Return to Article: DHS chief floats idea of collecting private citizens' information
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33701
Leave Private Citizens alone. It is all we can do to stay private. We do not want to live in a Police State. Americans are waking up to the US and all their rules and regulations. No means NO!
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10114
Please don't bring up that antisemitism crap anymore. When the BUSH lady was in Israel the first thing they did was chant, "Release Jonathon Pollard". I am sick of American people being arrested, deported and degraded over something related to an event which supposedly occurred years ago during WWII. It is time the American people stopped this crap and stop putting up with it. As for Chertoff, he is just another figure head, with a lot of ideas that will never get through the front door.
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10080
Bush has stated on 3 occasions that "America would be a lot better off if it were a Dictatorship as long as I am the Dictator"
It appears to me that is just what he is working to do and when 2008 elections come around, Bush will mostly likely state " I have complete control over this Nation" Why should I have an election in 2008? Who is to stop me?..
exactly Hitlers game plan.. America better study history.. The ole saying "History has a tendacy to reap itself.. I want be here but to my fellow Americans ENJOY study German history and Hitler and the way he got to power
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9654
Sorry to burst your bubble, folks, but this is already going on in the private sector. Where do you think telemarketeers, etc. get your address, buying habits, and other information from? It is readily available from numerous sources including public databases. Just go online and see for yourselves. This is already happening! The only difference is, now a government official is proposing the use of this information for homeland security purposes. And guess what? This is NOT illegal, because THIS INFORMATION IS ALREADY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE!
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9619
The idea isn't dumb-- it is actually very intelligent, and very undemocratic, which makes the fact it is even floated very, very dangerous.
It is interesting how liberals just keep getting bashed as not being security conscious-- it is just not true--we just balance things differently. In my personal opinion-- creating a totalitarian Police State to combat terrorism just creates more terrorism. Russia had to bomb the hell out Grozny to put down the Chechen rebellion-- is America willing to do the same thing to Boston or New York???? And if the government did, would it be an America worth defending?
And to that writer who wants to throw Mr. Chertoff out of Government--you are guilty of the very same crime you are shouting against. A litmus test is a litmus test regardless of the criteria. While I vehemently disagree with Mr. Chertoff's positions- that is allowed in a democratic debate. Your solution smacks of the very same intolerance and totalitarian thinking I can't stand coming from the right or the left. Plus it smacks of real antisemitism. Your UN resolutions are bogus votes by the general assembly where the Arab and third world nations are all ganging up on Israel for their own agenda. I don't see your call for eliminating all dual citizens from government service-- only those associated with Israel. Why is that? Quite frankly, given the sorry state of our relations with our neighbors you might want to put Canada and Mexico ahead of Israel on your repugnant list.
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9618
The idea isn't dumb-- it is actually very intelligent, and very undemocratic, which makes the fact it is even floated very, very dangerous.
It is interesting how liberals just keep getting bashed as not being security conscious-- it is just not true--we just balance things differently. In my personal opinion-- creating a totalitarian Police State to combat terrorism just creates more terrorism. Russia had to bomb the hell out Grozny to put down the Chechen rebellion-- is America willing to do the same thing to Boston or New York???? And if the government did, would it be an America worth defending?
And to that writer who wants to throw Mr. Chertoff out of Government--you are guilty of the very same crime you are shouting against. A litmus test is a litmus test regardless of the criteria. While I vehemently disagree with Mr. Chertoff's positions- that is allowed in a democratic debate. Your solution smacks of the very same intolerance and totalitarian thinking I can't stand coming from the right or the left. Plus it smacks of real antisemitism. Your UN resolutions are bogus votes by the general assembly where the Arab and third world nations are all ganging up on Israel for their own agenda. I don't see your call for eliminating all dual citizens from government service-- only those associated with Israel. Why is that? Quite frankly, given the sorry state of our relations with our neighbors you might want to put Canada and Mexico ahead of Israel on your repugnant list.
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9602
It is hard for me to believe that someone raised in this country could actually suggest that Americans, neighbors, spy on their neighbors. As a child I remember being terrified by stories about people in Russia being dragged out of their homes by the secret police because a neighbor reported on them. The reports didn't even have to be true. I was so grateful that we were safe from that kind of brutality. Is "Homeland Security" to be the new terror organization? Heaven help us...
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9555
First of all, this is a ridiculously dumb idea. 'nough said.
But all of you doom and gloomers out there, where the heck are other ideas from the libs of ANYthing to do to help protect? I can't stand this idea but haven't heard anything out of the opposition except the same old, same old - Bushitler, Bushwacker, Halliburton, etc. etc. Groucho had your theme song in "Horsefeathers" "It doesn't matter what you say or who commenced it, I'm against it!"
Forget the "who gets credit" question and bring suggestions to the table other than the "let's not do anything and maybe it'll all go away" philosophy. There are big fish to fry - Medicare problems, Social Security will not exist in the not too distant future which ever side's numbers you believe, a tax code that weighs more in printed form than my car, kiddie porn allowed in the name of 1st amendment rights, etc.
