Dwight Scarbrough's idea of political dissent is one that rubs some people the wrong way. He likes to blame his compulsion for peaceful troublemaking on his birthday: October 2, the same as Ghandi. However, a few of Scarbrough's techniques are all his own--especially when it comes to his truck.
For instance, when the Iraq War was looking imminent, not long after September 11, Dwight attached a garbage bag to the back of his truck bed. He splattered the bag and the truck with ketchup and added a sign reading, "This veteran knows that our children are worth more than a $6.95 body bag." When he drove down the freeway, the bag would inflate and appear occupied.
"That one was a little in-your-face and on-the-edge," Scarbrough recalls. "It got a lot of response."
Scarbrough wasn't always so anti-military. During the waning years of the Cold War, he even served five years on a nuclear submarine for the U.S. Navy. But now, instead of trying to stop the spread of "red" states like China and the USSR, Dwight lives in a red state--Idaho. He's the founder and head of Boise's local branch of Veterans for Peace, he leads seminars exposing military recruitment practices in schools, and he--and his truck--are fixtures at nearly every Democratic, antiwar or pro-peace event in town.
While no longer smeared with ketchup, his ride is still hard to ignore. On the back, he tapes weekly updates of the number of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq. Beneath that, on a large, white (and also taped-on) placard: "Support our returning troops and their families when they need help: Give them this number: GI RIGHTS HOTLINE: 1-800-394-9544." On both doors, in bold capital letters: "DEATH IN IRAQ IS NOT A CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG AMERICANS." Taking up nearly half of the back window: "Veterans for Peace Chapter 117, Idaho." On the driver's side wheel well, also in all caps: "PERHAPS GOD BLESSES EVERY NATION, NOT JUST THE USA." And interspersed between them all, he places a variety of purchased bumper stickers and magnetic ribbons reading, among other sentiments, "Support our Troops: Bring them Home Now," "Support Diversity" and "Honor Vets, Wage Peace."
Scarbrough gets his share of negative attention--including plenty of people "flying the bald eagle," as he likes to call it--but he savors such attention. He likes to call his truck a "sociological experiment on wheels," and whether you like the message of that experiment or not, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that Scarbrough is the type of extreme voice that the First Amendment--that one about free speech--is intended to protect.
Or at least it seemed that way until last Tuesday.
On February 7, Scarbrough went to his job like any other day. He is a scientist with a federal agency in Boise--one that is part of the executive branch, ironically--and he parked in his usual spot, just outside of the federal Natural Resource Center on Vinnell Way in Boise, kitty corner to a Wal-Mart, a Lowe's Home Improvement Center and a 21-screen Edwards cineplex. Made up of two large, square brick buildings, the complex houses a variety of federal offices including the Social Security Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, among others. But despite the fact that most of the employees in the complex can, at least officially, consider George W. Bush their boss, Scarbrough has taken remarkably little grief for his strident anti-Bush views and props. Even those who don't agree with his message usually tolerate it.
Once, last year, some conservative-minded ladies objected about the "BUSHIT" sticker in Scarbrough's passenger-side window. Scarbrough and his supervisor reviewed all the federal rules concerning bumper stickers on employee vehicles, and discovered that nothing he had displayed could be considered illegal. But for once, Scarbrough simply removed the sticker. Indeed, his current lineup is quite sparse by his standards, he says.
But on this day, apparently it was still too much.
Around 2:15 p.m., Scarbrough says, he answered his office phone and found himself talking to a man who identified himself as Officer R. of the Department of Homeland Security. (I'm withholding the officer's name; you know, what with Plamegate and all.) Scarbrough was told that he was in violation of the Code of Federal Regulations, the set of rules that govern all executive departments and agencies, and that he was in danger of being cited unless he came out to the parking lot or let the officer come up to his office. Scarbrough chose the first option, and took along a co-worker--also a veteran--and, being an experienced peace activist, a tape recorder. Downstairs, they found two armed officers with "Homeland Security" insignia patches on their shoulders, waiting for them in large white SUVs. Scarbrough informed the officers that he would record their conversation, and what follows is the transcript of that recording.
Officer: Step back here please.
Dwight Scarbrough: Let's have a seat.
O: I'd like to talk to you.
DS: Let's have a seat.
O: Sir, come over here please.
DS: I don't want to come over there. I want to sit down.
O: Let me tell you what's going on here. OK, there's a violation of the code of federal regulations.
DS: For what?
O: The CFR. 41, CFR, 102, 74, 415. Posting or affixing signs, pamphlets, handbills or flyers on federal property. Do you understand that?
DS: I'm not doing anything on federal property.
O: Yes, sir, you've got signs posted on your vehicle. I'm informing you that you're in violation.
DS: That's not illegal. That's not illegal.
O: You're posting ...
DS: I ... All right.
