Your tax dollars at work.

[Mokk]

Are We Safe? In a two-day period in March, alarming reports revealed that "dirty (radiation) bombs" easily entered the country in car trunks in tests, that one-third of U.S. civilian nuclear research reactors were insufficiently secure, and that concerns were heightened about the 2,000 shoulder-fired missiles said to be unaccounted for in the world's arsenals. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Times reported that the fishing village of Dillingham, Alaska, at least, is secure, now that a $200,000 Homeland Security anti-terrorism grant has paid for 60 "downtown" surveillance cameras (with 20 more to come). Dillingham (pop. 2,400) is about 300 miles from Anchorage, with no roads linking it to anywhere. [USA Today, 3-27-06] [USA Today, 3-26-06] [ABC News, 3-27-06] [Los Angeles Times, 3-28-06]

http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/index.html

... It's news like this that make me glad i know where my local bomb shelter is.

 

[Westyle]

They still have bomb shelters?

 

[Mokk]

The one here is circa ... for fucking ever ago.

Sits under the post office.

Handy info to have on the offchance..

 

[Trippyhippy]

I lived in that town for 19 years and never knew that...

 

[Strid]

Most older High Schools have them as well but fail to let people know. It's not on the top of their list of things to let everyone in on

 

[Ithenas]

The one here is circa ... for fucking ever ago.

Sits under the post office.

Handy info to have on the offchance..

there's on buried in Norris Dam too

 

[Sneakypants]

So, it's really just a matter of time before the next "orchistrated" attack hits our major cities, power plants, and lifeblood of our economy (reads: legs to stand on).

No, I'm not being negative. You think these people will stop? You think they are listening to you?

Years of planning coordinated surprise attacks are their only chance of success in fighting America, and they know that.

 

[Strid]

Anyway a subject on the title... I'm happy where my tax dollars go. I get to drive on the best highways around, go to some of the nicest school facilities, and all that good stuff. However, I live in TX... things just seem nicer here than anywhere else I have visited, lived, or passed through.

 

[Maximilium]

I say we go and finish off the rest of the Middle East.

All that comes out of there are bombs and smelly food.

Who needs that?

lol

 

[Mokk]

Anyway a subject on the title... I'm happy where my tax dollars go. I get to drive on the best highways around, go to some of the nicest school facilities, and all that good stuff. However, I live in TX... things just seem nicer here than anywhere else I have visited, lived, or passed through.

... wonder what brought that about ...

The only thing that really caught my eye in this was the $200,000 homeland security grant to bumblefuck alaska so they could put in 80 cameras to watch snowdrifts, meanwhile fuck the borders.

Can't say i can complain too much with roads and schools and all that either but a quarter mil being spent on a town with no roads leading to it, no borders near it, and next to no one living there is just insane.

 

[Strid]

... wonder what brought that about ...

The only thing that really caught my eye in this was the $200,000 homeland security grant to bumblefuck alaska so they could put in 80 cameras to watch snowdrifts, meanwhile fuck the borders.

Can't say i can complain too much with roads and schools and all that either but a quarter mil being spent on a town with no roads leading to it, no borders near it, and next to no one living there is just insane.

It came basically from the title. You seemed to be bothered with where tax money goes. So I said that as a little reminder of good things that DO come from taxes. As far as the town getting cameras, I'm still failing to see the big deal with it. I mean here in TX we get Amber Alert signs on roads, severe weather Horns, and things like that. Those are all things to help some security issues here but not elsewhere. What is safe, or put up for protection, from one area to another is all off of what the places feel they need. We know the area is small, remote, and things like that but what we fail to see, because we do not live there or go there, is what problems they may be having, forseeing, and things of that nature. To be honest, if I was a terrorist, I'd hit up locations like that for bases and things. It is really easy to cover up and transport things through those types of areas. I'm all for putting out whatever people need to feel safe but all in all no one anywhere is going to be safe really as long as terrorist and things keep popping out the woodworks. I think the money would be better suited sending tactics teams out with the sole purpose to kill these people but that is to hardcore for the people and government of today. Makes me wished we still lived in a time where the CIA and groups like that would send in people just to destroy enemies. Nowdays the government and those agencies are to hell bent on not making people cry here at home to get back on it, like they use to anyway.

 

[Mokk]

It came basically from the title. You seemed to be bothered with where tax money goes.

No, i'm annoyed that homeland security fails to find dirty bombs in test runs but someplace in alaska gets 200k for no justified or justifiable reason whatsoever. To clarify, i'm bothered where this tax money went, i thought it had been implied by the content of the post.

