Are We Ready for the Next 9/11? The sorry state—and stunning waste—of homeland security spending.

Reason ^ | March 2006 | Veronique de Rugy

[Old_Mil]

I agree. Most gov't programs turn out to be a joke. Wait until after 2-3 future administrations turn the Patriot Act into a monster. It's coming. Afraid we won't be laughing about it though.

You're right - we won't be laughing. The saddest part of it all is that we had 6 years to get it right with an ostensibly conservative government...and we didn't.

[Vote 4 Nixon]

We truly live in a mad, mad world. My company here in south Georgia has recently installed turn-style gates at the entrances to our mill and you can only get through the gate with a key card. The top of the gate is lined with barbed wire as are the fences around the place. You would think that we were storing plutonium or something inside when in reality we are just a hick ass mill that manufactures carpet-backing.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If I had $180 billion, and the political power to go with it, I'd use the money to kick the asses of Syria, Iran and North Korea. That would buy the U.S. more security than anything that could be done domestically.

[the invisib1e hand]

a hick ass mill that manufactures carpet-backing.

A mill operating in America must be protected at all costs!

[cubreporter]

Amen! Amen! Amen! AND... we didn't have a Homeland Security prior to 9-11 either so now that we do they want it to fail. Protect yourself, your family, your home. Prepare and do what yu have to do to save yourselves. Pull together as family and friends and help each other. If people can't do that they are doomed anyway. We have to help one another and not wait for the Government to step in and save us. I would NEVER do that. We will fend for ourselves and we will get to where we need to go but we will not wait for someone else to come take care of us and we suggest the rest of the country do the same.

[Dallas59]

Maybe the chemicals you use to produce the foam are dangerous?

[Jim Noble]

Stunning waste?

Stunning to whom?

Not to anyone over the age of 12 who has ever seen the government in action.

[drhogan]

that is one GREAT pic!

[kcbc2001]

Homeland security funding is a mess. Here, Detroit gets mad because Lansing doesn't give them the money fast enough. Then the suburbs complain because most the population isn't actually in the city limits of Detroit so all the 'burbs want their cut for their projects cuz they aren't in *Detroit*. And then they talk about how much they want to *cooperate* with others in the region. And who knows what the money is really going for. Detroit isn't known for money management.

[Fruitbat]

If power companies invested in infrastructure the way DHS and Congress fight terrorism, a New Yorker wouldn’t be able to run a hairdryer but everyone in Bozeman, Montana, could light up a stadium.

Isn't this the case for most of government...

[Eastbound]

"Congress is a miracle of nature--it turns beef into pork."

Heh. And pork into potholes.

[Lurker]

$450 per household could put a .357 magnum revolver in every house in the nation.

Now that would do more to improve homeland security than anything else I could think of.

And in the meantime literally tens of thousands of people illegally enter our country every year without even the most cursory sort of background check.

Madness...

L

[Nik Naym]

"My camera was in the luggage unfortunately."

Actually, it was fortunate for you that it was. It is illegal to take photos at the screening area. Wouldn't want to embarrass them, after all. (Don't ask me how somebody got the picture of the old fella in the wheelchair getting his feet wand-ed)

[gotribe]

I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me.

[FreedomPoster]

Agreed, he was lucky he didn't have access, and I'm thinking maybe cell phone camera on the "how", on that pic.

[sully777]

[The Wilson family arrives at the checkpoint]

Porter: Can I help you folks?
Alice Wilson, John Wilson: Oh, yes, thank you.
Porter: Aw, is that your dog, son?
[Looking at Scraps, Jimmy's dog]
Jimmy Wilson: Yes, his name is Scraps, and he's going...with us.
Porter: Oh no. No dogs are allowed...son. I'm affraid Scraps will have to be shot.
[Pulls out a gun, shoots the dog and the dog falls to the floor]
Jimmy Wilson: [shouts, bending towards his dog] Scraps! He shot him! He shot Scraps! He shot him!
Porter: Just joking. Blanks, see? Scraps is fine.
[Dog stands up]
The Porter, Alice Wilson, John Wilson: [laughing]

Airplane II: The Sequel (Who knew they were prophets)

[Vote 4 Nixon]

ROTFL no chemicals just resin.

[jerry639]

Our little town of about 5000 used their funds to purchase 6 new M16's.
Passing thought: I wonder how many of those are still available to the police force as we have had several officers quit since their purchase?