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Libertarian Party: Color-Coded Terror Alert System is Useless and Should be Scraped
Libertarian Party press release ^ | July 4, 2003 | George Getz

Posted on 07/04/2003 10:14:58 PM PDT by Commie Basher

===================================
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org
===============================
For release: July 4, 2003
===============================
For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 333-0008
====================================

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.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 911; homelandsecurity; libertarianparty; libertarians; waronterror
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To: Commie Basher
Well, at the end of your posts first day, the lp line has held relatively firm with a few exceptions.

"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."

From the responses it would that the lp's idea of getting this "most important function(s) of the federal government" done "right" would be to blame the Republicans and Democrats. The one decenting lp opinion was to revert to WWII style posters, which while being imaginative, would be about as effective as just blaming everyone else.

So it would appear that collectively, no one has a clue how the lp would accomplish this "most important function(s) of the federal government" because beyond complaining, the lp hasn't got a clue either. Symbolism over substance.

Good night.

241 posted on 07/07/2003 1:58:43 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: July 4th
Hey, there was also that guy who turned himself blue with colloidal silver. I remember him!

So what? Bush was an alkie. Clinton smoked pot. Many Repubs and Dems engage in disreputable or odd behavior and it's overlooked. But when a libertarian does something offbeat, you make him a poster boy.

242 posted on 07/07/2003 5:43:52 AM PDT by Commie Basher
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To: CWOJackson
Wrong. The LP's method of defending the US:

1. Trust the people to make their own decisions. Let airlines decide what security proceedures to use. Let airlines decide whather to allow pilots or passengers to carry guns, and whether to search luggage and how extensively, and let people vote with their money on which airline to trust and fly.

2. Stop interfering in foreign wars or taking sides in foreign disputes. Many have died from bombs and guns that have a US return address. This breeds hatred toward the US. Let's promote friendship will all nations, but be the defender of only our own.

3. Legalize drugs. This would do much to drain terrorists of funding. Sorry, it's true: the War on Drugs is a financially boon to terrorists. The DEA is one of terrorism's best friends.

All of the above are good libertarian ideas, and would go far in reducing terrorism.

243 posted on 07/07/2003 5:53:09 AM PDT by Commie Basher
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To: Commie Basher
"All of the above are good libertarian ideas, and would go far in reducing terrorism.

Wrong, all of the above are the usual meaningless lp BS and would do very little to prevent future terrorist attacks on this nation...which according to the lp in the government's greatest responsibility.

Allowing the airlines to manage security is meaningless when the borders would be completely open and terrorists could bring nuclear devices in by rail, ship or truck...while the passengers in the aircraft have pitched gun battles because someone passed gas loudly.

The usual lp whine about previous foreign involvement is meaningless...there are people out there who want to kill us. You can't turn that back simply because some looney tunes is elected President...whining about the past is no defense.

And of course we get back to the foundation of many lp champions...legal dope. Legalizing dope would do little to stop the funding of the primary terrorist groups currently targeting the U.S.

So we keep coming back to the basic question stated in the lp's original article. "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."

How does the lp propose to accomplish this with totally open borders, whinning about previous foreign policy and legal drugs?

Is the lp totally lacking in substance and simply regulated to sitting on the side lines shooting off their mouths when they have no better ideas?

244 posted on 07/07/2003 9:51:55 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Commie Basher
"But when a libertarian does something offbeat, you make him a poster boy."

Offbeat? Turning yourself into a human smurf isn't offbeat, it's downright looney. Having druids as major candidates who's idea of debate is to spit on people isn't offbeat...it's desparate and sick.

245 posted on 07/07/2003 9:53:51 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Commie Basher; CWOJackson
It's not as if these freaks suddenly stumbled out of a dumpster and wandered into a nominating convention. The Libertarians themselves made them their own poster boys, unless they had no free will choice in the matter.
246 posted on 07/07/2003 11:30:50 AM PDT by Cultural Jihad
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To: Cultural Jihad
The lp's finest.
247 posted on 07/07/2003 11:33:15 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Commie Basher; CWOJackson

Did he break a newly-discovered right hiding in the penumbra of a shadow of a phantom? "Equal treatment for politicians" is now a right?