O: Would you like to listen to me before ... sir...
DS: [To his co-worker] Would you go get [their supervisor]?
O: I need you to listen when I'm talking, sir.
DS: [To co-worker]. Would you go get [him] please? [To officer] I'm listening.
O: Okay.
DS: You're at my place of work, first of all. And you're harassing me.
O: Sir, you're in violation of the code of federal regulations.
DS: I'm not in violation.
O: You're posting signs on this property.
DS: I am not posting signs. That's on a private vehicle.
O: Sir, I'm here to tell you now that you have to remove those signs.
DS: Was the law just changed?
O: No, there was no law just changed.
DS: Then it's not a violation.
O: I just told you what the law is, sir.
DS: It is not a violation. I've read the statutes already.
O: If you do not comply with my order to remove the signs from the property, I will cite you for it, OK? Do you understand that?
DS: You know what? This is harassment.
O: No, sir, it's not.
DS: Yes, it is.
O: No, it's not.
DS: Say it again, please. (Holds up microphone.) This is harassment.
O: Do you understand what I've told you?
DS: I understand what you've told me, but I've also read the statute that as a federal employee--
O: I've just given you an order and told you to remove those signs from the property.
DS: I will move my vehicle off the property.
O: That will be fine. That will comply with it, and we don't have to ...
DS: You know this is total B.S., though. Because--will you get [his supervisor], please?--I've already had this conversation once, and we've already looked up all the statues and laws covering personal vehicles with stick ... with anything on them on government property. And it is not illegal.
O: It's in 41 CFR. Look that up.
D: "Why don't you look it up?" I have.
O: 41 CF4 102--
D: What is the violation?
O: Posting of signs on--
D: Which one?
O: I just told you the violation.
D: Those are not signs.
O: Twice now I've told you.
D: Those are not signs.
O: Yes, sir, they are. What are they then?
D: So any vehicle that comes on with, like, a police sign, or with delivery or FedEx or something, that's not a sign?
O: All signs are prohibited--
D: You know you're harassing me. You know you're harassing me.
O: No, sir, I'm not.
D: You know the Department of Homeland Security is giving me harassment--
O: Sir--
D: --because I'm a person who happens to express my viewpoints on my vehicle.
O: I need you to comply with my order and remove the signs...
D: Who has filed a complaint?
O: ...you said you'd do that, that's fine ...
D: Who has filed a complaint? Who has filed a complaint?
O: No one has filed a complaint, sir.
D: Well, then what's the complaint?
O: It's law enforcement on federal property.
D: You know this is ... I would like my supervisor down here, please.
O: This doesn't concern him at all.
D: Yes, it does, because I've already had this discussion with him, and I've already been asked to change the signs, and I did. And I looked up all the statutes.
O: (Muffled)
D: Do you have a piece of paper with the number then, please?
O: I told you the number.
D: I would like to write it down, then.
O: I will give you a piece of paper ...
D: Just write it down. That's all I'm asking.
O: But I need you to comply with my instructions to remove the--
D: You're harassing me, in other words.
O: Sir, this is not harassment.
D: It's crap, and you know it.
O: No, sir, it is not.
D: It is. Okay, go ahead.
O: 41, C-F-R...
D: 41, C-F-R...
O: 102 ...
D: 102 ...
O: 74 ...
D: 74 ...
O: Subpart C ...
D: Subpart C ...
O: Paragraph 415.
D: Paragraph 415.
O: And they are posted at the entrances to federal facilities, as they are here, and it is referenced.
D: And this defines exactly what "signs" are, right?
O: It says "signs," sir.
D: Yeah. You're harassing me. I'll be back in a minute. I don't have my keys with me.
O: Sir--
D: I don't have my car keys with me.
O: Okay.
D: I had no clue what you were here to bother me about ... (walks toward door)... this is your buddy, your boss and my boss harassing people for expressing political viewpoints. And you know it. There's nothing illegal about it. (Door beeps).
Scarbrough moved his car to the parking lot in front of a nearby Goodwill store, a private property where it could legally be towed if the managers objected to his decorations. It wasn't towed, but according to his co-worker, Scarbrough was still "very distraught"--both by the accusations and by the way the officers maneuvered themselves between Scarbrough and his coworker, isolating them in a classic police crowd-control technique.
"I wasn't arrested, but I could have been," Scarbrough recalls. "I was still violated and harassed." He took the rest of the week off after the incident. But he didn't just sit and mope. He looked up the rule that the Homeland Security officers referenced, and found that it read:
"All persons entering in or on Federal property are prohibited from: ...
(b) Posting or affixing materials, such as pamphlets, handbills, or flyers, on bulletin boards or elsewhere on GSA-controlled property..."
