It can't happen here, This is America
Politics / US Politics Jul 30, 2009 - 01:37 AM GMTBy: Michael_T_Bucci
As Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and their Chinese counterparts finished toasting each other on "agreements" reached, Homeland Security announced its latest plans to thwart terrorism that includes the active involvement of citizens. "You are the ones who know if something is not right in your communities, such as a suspicious package, or unusual activity," said DHS Secretary Janet A. Napolitano. The public needs to be educated and engaged. Specifics were not given about the curriculum behind citizen education programs, nor were definitions of "suspicious" and "unusual" given.
Some long-standing predictions may be moving forward, say seasoned pessimists. Cyber-networks need securing because "we face a networked enemy, and we must meet it with a networked response," Napolitano explained. Presumably, cyber attacks like the one in early July on public web sites of Government agencies need to be thwarted by a "networked response", which DHS apparently failed to achieve. What constitutes a "network", intra- and internet are ones, and how to "secure" them and orchestrate a "response" were not disclosed. The identities behind early-July's attack were not revealed. She sidestepped the topic of DHS domestic eavesdropping programs already in place and ones forthcoming.
The City of New York, along with other cities, will be receiving funding for more transit police, described as "more boots on the ground" by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. There will be coordination of DHS data with local police. Napolitano said the goal was to "get to a point where we are in a constant state of preparedness, not a constant state of fear." Some have questioned whether "preparedness" can occur without the motivation of fear behind it, while others question why both events (US-China Partnership and DHS announcement) were demoted to sub-headlines rather than bold ones in America's news pages.
Though already in a constant state of war and economic dislocation, Americans are asked to add another "constant state" to their already overloaded gestalt of "constant" insecurities and worries over paying a mortgage, losing a job, or filing for bankruptcy. But brightening the picture are these: The reporting of "unusual" and "suspicious" activities by alert turn-in-your-neighbor Americans will be more vigorously promoted (civil rights issues aside). Data banks will be shared and networked through "fusion centers" (right to privacy guarantees aside). DHS promises it will not interfere with the "freedom of religion" (no mention of the remaining Constitutional freedoms). There will be more boots on the ground (marching in goose-step?). Champagne flowed in the Ronald Reagan atrium over a US-China marriage contract signed in secret (who gets the dowry and how much? Did Geithner swallow the canary?). But the best news of all is the Fed's beige book suggests "the pace of decline in economic activity has begun to stabilize" (operative words are "pace", "decline"and "begun". Rewritten it reads: "Economic Activity Declining At Stable Pace Now"). Finally, the Wall Street Journal highlighted the claims of several economists declaring "the recession is OVER!" It can't get any clearer. Can it get any better?
Yes it can! The New York Times reports "Poll Shows Obama’s Clout on Health Care Is Eroding". If so, the wealthy won't need to spend one hard-won dime on one more sickly mortal (one socialist ploy down, dozens to go...PR really works, doesn't it Rush?). Mass-layoffs continue and that will help buoy earnings reports to drive the market still higher until the ballparks are filled only with those in the Front Row Aisle and the announcing booths. Microsoft and Yahoo reached a deal on a combined search engine (what's another monopoly?). Pregnant women will be the first to get Swine Flu vaccine (hadn't they changed that Flu name in sensitivity to pigs? Besides, were these women even asked? Who cares, you say, Big Pharma will be immune from prosecution and make Billions. An investment opportunity! No socialism here.). Obama's approval ratings drop (good for you, Rupert).
And as for the Gold and Silver people, be shamed. You are wrong again. The Recession is OVER! Don't you read the papers? (Mmmm...Besides, I always thought Gold people were "unusual" and "suspicious". Didn't you, Janet?)
Obama may be Bush III, but the Chinese capitalists are not Mao II. Now with the new "partnership" between the U.S. and China (what's another monopoly?), along with the plebeians under control by more "boots on the ground", the "turn in your neighbor" DHS program, any forthcoming internet censorship to thwart cyber-terror, "fusion" databanks to chart and graph citizen movement (and thinking), manipulated security markets to maximize insider profits (supply and demand), an Army Division stationed in the Vaterland to thwart dissent, protest, disobedience and uprisings, a killer Flu scheduled for Fall (scheduled?), Market Bears rereading their charts, graphs (and Bibles)...well, I am editorializing and treating matters harshly - just like a paranoid. Rest assured, it couldn't happen here! This is America.
As you can see, aliens intent on mining the earth like they do the dark side of the Moon, enslaving earthlings into slavery through mind control and holographic delusions are NOT those controlling the markets or people of the world.
Together, America and China can do a better job. They have learned from each other. The Chinese have learned shrewd finance and marketing and its pitfalls; the American has learned social engineering and totalitarianism. The Chinese come with money and the American with a war machine. Formally, they call themselves "Partners", but it is a forced marriage.
But this too is the stuff of a paranoid. It can't happen here. This is America.
The town idiot was left to his declining sanity outside the border of the hamlet. I first thought him a fool over what he told me.
He said: "Your Government is not your government."
I replied: "You are a fool. That can't happen here. This is America."
He repeated: "Your Government is not your government."
I left thinking him "unusual" and "suspicious." Shortly after, someone reported him.
No, it can't happen here. This is America.
By Michael T Bucci
Michael T Bucci is a retired public relations executive from New Jersey presently residing in New England. His essays have appeared at Market Oracle and Global Research. He is the author of nine books on practical spirituality including White Book: Cerithous .
© 2009 Copyright Michael T Bucci - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.
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