A war against the American people

TownHall.com ^ | Friday, July 19, 2002 | by Paul Craig Roberts

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, July 19, 2002

Quote of the Day posted by gunshy

[rockfish59]

Sounds like a free pass to the 'peeping toms!'

'Why yes, officer, I saw her put explosives in her panties!'

[herewego]

Amen

[Texasforever]

What's going on here? Why are 12 million Americans, in addition to thousands of government police agents with unprecedented eavesdropping powers, needed to ferret out the suspected 5,000 terrorists in the United States?

5,000 does not sound like a lot until you divide them into 4 man hijacking teams. He is correct that 5,000 is a small needle in a very large haystack and that seems to contradict his own position.

[Texasforever]

Bush's plan, known as TIPS, Terrorism Information and Prevention System, intends to turn one out of every 24 Americans into a government spy reporting on their fellow citizens

I thought the purpose was a terrorist tip line? So "a fellow citizen" that happens to be a terrorist should be left alone?

[Kerberos]

"It is amazing to watch conservatives and patriots cheer on the advent of the Orwellian state"

I think frightening is a more appropriate way of phrasing it.

[Texasforever]

What is being proposed here that is not already available to "peeping toms"?

[JohnHuang2]

Some people are still stuck in pre-9/11 mode.

[nunya bidness]

Gramsci understood what Marx did not understand: Economic crises by themselves would not subvert capitalism, because capitalism always managed to overcome the crises and emerged stronger. Another theory was necessary for a different reality. One that recognized the importance of culture and ideology, and methods that went beyond the coarser forms of Marxist class struggle. Methods that would be efficient in capturing power in a western society. Methods that would fit the use of mass media because they were subtle and persuasive. If you gain the minds you gain the bodies. Even a partial victory is useful, because it weakens and diminishes your opposition.

Source

[herewego]

c'mon now and be a good little spy for the gubmint,
the hill is counting on you!
sarcasm/ off dead and done as most of us say to Hell with spying on others.

[Texasforever]

I think frightening is a more appropriate way of phrasing it.

Other than a spate of hyperbolic headlines what exactly "frightens" you? BTW TIPS will not be implemented good idea or bad.

[nunya bidness]

Who says I'm not already?

[Texasforever]

Tell me, what is stopping you or me from picking up the phone and reporting each other to the FBI with or without "TIPS"?

[blackbart.223]

"Tell me, what is stopping you or me from picking up the phone and reporting each other to the FBI with or without "TIPS"?

Common sense and decency I would hope.

[Texasforever]

Bingo.

[Askel5]

Tell me, what is stopping you or me from picking up the phone and reporting each other to the FBI with or without "TIPS"?

TIPS will obligate a good number of people to make the call.

I'm sure they'll have some Compliance program or another. All good organizations do. It's just Good Corporate Governance these days.

(See your Human Resources commissar for the Papers you must sign, having produced two valid forms of picture ID.)

[blackbart.223]

"Bingo."

Hot steel on target.

[Texasforever]

TIPS will obligate a good number of people to make the call.

Show me ANY reference to such an "obligation".

[Askel5]

Common sense and decency I would hope.

Or maybe you don't need to call ... maybe you think you can do a better job on the flyers you'll paste throughout the area if your daughter goes missing.

What's the point of national media attention and inter-law enforcement agency partnerships if this is the Work Product they offer?

With a straight face, no less.

[nunya bidness]

Show me ANY reference to such an "obligation".

Does cash for tips count?

Not that I've heard of it yet but that's usually how it works.