“Homeland Security” Spending Overtakes New Deal

[HiPointDem]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which celebrates its 10th birthday this March, has grown into a miniature Pentagon. It’s supposed to be the actual “defense” department — since the Pentagon is essentially a Department of Offense — and it’s rife with all the same issues and defects that critics of the military-industrial complex have decried for decades. In other words, “homeland security” has become another obese boondoggle.

But here’s the strange thing: unlike the Pentagon, this monstrosity draws no attention whatsoever — even though, by our calculations, this country has spent a jaw-dropping $791 billion on “homeland security” since 9/11. To give you a sense of just how big that is, Washington spent an inflation-adjusted $500 billion on the entire New Deal.

And what in the world could justify such massive amounts of spending?

Why spying on the electorate of course. According to government documents retrieved under Freedom of Information Act requests, the Department of Homeland Security routinely spies on honest law abiding American citizens who have any kind of political views. Yes, that’s right. If you care to share your political views with others, online or in person, prepare to be spied upon by the government. “Homeland Security” means policing opinions. With 300 million Americans, that ends up being rather expensive.

And as that $800 billion goes out the door to juiced in contractors and other crony capitalists with friends in Washington what does the public get in return? Not safety and security as the Boston Bombing just demonstrated. Say what you will about the imperfections of the New Deal at least some roads got built. What has the average American gotten from DHS other than some TSA flunkie fondling their fun parts at the airport?

$800 billion to build a grotesque cage for a supposedly free people. I want my money back.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/04/29/homeland-security-spending-overtakes-new-deal/

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[Newest Reality]

2. They woke-up safe

in their little hovel.

It was cold and everyone in the family was sick. They stopped talking about the better life they once had and focused on the meager, grim world they had plunged into. The kids were sick again and food rations were short. Everyone's clothes were frayed and rifled with holes.

Homeland cruisers made the shack rattle and shack and they made their way through the sprawling ghetto that was once a middle-class neighborhood. Drones hummed in the sky overhad as Dad bundled up to pick through trash at the dump in order to barter for rations and stamps.

Grandma was very sick and health care was not an option. Due to a lack of any pain medication, she would often cry out in agony. Dad had thought of putting her out of her misery but there were so many cameras and bugs everywhere, he knew he would end-up in ReEd for processing and possibly be sent to the mines. HomeSec as it was not called had been cracking down and they would take you down for just looking at them the wrong way. They were bullies and Dad knew that they were nothing but minions of the wealthy, controlling High Party.

"At least we are safe! So safe! Hail the Homeland!" Grandma cried out as she slipped into another, delirious spasm of agony. She appeared to be dying. Her skin color changed to a pasty white with a blue tinge. Dad added a new worry to his list; he would have to find a way to dispose of the body since they had no credits for a pickup and it was illegal to dig anywhere in the area.

[leveymg]

3. Did you write this? Remarkably graphic.

Reminds me of a cross between "Children of Men", "The Hunger Games", and "1984".

In any case, I don't want to live there.

[Newest Reality]

4. Yes,

and thank you and I would say that it is inspired by those, since I am very familiar with the works you noted.

The Brave New World part is for the members of the Parties.

Yes, we don't want to live there, so that's an inspiration for all of us to be brave enough to know more and develop a sense of vigilance about our circumstances. That way, it could turn out much better in the long-run, but there is a long road to hoe.

[leveymg]

6. Bravo.

Can you share more of this? I'd be interested in reading a longer installment.

[Newest Reality]

7. Let's see if inspiration strikes

I appreciate the request.

[hobbit709]

8. There's at least one poster here who would be satisfied with this as long as they were "safe"

[MindPilot]

10. at the very least, one.

[Generic Other]

9. This is our 1984

Are you writing a novel? I too would love to read more.

[malaise]

14. Excellent

and quite possible unless people fight back

[Mojorabbit]

17. Oh this is so wonderfully written. You have such talent! It was a pleasure to read and

a bit scary also as it seems we are headed down that path.

[leveymg]

5. But, it is a jobs program for Republican Cops and Spooks.

But, mostly it's just more pork for Lockheed Martin, Verizon, and the usual glutinous multinationals.

[JDPriestly]

15. Precisely. This is a right-wing jobs program. That's all it is.

[tclambert]

11. Hey, now, don't forget all those headline stories of the TSA capturing terrorists.

Like that guy with the shoes . . . no, that was passengers and flight attendants. The underwear bomber--also passengers and flight attendants. Both those terrorists had passed through TSA security. Okay, offhand I can't recall any big news stories about the TSA capturing, well, anybody. I know they stop people from sneaking nail clippers and shampoo on board airplanes. That's important to the hotel gift shop industry.

[Dustlawyer]

12. Then I hope they are reading this!!! Take my fucking name off of your "No Fly List" where it

has been since 12/2001! I believe in Complete Campaign Finance Reform (CCFR) to put our country on track, not Revolution, which is what you will eventually get if we don't get CCFR. I have suffered numerous missed flights, humiliation, verbal abuse and threats being on that list. The FBI agent that was "assigned" to me told me a terrorist from South Yeman used my name as an alias. That was over 10 years ago! It is just another excuse to harass, abuse, and now spy on me! George Orwell is turning out to be psychic, or else Homeland Securitie is using the book as a guide!

[marble falls]

13. End it.

[One_Life_To_Give]

16. USCG, Secret Service, ICE, FEMA

The core existing federal agencies that were transferred to DHS upon it creation. They account for almost half of the expense.
There is certainly lots of waste within the DHS budget. But we don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water.

[RyanThomas]

18. And yet...

No Republican will ever complain about the costs for this. Yet for the 2009 Stimulus, which was a similar amount of money (Although far less spending due to the built in tax cuts they never mention), they will do nothing but scream.

[Fire Walk With Me]

19. We are all witness to how adeptly the detected and prevented the Boston bombings.

No? Guess not. Wonder where the money goes.

[MellowYellow]

20. Brilliant! Hope this goes viral!

I'll repost it.