So I said that as a little reminder of good things that DO come from taxes. As far as the town getting cameras, I'm still failing to see the big deal with it.

See above. Wise investments and security planning don't bother me that much, this is anything but that and glaringly so.

I mean here in TX we get Amber Alert signs on roads, severe weather Horns, and things like that. Those are all things to help some security issues here but not elsewhere.

These serve some kind of practical use to the area in which you live, making it a justified investment. In a populated area these things make sense. 1 camera for every 3 citizens in a remote area with no security interests of note doesn't work with being fiscally responsible or security oriented.

What is safe, or put up for protection, from one area to another is all off of what the places feel they need. We know the area is small, remote, and things like that but what we fail to see, because we do not live there or go there, is what problems they may be having, forseeing, and things of that nature.

You're kidding, right? So, it's ok for the money that could go to protecting borders, making sure we catch threats before they become disasters, and beefing up security on whole in problematic areas that get national attention because some eskimo felt they needed cameras for the downtown area of a town with no roads to it...... k. Were this that far off time of long ago you pine away for when the government acted as a functional hardassed unit eskimo joe would've had his request sent back with a turd in the envelope.

To be honest, if I was a terrorist, I'd hit up locations like that for bases and things. It is really easy to cover up and transport things through those types of areas.

Right .. shut down infinite number of command posts with ......... cameras in the downtown area of a town that almost isn't. Meanwhile fail miserably at security tests on our borders that get national attention on a daily basis. I feel safer already.

I'm all for putting out whatever people need to feel safe but all in all no one anywhere is going to be safe really as long as terrorist and things keep popping out the woodworks.

And so long as we keep pouring money in the wrong places, which was the entire point of the post. I'm for safety as well, but it's a matter of priorities this is an example of poor judgement and bad spending, nothing more nothing less.

I think the money would be better suited sending tactics teams out with the sole purpose to kill these people but that is to hardcore for the people and government of today.

'Cause .. y'know ... we're not spending enough hunting people down in the remote corners of the globe and on war after war after war after war to do exactly that. But ... cameras for the downtown area of a village populated by inuits... yea, that's the key.

Makes me wished we still lived in a time where the CIA and groups like that would send in people just to destroy enemies.

We do. Much like in the past, you won't know anything about it for 20-50 years.

Nowdays the government and those agencies are to hell bent on not making people cry here at home to get back on it, like they use to anyway.

QFT. Let's not forget instilling paranoia, not sharing information with each other, building more useless branches of government that can't manage to spend properly OR communicate with each other, pandoring to corporate interests and winning re-election... which might as well be the same thing with a staggering voter turnout of around 20% :/ ohyea, and that war on terrorism thing .. securing the heartland .. er, remote reaches of alaska, and all that crap.

I'm for the hardass approach as well, this example is certainly contrary to that. The sad part is i'm sure it's not isolated. I don't think calling this absurd is entirely unwarranted.

The other link is a bit outdated: some more current food for thought. From MIT.

A more accurate account.

We conclude that a large portion of homeland security-spending decisions are made on a political basis rather than on a sound cost-benefit analysis, leading to the traditional public choice failures that plague government spending more generally. As a result, homeland security funding is likely to be misallocated, resulting in a less than optimal level of security in America.

But i'm sure that's just leftist jibba jabba designed to let the terrorists win...

 

[Strid]

These serve some kind of practical use to the area in which you live, making it a justified investment. In a populated area these things make sense. 1 camera for every 3 citizens in a remote area with no security interests of note doesn't work with being fiscally responsible or security oriented.

Here is the thing though, you do not live in this place and you do not know what may or has gone on therefore, you really have no idea why they feel they need these cameras. Maybe something has happened to warrent this discision. Point is, you do not live there therefore you have no clue as to why they put them there. I assure you it wasn't for personal safety as the government really could care less about a remote location with a few thousand people in Alaska. Either they, the Govt., fugged up and needed something to make the people happy as a cover up for it, something unknown to us has gone down there before, etc. Think about it, that is $200,000 that could have put a congressmans son through an ivy league school... they wouldn't waste it on cameras just for a couple thousand peoples securness.

You're kidding, right? So, it's ok for the money that could go to protecting borders, making sure we catch threats before they become disasters, and beefing up security on whole in problematic areas that get national attention because some eskimo felt they needed cameras for the downtown area of a town with no roads to it...... k

We already have all of this. It is just the government trying to appeal to the left sided media, softie liberals, and wussy others that keep us from kicking some ass in this field.