However, after his experience with the "Bushit" sticker last year, he was also quick to reference the Hatch Act, the rules that lay out exactly what political activities federal employees are allowed to participate in. According to the Hatch Act, political bumper stickers are allowed on cars parked on federal property, with no stated limitation on either size or number of stickers. So by the current rules, Scarbrough's car would seem to be legit--unless the "elsewhere" of the pamphlet rule is meant to extend to personal property as well as government property.
If that's the case, both Scarbrough and his coworker said, "That's news to me." It would also be news to the dozens of people parked in the Natural Resource Complex with bumper stickers reading, among other sentiments, "My Dad is a Marine," "Create Peace," "POW/ MIA," and others of both the pro-choice and pro-life variety.
But after going through the incident, both Scarbrough and his coworker are insistent: it's not the location or size that mattered in this case. It's the message. They are quick to relate the event to Cindy Sheehan being arrested at President Bush's State of the Union address just a week earlier, where she was wearing a T-shirt reading: "2245 Dead. How many more?" Sheehan's charges were dropped, and Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer apologized to her in a statement, saying "The policies and procedures were too vague."
Scarbrough's co-worker doesn't see any vagueness in the incidents. "It's starting to look like this is something like a directive from the Department of Homeland Security to suppress opposition to the war," he says. He calls the officers "image control," but Scarbrough's take is even more forceful:
"This is a fascist state. At least, it's the beginning of a fascist state."
If you're unfamiliar with the Boise office of the Federal Department of Homeland Security, you're not alone. There's not a listing for it in the most recent federal government listings in the local phonebook. The representative from Idaho State Bureau of Homeland Security, located at the Gowen Field Air National Guard Base behind the Boise Airport, hadn't even heard there was an office when I contacted him. Neither had the receptionist at the local U.S. Marshal's office, though she was able to track down a number for the local office of the Federal Protective Service, the section of DHS in charge of protecting federally owned and leased facilities, after putting me on hold for a few minutes (It's (208) 334-9374, in case you're curious. Your taxes fund it, after all.).
I was only able to confirm the location of the office after asking the security officer at the Natural Resource Complex, whose job (ostensibly, at least) it is to enforce the rules concerning pamphlets, dogs and other controlled substances on federal property. He would not comment about the incident, saying, "If this is about what I think it's about, I'm not allowed to say nothing." He referred me to "FPS, Federal Courthouse, Department of Homeland Security," to find someone who would be able to comment. When I asked who I should say referred me, he covered his nameplate with his hand.
The "office," once I found it, wasn't much of an office at all, from a service perspective. The door was locked and there was neither a receptionist nor a desk at the front window. When I rang the doorbell, a woman emerged from a nearby cubicle and spoke to me through a tennis-ball-sized hole in the window. She would not confirm the name or identity of the officers, nor their badge numbers (Scarbrough, of course, had written them all down). I slipped a business card through the hole, and by press time, no one had called me back.
However, when I tried the number provided by the U.S. Marshals, Terry Martin at the Federal Protection Service was able to confirm that the officers identified by Scarbrough did, in fact, work for Homeland Security. He then referred me to the Department of Homeland Security's media spokesman in Texas, who had not responded by press time to my request for information about the incident, or about any change in federal law concerning stickers on vehicles in federal parking lots.
In the meantime, Scarbrough has gone back to work and says he plans to continue parking in the same spot. But now he has an ally. After the incident, he contacted the local office of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU helped hook him up to a local lawyer who will represent Scarbrough, pro bono, if he is cited. Several other lawyers have already made similar offers, Scarbrough says. But that doesn't make him feel any better about the incident or the message it sends, not only to dissenters like him, but to all federal employees and anyone who thinks their opinions--or their stickers--are only of concern to themselves.
"Bottom line: My rights are very dear to me. I served my country to defend them," he says. "And one of the things I was defending was free speech. It's the First Amendment for a reason--not the last, not the middle. The first."
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Big Brother arrives in Boise. So just what does Homeland Security have to do with enforcing poster,signs etc.,regulations? Why aren't they out hunting the thousands of Al Qeda sleeper cells King George says are "out there". Oh thats right, it is a lot easier to go after law abiding American citizens who are out in the open.
what a bunch of poop, everything special about america has gone. All the things I was taught that made america special are gone. Also the fact that it says "report this comment" at the end sure is convenient for all you damned commies. That coupled with the difficulty of having to register to make a comment gives some clue as to where the paper stands. Report me f*ckheads. My sympathy goes out to all you morons that are to dumb to think for yourselves or are offended by any words written or spoken. Obviously the paper is offended since until I made some changes it was not able to post this comment.
