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Return to Article: Ridge to appeal to citizenry for thoughts on homeland security

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  From the tone of the article, it seems more like a PR move than a bona fide attempt at a "two-way dialogue". It also appears that Tom Ridge simply assumes that everyone is basically in agreement with what he and his office are doing, and the "town meetings" are merely to fine tune the details. Ridge supposes we, the unwashed masses, are asking two questions: "is everything being done to protect my family", and "what can I do to help?" Obviously, he is setting the federal government, and himself up, to answer these questions - "we want to do even more to protect you" (translation: we want to continue amassing more and more power over states and individuals, our so-called inalienable liberty rights be damned), and "prepare to suffer in the name of "security"; just do as we say, don't ask questions; we'll do all the thinking for you".

  A true "two-way dialogue" would address issues that intelligent, thoughtful Americans are really asking. For example, what are you and your department doing to ensure that the constitution, and individual rights, are not trampled in the process of fighting terrorism? Should the opinion of the general population be taken into consideration when deciding how much to spend on a "war" whose ultimate objective is vague at best? And most importantly, when do we decide the "war" is over?

  Mike from MD, Esq. Posted September 18, 2003 2:22 PM
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  I have been involved locally with homeland security well before it became an executive office. I teach first responders awareness, operations and incident command. I am finding that the public is being kept in the dark. The first responders know what to do in the event of a terrorist act but the public is not aware of all the programs that the first responders go through.

  The way we teach WMD to first responders would scare the hell out of the general public because we teach worst-case scenario. Put a program or a series of programs together for the general public. Have the programs aired over public television weekly. As we always tell the first responders, keep your media in the loop and they will assist, let's go to the media to keep the public in the loop. Once the public is made aware of whats going on, they will feel better knowing we are prepared and possibly will want to get involved.

  Maurice Schall Posted September 18, 2003 8:42 AM