Libertarian Party: Color-Coded Terror Alert System is Useless and Should be Scraped

Libertarian Party press release ^ | July 4, 2003 | George Getz

[Commie Basher]

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NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org
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For release: July 4, 2003
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For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 333-0008
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Color-coded terror alert system is useless and should be scrapped, Libertarians say.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The national color-coded terror alert system should be scrapped, Libertarians say, because it only alarms the public with warnings that are too vague to be useful.

"Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge risks becoming like the boy who cried wolf with his frequent, unsubstantiated orange alerts," said George Getz, Libertarian Party communications director. "Soon the public might start ignoring him -- and that could be a real disaster."

As the Fourth of July weekend approached, Department of Homeland Security officials declined to say whether they planned to raise the terror alert level from yellow to orange, the second-highest category. Since the system was instituted last fall, the threat has been raised to orange four times, and no attacks have taken place -- raising questions about the reliability of the underlying intelligence data.

One example: In February, Americans stockpiled food and water and rushed out to buy duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal their homes after the government warned about the risk of a chemical or biological attack.

At the time, Ridge claimed the intelligence reports were based on "multiple sources, obviously credible and corroborated." But days later he quietly canceled the alert after being forced to admit that the reports were "not as accurate as we thought."

An unreliable terror alert system may be worse than none at all -- which is why the program should be dismantled, Libertarians say.

"Telling a nation still reeling from the September 11 terrorist attacks to be on alert for another horrific attack -- without telling them when, where, or how it might occur -- is nothing more than scaremongering," Getz said. "In fact, every orange alert that is issued based on flimsy evidence actually endangers the nation by making Americans more likely to ignore future warnings."

The federal system also forces local police departments to squander tax money on unnecessary security precautions, he added.

"The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that cities spent $2.6 billion on additional security costs since the September 11 attacks, much of it related to 'code orange' overtime costs for police and other emergency personnel," Getz said. "These warnings actually made America less safe, because every dollar spent on imaginary threats is a dollar that can't be spent arresting an actual murderer, robber or rapist."

The solution is to replace the gimmicky color-coded system with one based on law enforcement needs rather than political posturing, he said.

"If the federal government obtains a specific, credible threat, it should share it immediately with local law enforcement officials and let them take the appropriate steps to warn and protect the public," he said. "But in the absence of solid information, it should cut the political chatter and refrain from alarming 280 million Americans with a vague, generalized terror alert."

Libertarians believe that preventing another terrorist attack is one of the most important functions of the federal government -- and that's why Americans should insist that it's done right, he said.

"This Fourth of July, let's declare our independence from unnecessary fear by pulling the plug on this counterproductive terror-alert system," he said.

[Commie Basher]

Bush has gotten two tax cuts through, in 2 1/2 years. Are they big enough ? No, but it's a start and far different from what Clinton did.

Bush also ballooned spending, and those bills are gonna come due someday. State and local Dems are always funding things though bond issues, because many people forget that those bonds/spending will have to be paid someday.

A small tax increase today isn't much help if a huge bill comes due several years down the road. Cutting taxes isn't enough unless he also cuts spending -- and much of his increased spending is domestic, not just "war on terror" stuff.

[Commie Basher]

I have asked and asked and asked the same question you did, many times before, of many other Libertarians here. I have NEVER gotten an answer.

What you forget is that the state is Kafkaesque. Laws are never enforced as written, and many innocent citizens are inadvertantly and randomly caught in the maw of the state. Then they must bankrupt themselves as they try to prove their innocence, sometimes while languishing in prison.

Look at RICO. It was intended to go after organized crime, but it's been used against a whole host of groups the govt doesn't like.

The more powerful the state, the fewer our civil liberties, the easier it is for a false accusation or paranoid federal agent to destroy innocent lives.

[iconoclast]

The more powerful the state, the fewer our civil liberties, the easier it is for a false accusation or paranoid federal agent to destroy innocent lives.

You just don't get it. None of that matters as long as Pubbies rule! (/sarcasm).

We're off to Monrovia!

[A2J]

Libertarian Party: Color-Coded Terror Alert System is Useless and Should be Scraped

What do they suggest then?

A multi-doobie alert system?

[Commie Basher]

Why can't you tell us what freedoms have been taken away?

For all you know, the freedom to access FreeRepublic might have been taken away. Yes, the day might come when some Democratic presidency will claim FR is place for right-wing hate groups and terrorists, and that it must either be banned, or all membership data sent to the FBI so the feds can track anyone guilty of "hate speech," since "hate speech" could be part of a terrorist profile.

Idiot Bushies are cheering the expanding state, imagining that its police and spy powers will always be theirs to wield. You have no idea what the Dems will do with the Patriot Act, or how a liberal Supreme Court will interpret it, once they're back in power (and the electoral pendulum will swing, as always).

[The Coopster]

The criticism that the lp enjoys is due to WAY more than this single issue. Do you think that we just out of the blue decided: Hey! Let's make fun of the lp for no reason other than they don't like the alert system?

Rush is not my spokesperson. And I think both him and the lp are talking out of their butts here.

But people here don't get their panties in such a wad when we make fun of Rush, so it's much more fun the other way.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"In the final analysis, I have seen nothing that persuades me the FBI, CIA, and INS could not have fought this domestic war on terror with existing powers, competently employed."

Alright, who are you and what have you done with Kevin Curry?

All kidding aside, great post.

[Commie Basher]

You mention Google, but don't forget PayPal and Ebay. They announced that they're ready and willing to turn over info on their customers' spending habits, and items purchased, should the feds only ask.