.

Were this that far off time of long ago you pine away for when the government acted as a functional hardassed unit eskimo joe would've had his request sent back with a turd in the envelope.

Revise this please, it makes no sense.

Right .. shut down infinite number of command posts with ......... cameras in the downtown area of a town that almost isn't.

Again you do not know their situation all you know is what the media tells you. Stoppit with this please it's useless talk and vague statements.

Meanwhile fail miserably at security tests on our borders that get national attention on a daily basis. I feel safer already.

Surprised ? I'm not, our protection stinks here and I bet it has something to do with those whiney asses I mentioned earlier.

And so long as we keep pouring money in the wrong places, which was the entire point of the post.

Who are you to say this was the wrong place to put money into? Again you know nothing, zip, nada, of their situation or what is going on in their town.

I'm for safety as well, but it's a matter of priorities this is an example of poor judgement and bad spending, nothing more nothing less.

It seems to me you're out for your own safety or obvious safety, again you know nothing about the place other than it has hardly any access and is remote.

'Cause .. y'know ... we're not spending enough hunting people down in the remote corners of the globe and on war after war after war after war to do exactly that.

To be honest I think we should spend more and be more supportive of the war/s. However, we have to many sissifiesd pussys over here to make that possible. Hell this day and age I bet our country could loose a whole army platoon to France's revolutionist ( God damn that hurt comming out too).

But ... cameras for the downtown area of a village populated by inuits... yea, that's the key.

Who knows, what if the cameras wouldn't have been in place and something went down? You'd have been bitching then wouldn't you?

We do. Much like in the past, you won't know anything about it for 20-50 years.

No, we dont... not even close. How can you even think this to yourself?

QFT. Let's not forget instilling paranoia, not sharing information with each other, building more useless branches of government that can't manage to spend properly OR communicate with each other, pandoring to corporate interests and winning re-election... which might as well be the same thing with a staggering voter turnout of around 20% :/ ohyea, and that war on terrorism thing .. securing the heartland .. er, remote reaches of alaska, and all that crap.

Eh, what are you going to do about all of this? There is so much complaining about the government and their actions today it is a trend. Really, unless someone tells me what they, personally, are going to do about it I walk off or just change the subject. What is the point of bitching or arguing the matter if there isn't anything you're going to do?

Sorry if any of this seemed rude but I'm being blunt out of hasteness. I normally respect your thoughts and agree but I think this is one we may see different for a change

 

[Mokk]

Since you're only responding to contradict and offer no sources or hard information i'm going to simply bow out at this point.

Nevermind the links, the research, the time i spent putting together a cohesive statement. You think i didn't read up on the sources quoted in the articles? Do me a favor and look around before being contrary just for the sake of your usual rhetoric.

Nevermind you're telling me i don't know what their situation is when i did the background work on this before i even thought about bringing it up here. It's not like i took the "news of the weird"'s word for it, i checked the papers it mentioned for the articles, you can read them for yourself the dates are right there and they're all quite easy to find on the respective sites.

Hell nevermind the fact this is a place for public opinion and i made an interesting example of misappropriated security funds not only in this instance but provided many studies that went on to further expound on the situation.

I hate to be an ass but this is the same broken record stuff you do on every social commentary thread this site has seen, wether or not i agree most of the time.

I figured the hardass crowd tired of the pansy PC bullshit on both sides of the aisle would've at least raised an eyebrow on this flagrant BS spending methodology but you're honestly coming off like the ACLU here. "Oh but they might have needed it", fuck "might". There are places that do need it now and simply aren't being provided it based on need.

Instead the spending for this department is based on who needs the base to show at the poles or make a headline to keep the public wide-eyed and stupid.

What am i going to do about it? What the hell kind of question is that, what are you going to do about "leftist, softy, pansy pussies that are ruining the country"? You're going to gripe at every opportunity, just like i am currently.

It's not like i'm losing sleep over this. I'm american, being jaded is a luxury i can afford until something is at my doorstep.

On a side note: if you think this country has stopped black ops anytime between now and the korean war mayhaps you should do some reading and reconsider the obviously flawed logic that leads you to this conclusion. Do some research in to our 20 years or better fucking around in south america (among other countries) for our other holiest of holy wars on an idealism; the war on drugs which has been melded in to our newest circle jerk on terrorism... we're winning that one too last i heard from the government thanks to their bang up strategies.

 

[Strid]

Since you're only responding to contradict and offer no sources or hard information i'm going to simply bow out at this point.

