My regular readers know that I have a tendency to find stuff that just pisses me off….and to the point that I must rant…..and I found an absurd report…..
Until recently, I had always paid cash for just about everything I bought…you know computers, groceries, everything…..but all that changed after I was badly hurt after Hurricane Katrina….I was forced to retire with a disability and had to have my check direct deposited…..I have NEVER been one to use a lot of credit cards….I guess I am from the old school of economic thought…..if I wanted something I bought it when I had the money to cover the cost….I still pay cash but it is in the form of a debit card and not a pocket full of greenbacks…..
I had a rude awakening when I went for pain management…..they did not take cash! I had to be insured or NO help……my leg had been crushed and I now have about 70% use of it….I was not insured because NO company will insure a broke person, both physically and monetarily, and I am not old enough for medicare….all of it has been resolved but a recent story I read made me think about the ordeal from the past….
I know we are told by the government that we should be on the lookout for any suspicious behavior….but really?
It seems that cash is still a dirty word and could make you a person of interest to the authorities if you pay in cash…..I know…what the Hell am I talking about?
the White House announced a community-based approachto combating terrorism in the United States, the FBI and other agencies are asking managers of surplus stores to spy on their customers, watching whether they pay in cash, make “extreme” religious statements or purchase products such as waterproof matches.And the request from the government also is going to gun shops, fertilizer suppliers, motels and hotels, authorities say.
Earlier this month, the Obama administration announced a new plan titled “Empowering local partners to prevent violent extremism in the United States.” In it, Obama wrote, “Communities – especially Muslim American communities whose children, families and neighbors are being targeted for recruitment by al-Qaida – are often best positioned to take the lead because they know their communities best.”
“The best defenses against violent extremist ideologies are well-informed and equipped families, local communities, and local institutions. Their awareness of the threat and willingness to work with one another and government is part of our long history of community-based initiatives and partnerships dealing with a range of public safety challenges,” the report says.
It’s all such bullshit. And to think..under Obama’s watch we are losing MORE civil liberties than we did under Bush43..a-freaking-amazing.
But..this part: making ‘extreme religious statements’ does show instability-and plenty of religious extremists have killed abortion docs and those kids in Europe..so I don’t want to be anywhere near one of ‘those’ folks..sorry I don’t, and I don’t have a problem with the FBI watching them. Does that make me a bad person?
It’s morning….again! Hi Dusty……I have a real problem with the cash thing…….I guess we must pay in Imperial credits.
No, you are not a bad person….but me? I worry about the ones that do not make those statements and have all those guns that the 2nd protects……But will the FBI be watching the christian extremists? Or just those that speak Arabic…is my question.
Well, its the middle of the night for moi. 😉
I worry about the ones that do not make those statements and have all those guns that the 2nd protects. Oh those fuckers worry me too, I was just quoting a line from the piece you link to.
You know the FBI is profiling, which means they will miss the homegrown terrorists.
Dusty, yep and that is where we need a little help….what help? Not sure but the lone wolf scenario is the one that NO amount of security can prevent and if you have noticed there have been more of those than some organized coordinated attack……
I am half-hispanic, so I get profiled by various law enforcement entities as the hispanic is obvious in me. My sister’s take after Daddy-dearest and are blonde-haired and blue-eyed. They are also in the R corner and don’t get why I am so ‘angry’ all the time..to quote them.
Dusty, forgive your sister she knows not what she does……now a days I stick out like a sore thumb…..old white guy with long hair, pony tail and an earring……I must be a druggie and a shoplifter…..
You comment threads dont go deep enough so I will respond to both your responses here.
She knows what she is doing, she was never profiled since she looks like an anglo and Dad was a staunch R..hell, my whole family is, except Mom. Nixon voted at Grannies house and we are related to that fucknut by marriage. I learned how to debate the R’s at dear old Dad’s knee..he called me his little commie..how cute no? Ahem, hell no it wasn’t cute then, nor now when he screams it as me..a fucking commie.
There are plenty of homegrown terrorist groups out there to watch and if they would turn in the lone wolf’s who almost always try to join their hate-groups, it would go a long way to catching the singular, crazy fucks.
I can understand your point….my father is a screaming Repub and a racist….so he and I do not see eye to eye on anything……my mother’s father was an anarchist that fought in the Spanish Civil War and is where I got most of my first political thoughts….so I can see your point and I live in Mississippi, the most conserv state in the union, so I am totally surrounded by the radical right……
I will agree to a point…..look at the Uni-bomber and people like him……they will do what they feel they have to to make their point….but I will say that the FBI needs to keep an eye on them…..I just do not trust the FBI to be unbiased in their exuberance….I feel that they will overlook some things when they should be looking harder…I am just paranoid, I guess….
Ain’t profiling fun? Sometimes you think, dang can they make it more obvious?
Watching if you pay cash. Now that is creepy.
Hi Spinny…….I guess we will have to just make ourselves available to credit card companies…..I mean their ads say that I am nothing if I do not have their card……..I like being nothing…..
Credit card companies have their corporate headquarters in Hell, didn’t you know that?
Fight the power!
Right on!
It is creepy, and disheartening.
You know what else irks me? Stores that want your phone number when you purchase things, cash, credit or debit. I just want to buy some tampons and a Pepsi, I don’t want to be on your mailing list and Big Box Retailer Brother does not need my digits.
Annoying.
Dusty, think about those grocery savings cards….there only function is to track what you buy…..and when did cash become a social no-no?