Thought you might like to read this letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel:
Thought you might like to read this letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel: This letter is in response to your inquiry concerning the Hatch Act. Specifically. you ask whether the Act would prohibit an employee of the Postal Service from putting a political sign, of any size, on their private vehicle which they park on postal property? You clarify that the employee is not using her personal vehicle to conduct postal business. The Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993 (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326) generally permit most federal employees to actively participate in partisan political management and partisan political campaigns. However, employees are prohibited from participating in political activities while on duty or in a government building. 5 U.S.C. § 7324(a)(1)&(2). The Hatch Act does not prohibit an employee from placing a political sign, poster or bumper sticker on his personal vehicle which is parked at a federal facility. Furthermore, the size of the sign or its partisan or nonpartisan message does not change the application of this regulation. Please call Karen Dalheim at (202) 653-7143 or 1-800-854-2824 if you have any questions.
As a patriot i've always been repulsed by the nationalists espoucing such phrases as “America, love it or leave it” or even worse “our country wrong or right”. As citizens of the United States of America it is our birthright to protest bad governance as our founding fathers did (at the risk of their very comfortable lives) in the Declaration of Independence. The first admendmant is first because because we the pepole must have a voice in our governance. Any and all attempts to supress our voices by the current administration must be considered as Mr. Scarborough so aptly described it “the beginning of a fascist state."
Interseting that the officer said "Subpart C ..." However, what is quoted in the story has a "b". and not a "c". "(b) Posting or affixing materials, such as pamphlets, handbills, or flyers, on bulletin boards or elsewhere on GSA-controlled property..."
I'd have to agree that this country is rapidly becoming a fascist state under the Bush regime. Please read http://blog.dankim.com/2006/02/10/fascism—american-style/ for more information on why I think this.
I think the fundamental bit of irony that was subtly injected into the article was that Goodwill, the place where the offending truck was moved to, reserved the right to do the same thing that DHS did - but did not. Very key point. Also, an analogy that has to be brought forward: if you have a no smoking sign on your property, and you catch someone smoking on your property, you are going to chase them off of your property, no matter what argument the smoker employs. This may not be a free speech issue, but I'm sure you've read storied about "smoker's rights" and things of that nature that directly correlate to this sort of instance. A point that is rarely taught alongside of Constitutional law is that a citizen is free to do what they please, as long as their freedom does not encroach upon another's freedom. That is to say, in the broad scheme of things, the General Services Administration is free to set rules of conduct and employment, and should one want to work for the GSA, then one should be prepared to abide by said rules. Note that I'm not in approval of this Red Scare that seems to be rising... but laws govern laws which governs laws, and one can be assured that if there is an objection to a law, there will always be a law to handle that objection. So it goes.
This story has been spread around the internet. Check out what other sites had to say about it: http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/49236 http://digg.com/security/DHS_Threatens_to_Cite_Veteran_for_Bumper_Stickers.
You know just the other day, I was sitting in my living room, smoking a joint, when the Boise Dept. of Homeland Security came in, and threatened to arrest me for "attempted loitering" if I didn't pass them that joint right now. Funny thing is, I live in New York, so what were these pinko Boise gestapo doing there? This all started about thirty years ago, with the Metric System being imposed over our beloved natural and organic Avoirdupois measurement. If you think the Metric System isn't a fascist threat to Our Freedoms, then THINK AGAIN! We must all RESIST THE METRIC SYSTEM!!
And the great state of Idaho, with it's rippling mounatains, beautiful ski areas and lush forests insists on voting Republican every four years...Wake up, Idahoans, you deserve better!!!!
In times of trouble in my life my country has always been a source of great support. Now it is my turn to support my nation and I will with my life if neccisary. I stand with any who exercise their right as guaranteed through the constitution or the declaration of independence from Britian. I stand for America and the glory that shall be hers again. What say you? Do you stand with America or against her? Support any free mans/womans right to protest in any way he/she sees fit as long as that doesn't impeed any other free persons rights. What say you? America, America built by the people, of the people, for the people, STOP facism before it stops our nation from the beautiful place in history it so rightfully deserves. Dwight Scarbrough sir you have my complete and undying respect. Your actions will give us all a a rallying point to rise above the malicious actions of the few who have used our great countries freedom to enslave all. What say the rest of you? Will you save your country or fold like a chicken to the slave fed fires of this regime. WHAT SAY YOU AMERICA???
Great job, Nicholas. I'm glad to see outstanding journalism going on in Boise. Stay on the story. This crap is going on all over the country . Here's news reported Friday about the Dept. of BS raiding a public library in Maryland. http//www.boingboing.net/2006/02/17/county_homeland_secu.html
Dwight Scarborough was totally in the right to put anti-war stickers on his car. The feds have NO RIGHT to block his any other citizens rights to freedom of speech. Obviously the Department of Homeland Security has NO CLUE just what they are supposed to be protecting when its comes to constitutional rights of the citizenry. Which of course brings one to question what purpose does the DHS really serve and who? I fear the answer lies somewhere well within the side of fascism.