Nevermind the links, the research, the time i spent putting together a cohesive statement. You think i didn't read up on the sources quoted in the articles? Do me a favor and look around before being contrary just for the sake of your usual rhetoric.

Nevermind you're telling me i don't know what their situation is when i did the background work on this before i even thought about bringing it up here. It's not like i took the "news of the weird"'s word for it, i checked the papers it mentioned for the articles, you can read them for yourself the dates are right there and they're all quite easy to find on the respective sites.

Hell nevermind the fact this is a place for public opinion and i made an interesting example of misappropriated security funds not only in this instance but provided many studies that went on to further expound on the situation.

I hate to be an ass but this is the same broken record stuff you do on every social commentary thread this site has seen, wether or not i agree most of the time.

I figured the hardass crowd tired of the pansy PC bullshit on both sides of the aisle would've at least raised an eyebrow on this flagrant BS spending methodology but you're honestly coming off like the ACLU here. "Oh but they might have needed it", fuck "might". There are places that do need it now and simply aren't being provided it based on need.

Instead the spending for this department is based on who needs the base to show at the poles or make a headline to keep the public wide-eyed and stupid.

What am i going to do about it? What the hell kind of question is that, what are you going to do about "leftist, softy, pansy pussies that are ruining the country"? You're going to gripe at every opportunity, just like i am currently.

It's not like i'm losing sleep over this. I'm american, being jaded is a luxury i can afford until something is at my doorstep.

On a side note: if you think this country has stopped black ops anytime between now and the korean war mayhaps you should do some reading and reconsider the obviously flawed logic that leads you to this conclusion. Do some research in to our 20 years or better fucking around in south america (among other countries) for our other holiest of holy wars on an idealism the war on drugs which has been melded in to our newest circle jerk on terrorism.

I understand this reaction. However, I just usually do not agree with anyone who says something is useless without being their first hand. I guess this is where we differ. Heh, I'd kill to have a pint of Guiness with you somewhere man. I'm tired of chattering with these trendy noobs and people with no spine around here =/

As far as what am I going to do about lefties, it is simply. There is nothing I really can do but try and talk some sense into them or throw them a loop if I get enraged enough... I can't run for office to change a state of mind, it wont work. People will be people. However, if you do not like the government you can simply run for office. Might not make a difference or win, but it beats bitching and just bitching.

As far as black ops go... Lets just put it this way, in my opinion, Saddam and Bin Laden would have been smoked years ago. However, it is just my opinion. I didn't mean to say, and I do not think I did, that it stopped completly, I just think it is at a sissified state now.

 

[Mokk]

It just comes off nonsensical ... which makes me insane.

I see this kinda thing as a kind of patriotism, sure i bitch and moan about it but it's the idea that matters to me.

When i was a kid there are 3 things the proverbial "they" taught me to have unwaivering faith in:

You parents. (god willing)
Your god.
Your government.

As i grew older i realized i were most likely a rotten shit to my parents for whatever reason, so found respect for them and place even more value on the faith i have in them.

The idea of the protective, concerned, and apt government went by the wayside as i and everyone around me became simply a number for one purpose or another, realisticly. Not the coveted, hard-working, blue blooded, freedom-loving, appreciated citizens we were told we were going to be in grade school as we made the pledge day in day out.

And as far as god goes ... i think he's become a conscientious (sp?) objector to the human race, content to just let things play out.

The whole thing is infinitely annoying and confusing to me as an adult, even moreso as a parent, and i worry about my kid because of crap like this. It's honestly a fuck of an experience going from adult to adult/parent .. the sub's a bitch and twists all your perspectives around with job related implications of responsibility and whatnot.

Do i go the way of my parents and placate or do i scare the shit out of him and tell him flat out that i'm the only soul he's ever going to find that he can place unshakable faith in?

Don't know quite where all that came from but this is kinda why i take these things so seriously and go on about them the way i do on here, to go on about it in a real public place would just make me a loon.

Edit: i so want Rones' take on that whole spending methodology bit i have linked. If not to provide a counterpoint or countersource than to help me wrap my head around it some.

 

[Strid]

Do i go the way of my parents and placate or do i scare the shit out of him and tell him flat out that i'm the only soul he's ever going to find that he can place unshakable faith in?

As long as you are there for him every step of the way you'll never have to tell/explain to him that you are that unshakable rock. As for the rest of the worlds wonders: religion, politics, etc. just tell him the truth and let him for his own opinion as he grows. The world is a scary place and full of unanswered questions, might as well be prepaired and open thinking.