Justice Dept. Forges Ahead with TIPS, Despite Armey Ban.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | July 21st, 2002 | Karen Branch-Brioso

[AdamSelene235]

I thought he was going to be a good guy because of his 2nd Amendment stance,

You're kidding, right. The entire point of that ruse was to prevent the Supreme court from the Emerson case.

[harpo11]

Just don't cut off a Teamster truck driver, or flash the royal bird at him while you are driving the hiways. The Teamster might get a little mad at ya' and call in your license plate number to TIPS to inform the authorities of suspicious activity emanating from your vehicle.

[MissAmericanPie]

It disturbs me to see people still trying to give Bush credit for being stupid and unaware of what he and Ashcroft are promoting. They both are fully aware of what they are doing, they are both fully aware of how open Homeland Security, the Patriot Act, and TIPS, are to future government abuse.

[harpo11]

Been thinking more on this topic, and it seems to me most of the TIPS Program recruits will be from those covered by union contracts.

Traditionally unions have been in full support of democrat causes and politicians, in the form of union dues, activism, and on election day with their votes. Heck, many get the day off so that they can vote early and often.

So, is it safe to assume that most of the TIPS spys who will engage in spying on Americans will be registered democrats?

[WyldKard]

So, is it safe to assume that most of the TIPS spys who will engage in spying on Americans will be registered democrats?

Wow...it sure sounds like it, don't it? Makes sense though..when you want to shove Socialism down people's throats, you hire Socialists to do it...

[FreeReign]

For example, the meterman is taking his meter readings and notices that you have an illegal cable hook up. So he does his job and reports it

Do you have a problem with a person reporting a theft?

[FreeReign]

There are plenty of mechanisms for people already out and about, in the course of their daily activities, to see if something is going on, without coming up with a way to create millions of warrantless searches by non-law-enforcement personnel.

How does this create warrantless searches?

[FreeReign]

"What this means for the average citizen is that whatever you read, eat or do - in the privacy of your home or out in public_will now be suspect in the eyes of your cable repairman, postal carrier, meter man or others who, by way of the services they provide, will have access to your home," said John W. Whitehead, founder and president of the Virginia-based institute.

The cable repairman, postal carrier and meter man have the unalienable right to suspect and report who ever the hell they want -- right now.

Once reported, it is the LE's job to ignore unreasonable suspicion -- e.g. reading an Arabic newspaper -- or to act on reasonable suspicion -- e.g. somebody making a bomb.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Operation TIPS, short for Terrorism Information and Prevention System, is one part of President George W. Bush's volunteerism initiatives.

"Volunteerism initiatives"? Is that what they called it in the Soviet Union?

[185JHP]

Drug fiends and drug fiend apologists don't like the idea of TIPS. They also whine that the govt. anti-drug efforts won't - can't - work. (They're concerned it might work all too well - on their own drug-ingesting hides.) That said, druggies not liking something like TIPS, doesn't mean it is a good idea.

[DoughtyOne]

We have all the laws on the books we need to stop terrorism. I have debated with myself all day on doing a rehash of 09/11, how it came to pass and what this nation is headed for in reaction. Bush and Ashcroft should know better, but then one has to couch their words these days. If you don't you buy yourself a one way ticket to basherdom from the illiterate pseudo-right.

[WyldKard]

Once reported, it is the LE's job to ignore unreasonable suspicion -- e.g. reading an Arabic newspaper -- or to act on reasonable suspicion -- e.g. somebody making a bomb.

Then let them CALL the god damn FBI about it if they see something suspicious. We don't need a huge new wasteful Government bueracracy to address the proble, certainly not one that would give old J. Hoover a bone...

[Kaslin]

For example, the meterman is taking his meter readings and notices that you have an illegal cable hook up. So he does his job and reports it.

How would the meterman who reads the water meter, or the electrity meter meter know that someone has an illegal cable hookup? They have absolutely nothing to do with each other and would'nt he most likely report it to the cable company? At least I would.

[habaes corpussel]

"How would the meterman who reads the water meter, or the electrity meter meter know that someone has an illegal cable hookup? They have absolutely nothing to do with each other and would'nt he most likely report it to the cable company? At least I would."

In some Condo Complexes all the utilities are in one central location and it does not take a brain surgen to figure tis out. The points are valid.

[habaes corpussel]

"Do you have a problem with a person reporting a theft?"

Not if its part of his job or an act of a good samaritan. I do if he is doing it only for the purpose of spying on an individual for the the US Government. BTW, where does it stop? Your bedroom?

[Kaslin]

I have no idea how Condo complexes are set up, but regardless I stand by my earlier post. Take your tinfoil head off. This is ridiculous

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Read-this-article-and-thought-of-your-comments-on-another-thread-ping

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

ping

[EBUCK]

"None of the Operation TIPS materials published on the Web or elsewhere have made reference to entry or access to the homes of individuals;

Well what the hell would you want cable repairmen for? Also, since Dick killed the TIPS program where does the DOJ get the authority to go ahead with it? If congress' blocking of that portion of the bill doesn't mean that it's dead what does. So many questions....

EBUCK