The Gods do have their special sense of humor. Hitler's Nazi capital and Idaho's both begin with a "B". Our present dictator's last name begins with a "B". OK, it's a coincidence. Bush can now have Mr. Scarbrough disappear from the face of the Earth at his command. We can all be removed now. No charges-No lawyer-No trial-No notification of kin-No funeral-No anything! This is plainly fascism hiding behind the so called "War on Terror." Osama must thank Allah everyday for Bush's shredding of the Declaration of Independence. Why do they hate our freedoms so much?
Assuming the officer believed he was correct, I have no problem with the officer. I do however have a major problem with the apparent lack of training that the officers receive. Several day ago I read an article about them trying to tell a library patron that they couldn't access pornography on line. The situation was cleared up by their supervisor and an appology made. Fine and dandy, I am happy about that but what training did the get/not get that caused them to think that a porno patrol was part of the homland security scenario? The beginings of a fascist state? Perhaps but I wonder how much if it is by intent and how much by ignorance.
I'm pretty sure that this has little to do with training and much more to do with harassment and intimidation. We are not talking about security gaurds or even police here. We are talking about some new, vague federal police force that is supposedly "protecting" us from "terrorism". Internet porn in some random library and bumperstickers and signs on a personal fossil fuel burner are so far removed from the objective of fighting terrorism that there can be no question as to whats really going on here. Is that a jackboot stomping on my face, or do I just have an itch?
Freedom Rocks! Bush!t Sucks! Get Your Own truck/car ProtestBushit signs and Rock Freedom Yourself! E-mail me or join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AwolBushit/ Get "your own" before "they" get you! Remember, KingGeorge says; "(the US Constitution) ...just a Goddamned Piece of paper!" http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/december2005/091205pieceofpaper.htm
The hypocracy of democracy is alive and well throughout the Divided States of AmeriKKKa. Besides being born with my Constitutional rights in this country, where this governement is by the people, of the people, and for the people, I served this great country for 20 years in the U.S. Navy to protect and defend our country's democracy and it's Contitutional law against ALL enemies, both foreign and domestic, everytime I enlisted/reenlisted - FOR LIFE! It's not the foreign enemy we must be concerned about - it's the enemy from within that poses the most danger in the destruction of our way of life. Our UN-elected, Supreme Court appointed President has stated over and over, time and time again, that the terrorists hate freedom and democracy, and that they will not destroy our way of life. Excuse me mister, but the only ones destroying our democracy,our freedom, and our way of life is YOU, BU$HT! Duh! We have corruption at its highest level embedded in our government who hate freedom and democracy, and are quickly striving for a complete fascist police state. Osama Bin Forgotten hasn't taken our freedoms away! IDIOT! I applaud Mr. Scarbrough's bravery and courageous stand to keep protecting our freedoms. I want to know what it's going to take for the American people to stand up and say, "I've had enough!" And to demand that our government be given back to the American people? As I continue to honor my military enlistment oath, I urge ALL American's to show real patriotism and stand up for our rights outlined in the very document that's suppose to be protecting our 'democratic way of life'. Benjamin Franklin once stated, "Anyone who sacrifices their liberty for security deserves neither".
Team Bush wants to sell our ports to countries with deeply-rooted terrorist networks, but wants to close the port on a veteran's First Amendment right? People better wake-up, and fast. Our rights are taken slowly; an outright theft in one fell swoop would be too obvious. It starts with seat-belt laws, helmet laws, no smoking bans... then it's books checked-out in the library, Internet searches, "legal" wiretapping- and bumper stickers. If America is too concerned with American Idol, instead of appointed Supreme Court judges- "complaining" may come with a midnight knock on the front door by Big Brother. Wake up America!
I'm in the crowd who believe it's already much too late. Of course, I'm not the final authority on that, but do the numbers honestly and it's inescapably obvious that this neverending growth neverending extraction way of life is finished. Yesterday I happened to stumble across another obscure beautiful mind. Absolutely worth taking the time to read...well...unless you're too busy fantasizing about home values continuing a 10% to 20% incline forever or whatever. Pop! http://ranprieur.com/index.html By the way, where are all the Idahoans? Drunk? I would'nt blame em if they were. Those inversions sure can take a toll. On your soul.
There's a great "sign" for anyone that wants to diplay their views against the war in Iraq: The Peace Dove Car magnet. See it at www.peacepositive.net. Check it out!!