248 posted on 07/07/2003 11:52:45 AM PDT by Cultural Jihad
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To: Cultural Jihad
Equal treatment for politicians" is now a right?

No, not a right. Just hypocritical when Bushies harp on a libertarian taking collodial silver, but get upset when reminded of Bush's alkie background, or that he hid in the Air National Guard during Vietmen

249 posted on 07/07/2003 12:42:14 PM PDT by Commie Basher
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To: CWOJackson
So we keep coming back to the basic question ...

No, we don't keep coming back. You keep coming back because you choose to disregard the answers you get.

250 posted on 07/07/2003 12:47:55 PM PDT by Commie Basher
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To: Commie Basher
I haven't gotten an answer yet, just complaining about the WOD and the current administration. While that seems to be a cornerstone to your political beliefs, it's not an answer to the question on how you would prevent future terrorist attacks on this nation with an open border unrestricted immigration policy.

Complaining, while evolving to a fine art by you folks, is not a viable option. So let us just say I'm waiting for an intelligent answer. (Please, I know I'm on an lp thread and might be expecting too much...no need to point it out.)

251 posted on 07/07/2003 12:51:06 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson
You don't want my answer. You want me to give you your answer. Nothing else would suffice.

I already gave you my answer. You don't like it, but that doesn't mean I haven't answered you.

252 posted on 07/07/2003 1:12:22 PM PDT by Commie Basher
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To: Commie Basher
So Mr. Getz, have you called to set an appointment with Tom Ridge to discuss the plans you've developed?

:::::crickets:::::

253 posted on 07/07/2003 1:13:44 PM PDT by MEGoody
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To: Commie Basher
Okay, then your answer obviously must be that the lp's plain is to open the borders completely, remove all restrictions on immigrations and importation, make drugs legal, complain about previous administrations (it isn't our fault) and...in essence...do absolutely NOTHING to prevent further terrorist attacks on this country. In short, the lp loves to complain but is totally clueless.

Fine. I can accept that answer.

254 posted on 07/07/2003 1:15:39 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Commie Basher
Well, I would love to wait for your next meaningless reply but I must be off.
255 posted on 07/07/2003 1:16:30 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Commie Basher
"So what? Bush was an alkie. Clinton smoked pot."

But not while running for President. (Well, not so sure about Clinton, but that's another story.) I don't remember the LP guy's name at all, but I remember he was blue. LOL I guess that's one way to get attention for your party.

256 posted on 07/07/2003 1:22:21 PM PDT by MEGoody
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To: CWOJackson
Well, other than a "loser pays" legal system, RKBA for everyone, ending welfare/medicare/social security, racial profiling, and a real free market economy. Yep, nothing in there that do a damn thing.

Oh, and not all of us LP'ers are for that whole open borders thing. I'm a firm supporter of Ranch Rescue on FR. Now, what has our Republican President done to seal the border besides NOTHING?

257 posted on 07/07/2003 1:24:31 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: Dead Corpse
Why that would make the President a LP'er so what's the complaint?
258 posted on 07/07/2003 5:20:24 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson
Nothing to presume, like most of the rest of the lp brain trust on this thread, you don't answer the question.

I'm not Libertarian, DUmmy! How many times do you have to be told that? How do you answer a question that starts from a false premise? That premise being that the borders are being protected by the one party cartel to begin with. Again, how can it be any worse? BTW, I still think you are one vile individual. Blackbird.

259 posted on 07/08/2003 1:26:04 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST
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To: CWOJackson
Complaint? ID cards and welfare benefits for any latino that makes it across the border and Bush pushing for more. $15 billion in aid to Africa. Mutli-billion dollar bailouts for the airline industry.

Sh!t man... Bush has incorperated more of Clintons platform than Slick Willie did in eight years.

260 posted on 07/08/2003 5:31:28 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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