Yes, those are both in quotes. Because as every free-thinking person knows (who's still wearing their tin foil beanie), most of them aren't limited to the federal scope, and they have nothing to do with agency.
Remember what I was saying about how big brother is not going to save you, and you shouldn't expect anyone to hold your hand? The shadowy organizations on this list are the worst offenders. They'll claim up front to be wonderful, loving institutions full of helpful protectors. But dig around deep enough, and you'll find all kinds of things that don't add up. If they were only what they appeared to be at face value, they wouldn't have all the crazy powers, back-room dealings, and illogical funding sources. Some of them can't be explained at all, once you actually ask about their purpose.
Here's the run-down of my top five government fronts:
1. FEMA - "Federal Emergency Management Agency" - What have these guys done? Why are they granted almost limitless power in the event of any kind of emergency (and who defines what an emergency is, anyway?)
2. IRS - "Internal Revenue Service" - Who are these guys, and where in official legislation does it say we need them? Talk about men in black showing up at your door... and yet, I hear that the Federal Reserve has never been audited, ever.
3. NSA - "National Security Agency" - Between them, Homeland Security, SWAT teams, National Guard, Military, and the FBI/CIA/SS/who knows what else, I sure HOPE we're secure. Somehow I still get the heebie-jeebies.
4. ALPHA - "American Literacy Promotion and Heuristics Agency" What is this thing? Recently formed (end of 2009, I believe) as some kind of federalized child care initiative, this inexplicable piece of pork has yet to come up with any kind of plausible public mission statement.
5. TSA - "Transportation Security Administration" - Part of Homeland Security, this group got a big power boost in recent years. Now they're scanning our most intimate areas for bombs... or something. Keeping tabs on terrorists? Maybe they just want to keep tabs on ALL OF US, ALL OF THE TIME. It's like 1984! (The Orwell one, not the year that Return of the Jedi was shamefully abused at the Oscars.)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Fear, hysteria, and surrender
Story time. Gather round.
A very long time ago, some people found themselves in a situation they were afraid of. They let the fear go to their heads, take over their minds, and they desperately looked to the first person or group that was willing to promise them security and a measure of prosperity.
These people were cave men. The leader that took over and promised them security was named Og, and he became the world's first tyrant.
This same scenario played itself out over and over thousands of times over the succeeding milennia. In small villages, in the Roman empire, and in modern Europe, people keep giving up their freedoms and rights for a little promised watching-over. "Mussolini made the trains run on time", right?
Well, uh, no, actually. That's another one of those little historical myths I got worked up about before. And if you pay 75% of your money and give up the ability to choose things for yourself, the current government will take care of you, right?
Huh-uh. Only in fantasy land. Get ready for Arnie's next big revelation to the world, because here it comes (not that anyone's listening):
The government will not fix your problems. They won't feed you, not for long, not the food you need. And they will not save you from the badguys.
They ARE the badguys.
A very long time ago, some people found themselves in a situation they were afraid of. They let the fear go to their heads, take over their minds, and they desperately looked to the first person or group that was willing to promise them security and a measure of prosperity.
These people were cave men. The leader that took over and promised them security was named Og, and he became the world's first tyrant.
This same scenario played itself out over and over thousands of times over the succeeding milennia. In small villages, in the Roman empire, and in modern Europe, people keep giving up their freedoms and rights for a little promised watching-over. "Mussolini made the trains run on time", right?
Well, uh, no, actually. That's another one of those little historical myths I got worked up about before. And if you pay 75% of your money and give up the ability to choose things for yourself, the current government will take care of you, right?
Huh-uh. Only in fantasy land. Get ready for Arnie's next big revelation to the world, because here it comes (not that anyone's listening):
The government will not fix your problems. They won't feed you, not for long, not the food you need. And they will not save you from the badguys.
They ARE the badguys.
Friday, January 7, 2011
So I just found out for the first time today that taxation wasn't really a very big motivator for the Revolutionary War. This is the latest in a series of revelations I have discovered on my own (not in school) which directly contradict what I was taught as a youngster. It's too much.
It's one thing to teach a simplified version of history for kids, but it's another to teach an incorrect version.
It's one thing to teach a view you believe and then later have it disproved by revisionist historians (darn useless revisionists), but it's another to teach kids incorrect ideas that are known to be incorrect.
And guess what? None of these misconceptions I've endured were corrected in my college classes. I had to research this stuff on my own, just out of personal interest. Who knows how many other things I learned in school are way off base, but will never be corrected?
I'm talking about the failure of the public education system. I'm talking about the wretched failure of liberalized universities to do any good at all. Bah, whatever. I don't want to go into any more details. It's every man for himself these days. You have to find your own truth, because no one will hand it out to you.
Up next: why healthcare reform will fail, and how corporate buy-outs by the government are going to be the downfall of our economy.
It's one thing to teach a simplified version of history for kids, but it's another to teach an incorrect version.
It's one thing to teach a view you believe and then later have it disproved by revisionist historians (darn useless revisionists), but it's another to teach kids incorrect ideas that are known to be incorrect.
And guess what? None of these misconceptions I've endured were corrected in my college classes. I had to research this stuff on my own, just out of personal interest. Who knows how many other things I learned in school are way off base, but will never be corrected?
I'm talking about the failure of the public education system. I'm talking about the wretched failure of liberalized universities to do any good at all. Bah, whatever. I don't want to go into any more details. It's every man for himself these days. You have to find your own truth, because no one will hand it out to you.
Up next: why healthcare reform will fail, and how corporate buy-outs by the government are going to be the downfall of our economy.
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