostile Bush Administration attempting to blame all of us for the failings of past administrations and fedgov in general.

Tie this to their desire to have the military running around doing the job of the police and it tells you all you need to know about a desperate man who was barely elected trying anything and everything to remain in power and oppress people with his government nanny state.

These two issues, taken togeather with a firm commitment to open borders have made me to a 180 on the bush Administration. These knee jerk policies should frighten every American and I sincerely hope people hear of this and realize that simply having an "R" behind ones name does not make them a friend of liberty.

[Jhoffa_]

Ron Paul Bump..

[Charles Martel]

How does that quote go? Ah, of course:

... Let each one stand at his front door, look and listen. Watch for a man running through the streets. Repeating: Calling all Citizens."

- Fahrenheit 451

Chilling. Good for Rep. Paul, he said what needed saying.

[Alan Chapman]

Your comments about Ron Paul constitute nothing more than Argumentum ad Hominem (attacking the arguer instead of the argument). You would've been better off saying nothing at all.

[Alan Chapman]

Truthfully, what is this gestapo supposed to accomplish? Do they think the cable guy is going to find a scud missle set up on someone's coffee table? Do they think a terrorist is going to ask the meter reader for a hand setting up their amateur SAM site?

The danger lies in the fact that people, in general, believe that it's patriotic and heroic to spy on their neighbors and report even the most innocuous things to the authorities.

For example, suppose a cable TV guy, a house cleaner, or a plumber noticed "subversive" items in your home -- books on your shelf about shooting and camping, a gun collection on the wall, a Civil War musket, a confederate flag, or maybe an oil painting of a well-known political dissident from the passed. While they may be only collectors items to you, somebody else might get the wrong idea.

Join the TIPS program in your neighborhood today!