The Anger of Compassion

Take some TIPS from me

Remember the Terrorism Information and Prevention System, or TIPS?

Critics, among them privacy defenders and civil liberties advocates, claimed that it would turn us all into agents of the state, into a nation of informers. No way, countered the Bush-Ashcroft defenders: this is not Soviet Russia, where children informed on their parents, nor is it East Germany, where the Stasi had seemingly everybody ratting out everybody else. It can't happen here.

Let me ask you something: do you really think that human nature changes at national boundaries?

I was at a defensive driving class a few weekends ago, and the instructor told us a story. It used to be, he said, that he'd collect signatures and registration fees, after which he'd declare a break for the class. During the break, he'd call a friend of his, an El Paso cop, and read the names off his list so his cop buddy could check for bench warrants.

Let me ask another question: do you even know if the TIPS effort is still active? How about its twin sister, Total Information Awareness (TIA)? What changes have been brought about by the Patriot Act, or by the creation of the Department of Homeland Security? I can't claim any originality by pointing out that that's an awfully KGB-ish sounding name...but have you ever asked yourself just what the Department of Defense is defending if not the American homeland?

"Can't happen here," my ass. The necessary mindset is already here, and one needn't be an alarmist to notice it. TIPS and TIA, the Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security--it's all statism, it's all based on bullshit, and it's all got to go.

Posted by Craig Ceely at February 27, 2004 11:26 AM