In regards to Freedom of Speech, War, and the Truck postings. I believe in his 'rights', but any one who truly respects the Freedom of America, should have some respect, and boundries in thier expression. To be Free, is not to be rude, or to live life in vain. Freedom comes with some responsiblity. I personally don't agree with all of President Bush's actions, but he is our President. If you want to change his opinion, if you want to be heard, you don't need to Slander first, to degrade the lives of the lost soldiers who have died. I would encourage any one who reads this, if you want to the war to stop, then organize, create a PLAN, find a SOLUTION to where we are with IRAQ. Right now, we can't just walk away, America would feel it, in the form of War US Soil. I don't have the answers, but when folks start slandering their President, with out offering a solution, I become leary of any course acation they might take on their own. People can either look up to you for leadership, they can look to you for help, or your just in the way. Food for thought. If you want to reply to me you can, but my intent is to encourage a PLAN, a SOLUTION, and to remind folks of the Respect that Freedom derserves. None of the those three things (and you can always add to them, i know) are party related issues. They are facts of life. That any one should be using in this great country.
Good for Mr. Scarborough,need more dissent...bet this is not allowed to post in a facist paper
Time to Disband Homeland Security and Renew Democracy In the aftermath of 9-11, American politics and government went slightly insane. America turned its collective back on 200 plus years of successful democratic government and turned toward its dark side. The national security state began to be seen as needed and desirable. This insane model of government always puts the State over the Individual and becomes both corrupt and dictatorial. Examples in history are numerous. The United States of America began as a reaction to corrupt, dictatorial rule from the English monarchy. In modern times, the world has seen “national security” states arise in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Soviet Union, Pinochet Chile, and Franco Spain. Other examples can be found all over the globe. Dictatorial powers were seized by corrupt political figures with ardent followers blinded by ideology following “national security” crises in every example. After 9-11, we started speeding down that slippery slope. It is not too late for us as a nation to come to a screeching halt and return to our American political traditions should we make that choice as a nation. Current events are forcing us to examine our course based on results instead of ideology. We have seen a great American city almost destroyed because we put national disaster relief under the control of incompetents at the Homeland Security Department. New Orleans started opening the eyes of American citizens everywhere. Our government is ignoring federal law whenever it so desires in the name of national security. We have government run secret prisons. We lock people away without filing criminal charges and never set trial dates. We conduct torture and ignore the documented facts about that torture. We launch aggressive wars based on false information and propaganda aimed at our citizens along with the rest of the world. We trample individual rights and civil liberties won at great expense for millions of American soldiers over generations in the name of “national security.” We conduct government in secret to hide corruption at the highest levels claiming security concerns. We spy on political dissenters who are seeking to return our nation to traditional American political values. We use Homeland Security and the American military to spy on average American citizens doing their civic duty. The Bush Republicans controlling our government encourage the abuse of public office to advance strictly partisan political goals. They are trying falsely to redefine American patriotism as blindly following the most extreme of Republican Right policies and ideology. They are assaulting the Bill of Rights and attacking the Constitutional principles of our nation. Our Constitutional system of checks and balances between competing branches of government, which was designed to prevent dictatorial government and guarantee individual liberty, has almost been overthrown under Bush Republican rule. Separation of Church and State has been severely undermined by deliberate policy thereby threatening both with the corruption. Government has no business interfering in the religious aspects of our lives. Homeland Security can act as a cover for all kinds of corruption and political abuse. Secrecy in government has always fostered corruption and abuse. Traditionally, America divided our intelligence and law enforcement agencies up into many different competing units. The competition held each unit act more aggressively and efficiently. The different units helped prevent abuses by other units using our traditional checks and balances system. The system worked very well as long as it was overseen by a competent chief executive in the White House, effectively monitored by Congress and followed federal court guidelines. 9-11 did not demonstrate a failure of our system based on design. It instead demonstrated that the individuals involved failed the nation. The White House dropped the ball on national security in the months immediately before 9-11. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield and Ashcroft were largely responsible along with their aides and other individuals in various federal agencies. They were not coordinating the activities of the various federal agencies involved in law enforcement or intelligence effectively. The hysteria and fear fostered and used by Bush, Cheney and the rest of the Bush Republicans was used to cover their failures and to achieve unchecked political power. Bush and Cheney should have been impeached for incompetence for allowing the 9-11 attacks to happen! We now have a Homeland Security Department interfering with normal domestic political activity and threatening our democratic form of government. We need to return to our previous separation of the various units system concerning the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. We will get better unbiased intelligence information and more efficient law enforcement without as much politicization. Homeland Security officials were somehow involved in the permitting unsupervised voting counting in Ohio during the 2004 Presidential election. The media was blocked from observing the vote count in at least one County as a result of interference from Homeland Security according to numerous media reports. In Idaho, Homeland Security was used to harass and intimidate a federal employee over an anti-War bumper sticker on his personal automobile Red State, Meet Police State http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:158729 . Homeland Security seems to be engaged in forcing American citizens to support the unpopular, unjust and unwise Iraq War policy of the Bush-Cheney Administration. The national security state has really gotten totally out of control in Alaska, as evidenced in this recent example by Brad Friedman at Brad Blog. “A bizarre story concerning Alaska's 2004 Election has taken yet another even more bizarre turn this week, The BRAD BLOG has learned. A long-standing public records request for the release of Election 2004 database files created by Diebold's voting system had been long delayed after several odd twists and turns, including the revelation of a contract with the state claiming the information to be a "company secret." But while it finally appeared as though the state had agreed to release the information (after reserving the right to "manipulate the data" in consultation with Diebold before releasing it), the state's top Security Official has now -- at the last minute -- stepped in to deny the request. The grounds for the denial: the release of the information poses a "security risk" to the state of Alaska. We couldn't make this stuff up... Full Story, including the Letters from Election & Security Officials and Much More: http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002467.htm “ It is now clear that we need to Turn out back on the national security state model and return to the kind of wise, traditional American government founded by the leaders of the American Revolution and strengthened by generations of American heroes. Written by Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com ). Mail: P.O. Box 283, Earleville, Maryland 21919. Email: midsouthcm@aol.com . Phone: 443-907-2367.