Be careful you don't buy anything embarrassing. And once the Dems are back in power, be careful you don't even buy a book about guns -- that might fit the Hillary administration's terrorist profile.

[IncPen]

Um, explain how abolishing the IRS and repealing gun laws are in any way liberal positions. You can disagree with Libertarian policies, as I do on several issues, but statements equating them to liberals are just silly.

My point is that both liberalism and libertarianism are flawed because they want to play "let's pretend" when it comes to government.

The liberals want you to believe we don't need a 2nd amendment because the government will protect everyone. The libertarians think we don't need a police force

The libertarians think the government doesn't need any money, the liberals think the government needs all of your money.

They're extreme positions, not rooted in any real world experience or practice.

[LilithUnfair]

"Hot air, insults,nonsensical ideas, and propaganda are the ONLY things Libertarians spew"

And you people aren't carrying on a conversation about another person as if they may not be here? Or you jump on an LP thread to hurl insults every chance you get? Yes... it's only libertarians that insult. NEVER you fine GOPer's right?

I can't believe this thread is still going on, isn't there some gays to attacka and insult? Oh wait, you guys don't do that....

[poet]

I am not a man.

Opps, I should have known.

"I talk about tax cuts; you take about assumptions and taxes NOT levied by the president."

It's just a matter of time b4 other tax increases and/or add on fees. You know, gas taxes, vehicle use fees, etc.,


"I suggested that you read the Malkin article,"

I not only went to the link and read her column, I e-mailed her and told her I was surprised that she believes it is a good law. You do know that the perps of 9/11 violated laws against hi-jacking, theft, taking of hostages, murder and destruction of property, so you and she actually believe another law would stop people like these? No law prevents any crime. Laws are designed to punish, not prevent. It's the criminals that decide if they are going to obey the law.

The key issue as respects "patriot" as far as I'm concerned is the fact that section 802 has no expiration date while the rest of the act has a four year life. Why is that? That alone makes it suspect.

"Of course he signed the Farm Aide Bill. No president, since it came into being, has done otherwise. Real politics escapes you."

Oh, I see, perpetuating a failed policy is acceptable because Presidents have always done it. Nice!

"President Bush has NEVER said that he wants amnesty for"

Yes he did. He wants votes and thinks these people will vote for him. With all his re-hashing of dem's entitlement programs, he just may be correct.

"The LP wants OPEN BORDERS"

Excuse me, when did I say I agree with the LP's position on open borders or any other position of theirs or even even discussed the LP in my comment(s)?


"And HOW is that to be accomplished ? We have not only F-O-U-R borders, we have airports."

So, you are saying it's an unsolvable dilemma? How about just utilizing existing personnel more efficiently and enforcing the laws already on the books? And yes, I favor placing the National Guard on our borders, not the army, the National Guard.

"is it the military you want there, instead of them fighing in Afghanistan and Iraq ?" Iraq, hmmm, isn't that where they are searching for WMDs?

"You don't know what Socialism is, but you sure enjoy throwing around the word."

Say what? talk about a non-sensical comment.

Finally, I did reply to your liberal friend's question relative to the dangers of lost freedoms in "patriot". You do remember that I said "patriot poses a future danger? I just choose to ignore him/her. Oh yes, I was out of line for name calling. That's what you apologists do best and I fell into your sphere of personal vilification for which I apologize.

[jmc813]

Haven't seen you around in a while. Hope all is well. FWIW, while you were gone, Jim Robinson referred to the Libertarians as "our good friends".

[jmc813]

Um, explain how abolishing the IRS and repealing gun laws are in any way liberal positions. You can disagree with Libertarian policies, as I do on several issues, but statements equating them to liberals are just silly.

Several anti-Libertarians here on FR are unashamed gun-grabbers. See this thread, specifically post #25 down.

[iconoclast]

Your spittle laced reply makes no sense and is in no way applicable to my post.

[cinFLA]

The LP might as well ignore both sides and do what it thinks best.

Like recruiting at the NORML convention in gay, socialist San Francisco?

[cinFLA]

"libertarianism" is NOT the LP. The LP is moving left, left, left! Their best friends are NORML, ACLU and the likes of Sam Farr. They say their best opportunities for recruitment are in gay, socialist SF.

[cinFLA]

Libertarians believe that preventing another terrorist attack is one of the most important functions of the federal government -- and that's why Americans should insist that it's done right, he said.

Of course the LP believes that their policy of completely open borders (no visa, no passport) will also aid in preventing another terrorist attack.

[cinFLA]

Haven't seen you around in a while. Hope all is well. FWIW, while you were gone, Jim Robinson referred to the Libertarians as "our good friends".

Why don't you post the whole quote! Never mind. You never do.

[potlatch]

OK, C.B., don't start bashing me!! LOL. I'm an 'older' conservative. I remember the 'good old days' when kids learned, and showed respect. I don't believe more money increases learning. I wrote once before that a room, desks, books, pencil, paper, and a teacher - is all that is NEEDED to teach and learn.

To my remark, "We have no way of knowing all the failed attempts that have been made since then." you wrote,"True -- and very convenient." I say, "true any very correct!!". How could we?

Regarding your comment, "Increasingly, I see "conservatives" adopt liberal reasoning".There's not much that I agree with the liberals about, but their more conservative choices, and our more liberal ones, probabily do mesh at some point.

[jmc813]

Why don't you post the whole quote!

Because it's Saturday and I'm lazy. How was your 4th?