Posted on 07/04/2003 10:14:58 PM PDT by 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.
Amen!
During times of war, this nation's elected officals have imposed greater curtailments, than this president; that's the price we pay for others attempts to kill our citizenry/attacks upon us. Libertarians, for all of their blinkered, blind egotism, never, not ever, win the debate; they only think they have. It's obvious, to anyone, with more than 3 working brain cells, that the whingers, whiners, and fanatic fringers are paranoid tinfoilers, who live in some fantasy of their own minds and not in the real world.
Even with all of the supposed freedoms,you think that people had 100+ years ago and that you no longer do, they were less free, than we are.
Lucky for me that you're just a cheerleader for the police state (useful idiot)
You and your tiny, but oh so vocal horde, here, assume that childish insults, Libertarain " code words " , and ill thoughout ramblings suffice, as refutations; they don't. Come on, where are the old " chains " and other such catch phares and words, so beloved by your ilk ? LOL The frenzied, kneepad bedecked Commies of yore, were so much better at this, dear. You're but a pale shadow of them.
I've been a Republican for far longer than you, I've avidly worked on and contributed to GOP campaigns for more decades than you have and I know/understand politics far better than you do. Me...a " Liberal " ? That's pathetic, silly, and untrue. OTOH, You and the other fringers, who say they won't work for/vote for President Bush's re-election, are the REAL Liberal aiders and abettors.
Having known, PERSONALLY many politicians all of my life, I don't " worship " any of them, nor do I see them as anything other than human beings; some okay, some not. I also know what is and is NOT possible for any of them to do. Obviously, you don't. You still haven't progressed to adulthood; no matter what your physical age is; but still see reality through fairy tale, mythological lenses. Elsewise, how on earth could you actually believe the drivel you've posted about the American people finally embracing Conservative positions, when the Dems take over ? They and we lived through 8 long, weary, horrid years of the Clintons and they saw N-O-T-H-I-N-G wrong.
Your nic is an oxympron, dear, you don't even understand who is a Commie, nor what Communism is; you imagine you know only. Kafka knew; you don't.
FYI ... not all women are emotional, ill educated, uninformed, irrational,little girls who are easily fooled, conned, or inferior to men. You should know better, but alas, you don't.
You complain and whinge about taxes, but when confronted by facts, retreat into fairyland, with " it's just a matter of time b4 other tax increases .... ".State and local governments impose taxes too and those are the ones you've decided to claim are the President's responsibilty. It is to laugh. You can't even stay on topic !
No law prevents any crime ? Really ? And where is the proof of that ? So, should we just do away with ALL laws then ? Welcome to anarchy and life a la " LORD OF THE FLIES "! The FFs most assuredly did NOT agree with your assessment of things. :-)
The laws and rules, put into place during WW II and to some extent, during WW I, had NO experation date either and they were , for the most part, recinded after those wars.
You may not aprove of the farm subsidies ( neither do I ) , but the consequences of NOT signing that Bill, would far outstrip what signing the Bill has done. You just don't get it. Eveery president has to pick his fights and weigh the outcomes. Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh.
There is NO way that we could, using the existing manpower of the National Gaurd, impliment the closing/watching over the FOUR borders of this country and the airports;NONE ! What you hubrisly suggest, is codswallop, based on nothing factual. Daydreams, armchair solutions, without a shred of possibility; not to mention the fact, that American citizens would be under even MORE, not less scrutiny, which, to you and your kind, is an anathema.
You mean the long standing Liberals here at FR? Would you prefer NeoConmen? Spare me son. Blackbird.
And the use of NeoConmen isn't clever either.
Coming from one of the most insulting posters on FR, I'll wear that as a badge of honor! Thanks, Blackbird.
Sounds like the song of "moderates" everywhere. Every time a politico compromises principles, he speaks of "realism" and "pragmatism" and "the need to compromise." I'm no Objectivist, but statements like the above remind me of those wishy washy Randian characters who were always explaining the need to cave in to yet another socialist, statist program.
Consistently stupid.
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