Go get 'em, Dwight! We read the news and Boise Weekly makes it to Rome, Italy. Well done, Dwight (and author included)!!! It's heartening to read any type of resistance against the Bush mis-Administration, and yes, I've visited the U.S. three times since 9-11. It is rapidly progressing into characteristics of near-fascism, God help us. The NeoCons have gone way too far.
It's a strange 'land of the free' when a citizen cannot carry a political message on their car.I am at present considering starting a 'Democracy for the USA' campaign in England.In the UK you can display any political message you like on a personal vehicle without fear of employer or state intervention. You have a country with no political opposition,where even Democratic leaders are frightened to open their mouths unless they be accused of a 'lack of patriotism'.Well,let me tell you it is the moral duty of every citizen to criticise government and to make their feelings known. You should be fighting for health care for all instead of worsening conditions for peace in the world.Nobody mislead Bush-he just told lies as he did about his 'military' service,his drug taking and his alcoholic misdeeds.He would be unemployable in the UK.Joe Kelsall(Irish Citizen)
Good morning America! Rise and shine and join me in; Happy birthday to you,happy birthday to you, happy birthday Mohammed ,happy birthday to you! Yes folks, it's the birthday of the prophet Mohammed so let's join the other 1.4 billion muslims out there celebrating today. Great day for the Homeland Security - let me tell you a little story about those jerks: I was leaving the USA with my senior citizen wife when an alarm sounded as she entered the detector arch.Some *Orangutang from the HS physically held my wife and said in his best deep voice of authority "get over there,don't move"-What a plonker! All he did was make a fool of himself and his paranoid country. Bush and his puppet Blair are doing their best to instil fear into the public to strengthen their personal positions. Don't fall for it - carry on as normal - we've had terrorist bombs in the UK for years,don't give in to them either.The HS has given 'snug' jobs to the otherwise unemployable control bullies. Now your commander in Chief of bullies has Iran in his nuclear sights- tell him to email me and I'll talk it through with him.As for Israel,her bombs are paper tigers (Mao Tse Tung) she certainly has plenty of nukes, but where is she gonna drop them that won't result in the end of Israel? *apologies to orangutangs.
The Boise Weekly even make it to Liverpool, England Home of the Beatles, centre of the Universe, threshold to the World. The USA's greatest trading port, right opposite New York.I don't know about Boise but this is a really exciting place to live. It's a bit like New Orleans but we do not get any floods and health care is free! The city has a large Irish population so the people know how to have a good time. We don't and never have had any problems with same sex couples, drinking , gambling or enjoying life. We were racially and sexually emancipated decades ago and the city is better for it. We have no time for 'holy Joe' killjoys - they usually emigrate to the States! If you take that problem Clinton had with Monica - it simply wouldn't raise an eyebrow here. It's not as though she was a teenage virgin. Funny, but President Miterrand's chauffeur ,in his life story, tells of taking him to 5 different women in one night - and he's not even a Mormon! The French just shrug and say'Quel homme!'. The French have strict privacy laws and you are not allowed to print articles about the private lives of people rich or poor, I think it's a good idea. In Ireland the Roman Catholic bishop of Galway even acknowledges a teenage son. Bet that shocks some of you guys in Boise! Find your newspaper amusing especially the bits about 'Chicken George'. It says a lot about a country when it is prepared to accept a mentally retarded man as its leader. Cheers from the UK's capital of culture. JK
Is anybody out there? - if so join hands and try and contact the living!
