Monitor Thy Neighbor (Commentary by Congressman Ron Paul)

Ron Paul via MEW ^ | 07.23.02 | Ron Paul

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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.

[Reagan Man]

Seems I struck a nerve.

Like I said boy, go play with the twelve year olds.

Lock up the children, headsonpikes is on the loose.

Hahahahahahaha

[headsonpikes]

Get help.

[Reagan Man]

Lei sono uni cavalli come.

[GalvestonGal.com]

"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."

That sentence and Born in a Rage's comment straightened me out. I was still stuck in "Neighorhood Watch is good isn't it", but now I understand the distinction.

Thanks Ron Paul, fellow Freepers.

[Reagan Man]

After all the ad hominem attacks, convoluted rhetoric and endless political stupidity you've been spewing since your very first day on FR, it's you who needs help. Seriously, seek immediate assistence. I suggest a padded room for 72 hours.

[tpaine]

I know, and he isn't alone..

But this stuff scares me and it scares enough people that it's impossible for me to believe we are all just paranoid, psycho nutcases of some kind.
These proposals and others like them are a big deal from where I sit. When you toss in the potential for abuse and the ever present expansion factor, I can't help but be concerned, I think everyone should.

---

Exactly. -- I think we may be at a 'tipping point', [or at least the gov/goons think we are], where they think enough idiots like regan-mam have been brainwashed into believing that big brother can do no wrong.
--- So these clowns are floating all these trial balloons just to see how far they can go in establishing a socialist utopia.

-- What they fail to realize is that tipping points for revolutions are even harder to recognize than those that allow for repression.

[tpaine]

You aren't concerned about any potential for our nation becoming a police state if things like this are allowed to run unchecked?

---

Concerned? -- He runs about FR actively advocating that our nation become a police state. tpaine

---

I see you're still a fringe extremist and an incomparable liar too. Thought JimRob would have disposed of you long ago. He continues to tolerate you and the other losers on FR very well. I would have banned your stinking butt long ago. Besides, no one would have missed you. - Regen Mam -

---

Sour grapes, R-mam. You cannot refute my charges that you are an authoritarian former AFholer, because you are branded so with every post you make.
--- But, of course, you are right, in your suck up way, about JR.
He's a saint, a prince among men. He gives me cheese with me whine.

[MissAmericanPie]

So the next time that Bush drags out that tired old speech, "Want to fight terrorism? Mentor a child, visit a shut in". Is he going to have to add, "Visit a shut-in and if the shut-in seems supicious call the TIPS hotline."??

[MissAmericanPie]

Let me tell you, from what I hear at work from people who have never voted, they are registering to vote and fully intend to throw this kind of trash idea out, and the politicians that propose it. They have finally been scared into action, never thought I would see it happen.

It doesn't bode well for the Republicans around here even though these people are neither Repubs or Democrats.

[Jhoffa_]

They have finally been scared into action, never thought I would see it happen.

Good, and I have seen it happen once.. Remember Hillary Care?

That stroke of genius cost the democrats dearly.

It doesn't bode well for the Republicans around here even though these people are neither Repubs or Democrats.

I dunno about this, it may be too early to tell.

The polls are up in general, Dub has high approval, but it could just be a prolonged bounce from the "War On Terror" proping him up.

Then I saw one the other day where 47% wouldn't vote for him again, but I don't know if it's tied to the police state he's promoting or if it's garbage issues like "enron" or the attempted smear of vice president Cheney pulling him down. Or maybe the poll itself is questionable? Who knows?

The American public has a short memory though. If Dub get's his police state powers they will forget all about it in a couple of months unless there are tanks rolling down their streets. They will surely have forgotten about it by 2004.

I havent seen the talking heads making much news of it either, have you?

[Jhoffa_]

I don't know, I mean I don't see much news being made of "tips" or the rest of the Bush police state. His approval remains high regardless.

I don't know if people are genuinely concerned about this or if they would just smile and waive their little flags as the feds raid their "suspicious" neighbors.

Then you have the "us versus them even if it means a police state" crowd, the "wet undies for bush" crowd and the "Anyone from Texas is worth sacrificing children to" crowd doing a delphi on anything even remotely resembling an issue of substance that detracts from the Administration.

Who knows?

[ExpandNATO]

...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

They can do that now. If a visitor/repairman/meter reader is in or near a house and smells rotting human, he can call the cops who will then get a warrant and come looking for bodies.

If private citizens or police notice something that a reasonable man would consider suspicious and then the police come knocking with a warrant, a criminal cannot hide behind the right of privacy.

Your version of "police state" already exists and TIPS does nothing to change it, except give it an organized focus, look out for terrorists. Now if you provide an accurate transcript of what the Bush administration actually said and it goes beyond what a normal citizen could do already on his own, maybe you have a point, but until then I consider it hyperbole.

In a real police state, this sort of spying would be concentrated not on looking for criminals or terrorists, but rather looking for those peaceably assembling for some non-violent purpose, such as church services, discussion of ideas.

[MissAmericanPie]

No the talking heads are amazingly quiet about it, which means it must be really bad.

[Reagan Man]

When you start making some sense with you're outrageous paranoid rants, I'll start to refute them, one by one. Until then, I'll just sit back and watch you make a fool of yourself.

Btw, for the benefit of us normal folks, explain what you mean by "AFholer"? Probably another fabricated ad hominem label from the your warped mind. Your comic book mentality is astounding.

[dcwusmc]

Ordinarily I would not say anything to the Admin Moderators, as passions can flare in here, I've done it myself a few times. However, I take great joy in your case, RM, as you are so far over the top there's no way your rants can be ignored. Your name-calling, ad-hominems, and personal attacks are so far out of bounds it would take a WEEK to find the shoreline from where you are. To me it is despicable cowardice on your part...

[tpaine]

You've been called a fool by nearly everyone who's posted to this thread. - Live with it.

- And we've been through your mock innocent 'whats an AFhole?' bit before. Makes you look like an even bigger fool.

[Reagan Man]

>>>Ordinarily I would not say anything to the Admin Moderators...

LOL Then why get involved?

You're nothing but a troublemaker, plain and simple. Calling in the Admin Moderator and for no good reason, shows just how thin your skin really is. You typify what it means to be a coward! So live with it.

[Reagan Man]

>>>And we've been through your mock innocent 'whats an AFhole?' bit before. Makes you look like an even bigger fool.

You guys are really funny tonight. LMAO

I have no idea what you mean by AFhole. I've never heard of the term before.

But it shows, not only are you the biggest pain in the arse on FR, but you're the biggest fool on FR too, bucko!

[dcwusmc]

Nope. Cowardice is attacking from anonimity, your trademark. I step forward and take credit. I have also posted my real name, my true email address and more. I don't snipe from hiding when it comes to dealing with the likes of you. No need to. Your name-calling is all you have. Sad thing. But then my mama used to tell me never get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man. So I will surely refrain in your case and let those delegated deal with you.

David Wright
dcwusmc@keepandbeararms.com

[tpaine]

He's getting desperate for attention.
All his ordinary comments are being ignored, so rabble rousing, & ad hominems have become his stock in trade.
Soon we will be rid of the R'mam persona, and he will go on to a new afhole 'disguise'.