The Slow Crumble of the US

[Colonel Ingus]

I will provide the link and then quote a couple of paragraphs.

(Yes I know it is a Birtish publication but for some reason I think we can trust the British, and are not only very similar people, but allies)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1230539,00.html

Since September 11 2001, any traveller to the US is treated as a potential security risk. The Patriot Act, introduced 45 days after 9/11, contains a chapter on Protecting The Border, with a detailed section on Enhanced Immigration Provision, in which the paragraph on Visa Security And Integrity follows those relating to protection against terrorism. In this spirit, the immigration and naturalisation service has been placed, since March 2003, under the jurisdiction of the new department of homeland security. One of its innovations was to revive a law that had been dormant since 1952, requiring journalists to apply for a special visa, known as I-visa, when visiting the US for professional reasons. Somewhere along the way, in the process of trying to develop a foolproof system of protecting itself against genuine threats, the US has lost the ability to distinguish between friend and foe. The price this powerful country is paying for living in fear is the price of its civil liberties.

Since September 11 2001, any traveller to the US is treated as a potential security risk. The Patriot Act, introduced 45 days after 9/11, contains a chapter on Protecting The Border, with a detailed section on Enhanced Immigration Provision, in which the paragraph on Visa Security And Integrity follows those relating to protection against terrorism. In this spirit, the immigration and naturalisation service has been placed, since March 2003, under the jurisdiction of the new department of homeland security. One of its innovations was to revive a law that had been dormant since 1952, requiring journalists to apply for a special visa, known as I-visa, when visiting the US for professional reasons. Somewhere along the way, in the process of trying to develop a foolproof system of protecting itself against genuine threats, the US has lost the ability to distinguish between friend and foe. The price this powerful country is paying for living in fear is the price of its civil liberties.

I'm not going to pontificate or toss around political commentary. I am just going to quote someone who is quite possibly one of the greatest Americans to have ever lived and ironically, in my sigs.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[Jeffro]

You never know...

We could become the U.S.S.A!

Who's the "us" in the quote colonel? Is it actually us, or is it foreign tourists? If the latter, I must say check those bastards again. Are you really so adamant against outsourcing jobs, but for importing people? I know that isn't right.

Also, to address the article, we have a way to differentiate between friend and foe in these situations, but it's called "profiling" and too many idiots are against it so we can't fully use it. That's why the elderly lady ahead of you in the security check gets singled out for special treatment.

[Jeffro]

Originally posted by Ralph Wiggum
Who's the "us" in the quote colonel? Is it actually us, or is it foreign tourists? If the latter, I must say check those bastards again. Are you really so adamant against outsourcing jobs, but for importing people? I know that isn't right.

Also, to address the article, we have a way to differentiate between friend and foe in these situations, but it's called "profiling" and too many idiots are against it so we can't fully use it. That's why the elderly lady ahead of you in the security check gets singled out for special treatment.

So you are saying profile only people of middle-eastern desent?

[Colonel Ingus]

Ralph the "US" is an abbreviation for United States.

I admit I have a problem with outsourcing job. But when I here of something that smacks of McCarthyism and shutting down access to foreign press it bothers me. I am damn proud of being American. I believe we should show both our mistakes and our greatest achievements.

I'm sure not how many of you realize this but America is THE only country in the entire world that does not have a Government censor on the media. We have done pretty damn good without them so far. I'd like to think we can continue doing so.

And hey i couldn't agree with you more on "profiling" Some people see it as discrimination. Others who aren't so uptight about appearing PC and observing "diversity" and "equality" call it good police work.

See if you can guess which one I believe in.

"Hmm... Lets see 19 terrorists on the planes... All are from the mideast and most are Saudi's.... Hmm lets pull over this 87 year old white farmer from Iowa and his wife. Never mind the fact that they have never even left the US let alone heard a foreign language. I am going to randomly inspect them....One second farmer boy I have another customer! Oh Thank you sir and have a nice flight Mr al-Humtaqar."

[Jeffro]

Originally posted by Colonel Ingus


"Hmm... Lets see 19 terrorists on the planes... All are from the mideast and most are Saudi's.... Hmm lets pull over this 87 year old white farmer from Iowa and his wife. Never mind the fact that they have never even left the US let alone heard a foreign language. I am going to randomly inspect them....One second farmer boy I have another customer! Oh Thank you sir and have a nice flight Mr al-Humtaqar."

I know it's not supposed to be funny, but I guess I am just sick that way!

[Colonel Ingus]

Well let me put it this way Jeffro.

If you can show me evidence of one of the 9/11 terrorists being from somewhere else, I'll agree to profile them too.

Someone is gonna bring up McViegh so I'll toss this out there right now. Fine, let's profile militant white seperatists at truck rental agencies also. See I am liberal. I say fair treatment to all according to their desires! Hell that almost sounds like a corruption of a communist ideal!

[CodeRed68]

I say profile the sh*t out of everyone!
If it saves me from getting suicide bombed, then great.
IMO

[Sabres]

Originally posted by Jeffro
You never know...

We could become the U.S.S.A!

Nice one Jeffro!

Originally posted by Colonel Ingus




I'm sure not how many of you realize this but America is THE only country in the entire world that does not have a Government censor on the media.

You make some good points, but America has several Government agencies that censor and regulate the media. The alphabet soup of regulatory agencies include , for example the FCC , ( Remember Janet Jacksons ' wardrobe failure 'at the Superbowl ). Whether said regulation and censorship is/should be for purient or ideological content is a seperate argument, but government media control, sanctioned by federal law, exists.

It is also arguable, that there are other Nations on the Globe that are equally or even more " free " if part of your definition of that term includes government intervention in Citizens lives.

Every nation produces propoganda on this issue ,( 'freedom) some more stridently than others.

Having said all that, it does not detract from the validity of your post.

You know, Ingus, that quote seems to fit in strangely with someone who seems to be strongely opposed to modern liberalism... when that is the prime value that liberals seem to willingly endorse.

The United States has become an increasingly authoritarian nation since 9/11. This is our future, whether Kerry or Bush is the next president will not matter.

[Jeffro]

Originally posted by Colonel Ingus
Well let me put it this way Jeffro.

If you can show me evidence of one of the 9/11 terrorists being from somewhere else, I'll agree to profile them too.

Someone is gonna bring up McViegh so I'll toss this out there right now. Fine, let's profile militant white seperatists at truck rental agencies also. See I am liberal. I say fair treatment to all according to their desires! Hell that almost sounds like a corruption of a communist ideal!

I agree 100%!

It's just the sarcasm you put out there was great!

[Colonel Ingus]

The United States has become an increasingly authoritarian nation since 9/11. This is our future, whether Kerry or Bush is the next president will not matter.

Dead right Cashcow.

Are you a psychiatrist? You just summed up my greatest fear by doing nothing more than reading my post:D

The trends were there long before 9/11 in the way we were structuring our society away from strong, individual, responsible, citizens to all part of federal governments little children that need taking care of and shouldn't be allowed to play with anything that might hurt them.

The effects of 9/11 certainly kicked into high gear.

What Ingus said.


Now, be mesmirized by my avatar into believing in Darwinism!

[jnkcrp]

I think we should be watching you nut jobs a little closer.