The obtuseness of our citizenry never fails to amaze me, but I don't expect anything more out of the people because I'm...
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9552
ah, we can clearly see where this is going. speak out about screwed up, utterly illegal crap the government is doing, and 'voila', you're on a list. a list where you can be surveilled, searched under the Patriot Act without a warrant, even denied boarding on a jetliner because of your 'political views' you hold. Sound like Josef Stalin? No, sounds like Ashcroft left a whole lot of marching orders for his replacement that take us further down the "DARKNESS AT NOON" path here in Amerika. We don't need this kind of garbage!
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9551
Yes, where did Bush dig up this psycho Chertoff? Since Chertoff is a citizen of Israel as well, he should be KICKED OUT of government. His loyalties are NOT with us; they're with ISRAEL. No wonder he has such bizarre ideas. Anybody with such ideas should never be put into a leadership post; and, a position of this nature should only go to an American citizen whose loyalties lie only with America - no foreign power - especially one that's violated 72 UN resolutions pertaining to human rights.
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9546
Government sponsored STALKING. Like these plans don't have long histories of being used for personal vengeance, aside from the million of other ODIOUS ethical questions. I see we are being "protected" by some real bottomfeeders. What rock did they find Chertoff under?
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9545
What crap!!! I am a U.S.Government employee (a career in uniform and one in civil service) who is very patriotic. However, I think many of the ideas bubbling to the surface since 9/11 are pure BS generated by individuals who visualize power as keeping their boots on the neck of free people. We've all seen our liberties and freedom of movement in this country severely restricted.
At a time when we're all trying to depublicize our personal information, along comes some "smart brain" who will jeopardize all of us and our way of life. Come on people! Start recalling why we are Americans and what it took to get and keep our freedoms.
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9536
I live and breathe red, white, and blue. I have served this country for 40+ years, I am now in fear of what we are facing. Be afraid, be very afraid of what these people want to do in the name of safety. You are watched every where now as it is, it will only get worse if these wackos get their way. Maybe our leader will become enlightened and stop all this nonsense (ha! ha!) not as long as his pockets and the pockets of his minions are being filled. I repeat myself, BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE WANT TO DO IN THE NAME OF SAFETY! You can say good-bye to the few freedoms we have left.
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9520
Why does the national news services not publish this kind of lunacy? The commentors on this article are so accurate it's scary. Some of us at DHS already know the dumbing of Amerika has taken place and it's too late. We need another American Revolution ASAP !!!
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9515
At least they haven't disarmed us ... yet. However, a frightening question stands; "Will anyone dare stand up to 'ol lizard brain's maniacs and risk being branded as un-American, if not actual internment?"
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9497
George Orwell first floated this idea, but the Late, Great Joe Stalin actually put it into practice. This was the basis for many imprisonments, and eventual deaths in the GULAG, as reported by Al Solzhenitsyn. This idea is fundamentally contrary to the American way of life, and must be rejected out of hand. IF this comes to pass, then we are not to be far behind the camps of Nazi Germany, and Communist Russia.
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9474
This should have made everyone at the meeting "shift in their seat". It made me shift in mine when I read it. "The land of the free" is looking more and more like the USSR of old.
If Homeland Security's idea of "security" is to investigate every man, woman, and child in the country for no reason other than "maybe they'll find something" to red flag, then maybe it's time to rethink the whole thing.
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9471
Perhaps we could get these people - we could use students to tell on their family members and brown uniforms and armbands with DHS or some symbol on the band - Hmmmm maybe a swastika!!!! The frightening thing is that people within the government will go along with this idea - they are probably drawing up the plans. It is time to let everyone know of these types of ideas and for him to answer for these statements regardless of whether or not the meeting was closed to the press. Course I will probably be among the first to be reported for standing up and saying NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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9470
Here we go again:
"Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff this week floated an idea to start a nonprofit group that would collect information on private citizens, flag suspicious activity, and send names of suspicious people to his department."
What is it with these people and their intense desire to create a monstrous organization to destroy civil liberties? Flag suspicious activity and send names to DHS-- and than what-- round up people and send them to the gulag?
What did that German philospher say- first they came for the Jews and Gypsies and I said nothing, them the homosexuals and communists and I said nothing, than the Roman Catholics and I said nothing-- then they came for me and there was nobody left to say anything.
First you gather information and than you use it to destroy innocent people. Americans, do you really wish to live in a Police State-- wake up and tell your government no.
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9466
Great idea!! Past and Present world leaders (e.g., Joe, Adolf and Kim) are on record as using a similar tactic. Where does George find these guys?
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9461
Where does BUSH gets these people like Chertoff? This guy is nothing but a Joe McCarthy with a government title. First, he needs to get his teeth fixed and cleaned and then he needs to be kicked out of this job before he ever gets really started. He is a danger to American citizens and their privacy. What is wrong with the people we have running the government? Somebody needs to do a deep mental study of many of them and find out what is missing and let the American people know.
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