Your 'Homeland Security' is just another line of defence of the rich from the poor.They have no magic wand which they can wave at terrorist threats;they have no intelligence gathering except from the more than willing populace to 'drop a dime' on their neighbour usually out of avarice.They're just another bunch of supporters for Bush and his ilk.Funny how you never see Bush talk to other than the converted, or the military,and even they are beginning to show cracks. Until the USA begins to recognise that Israel is a fascist state and a liability to the USA they will never be able to return to mormality. Remember, nobody in history has ever retained Jerusalem as its own and the Zionists will be no different. Remember that in the 19th Century the UK lost 15,000 people in 1 day in Kabul.How often does history have to repeat itself?
i CAME TO bOISE BECAUSE MY SON WAS CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING COCAINE. I HAVE NOTICE THAT THE UNDERCOVER OFFICER BY THE NAME OF STILES HIS dESCRiptTION IS WHITE 5'6(little man complex) CURRENTLY has RED HAIR AND A BEARD. bE VERY CAREFUL HE IS STILL IN DEEP BUYING DRUGS AND PLANTING DRUGS IN PEOPLES HOMES. SINCE THE CITY OF boise police department is not heroric in any other matter they create and develop crimes against african-american males and other minorties to help run the 32 cents a hour prison labor market. Because stiles brother is a U.S. attorney , they are getting way with this corrpution. I don't deal drugs so I by no means condone the behavior and believe that my son was set up to provide entertainment for the boys in blue(thats an understatement)but on the other hand I dispise police corruption for glory seeking. He had no drugs in his possesion but the boise police dept had a person plant drugs in his homes while they brougth that person there and told them if they didn't they to would be charged. While the police was in his home they stole shoes and his lapstop but none of those items were placed into evidence and now can't be found. They used his cell phone calling people asking them to met them to buy drugs we have cell phone bills to this affect, however the police department ignored our complaints. Tell me when a undercover officer in deep can steal also and not be charged with theft or produce the missing items. Watch out for stiles he is still in deep and he using slang to get in good with dealers. If my son ends up dead or receives the harsh treatment it is due to this article. Since stiles has been revealed he will cut his beard and color his hair or go bald please be aware. since this site is a freedom of speech site I feel this is free speech.
Please see: http://wwwfreespeechbeneathUSHS.blogspot.com http://wwwsouthcapitolstreet.blogspot.com
Please see: http://wwwfreespeechbeneathUSHS.blogspot.com http://wwwsouthcapitolstreet.blogspot.com
There are alot of people who voice their opinions alittle different than others. My hat goes off for Mr. Scarbrough's tactic to voice his. This just proves that if you want our government to listen you have to go to extreme to get their attention. The little conservative stickers that people have on their vechiles gets no notice but his "BIG" sticker did.Thank you Mr. Scarbrough for being an American citizen who is not afraid to tell people how you feel. I lived in the Boise area for 20 years, when I left it was one of the hardest moves I have ever felt. But now that I am gone I believe that alot of people that live there have read to many FBI or CIA books. Most likely if you have a conversation with someone they are recording it.(I know this personally) I feel if they need to record a conversation of the words you are speaking is that person trustworthy enough to hear those words.It's almost like they have to protect themselves from something or someone.Anyone with alittle power in that city wanted to prove they could handle more power if promoted to do so. I am glad I chose to leave,life is so much easier,slower and less stressful.People here have signs in their yards,on their vechiles about the war. They fly the flag proudly here and they still believe a house needs a gun for protection, and for hunting purposes. Mr. Scarbrough when you get tired of "BULLSHIT". Middle Tennessee is an area that has great mountians scenery,excellent music, history, and the people are very friendly.They don't judge you by sight but by what's inside. AND EVERYONE MINDS THEIR BUSINESS!! Good Luck!
I'm sorry, but this scarborough guy served in the COLD WAR!!! WHILE IT WAS WANING!!!!
Honestly people, While we pat the Vietnam Vets on the back and say well done, this article shows that America would still rather listen to more John Kerry's than to actual Vets who FOUGHT, meaning shed blood in battle and/or lost buddies or saw buddies killed.
Vets who have fought (meaning defined in above paragraph:)) in any war have more right than ANYBODY to wish for peace during Sept.11, and they are the only ones I, personally, would ever take to heart, even if I disagreed with them. Because they are the only ones who know exactly what goes on in war. We family members may think we know, but we really never do understand completely. Speaking as a wife of a soldier who is to be going to afghanistan soon, i know that its scary having our soldiers fighting, possibly dying. but I also understand that PEACE IS NOT FREE! 9/11 showed that. We didnt go to Iraq for oil, people. Don't turn our wars into another Vietnam. And of course people are entitled to their own opinions, but think on this... These same anti-war supporters are some of the same people who DONT agree on ANYTHING about GOd being in schools, would rather have The Big Bang Theory taught and also petition against anything about God being in public places. While they are "defending their rights to free speech" why aren't they defending ALL rights to free speech? Have your own opinion, but quit b@tching when others state theirs. And sure this Scarborough says he doesnt, but think of what he did shortly after 9/11. That was a big middle finger to all those people who died, a "your death doesnt count".
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