"Text Against Terror": Cutely Named Government Busywork
On the taxpayer dime, of course.
It's yet another worthless government program with a catchy name (you have to give all the overpaid government workers a reason to collect their paychecks, ya know).
Okay, so let's say you see a guy in a "Camp Bin Laden" T-shirt carrying a nuclear warhead in his truck. You're really going to pull your car over and tap out a little message with your finger? Assuming this even does happen -- unlikely -- wouldn't you, if you have an IQ above your age, dial 9-fucking-one-one?
Whole lot faster than texting "i 1/2 seen terrirsts," which your phone will promptly auto-correct into "i 1/2 turkey sandwich."
Oh yeah...and the story, from Judicial Watch (via @Drudge):
The U.S. government has blown nearly $6 million on an experimental "anti-terrorism" program in New Jersey that encourages the public to send tips via text message from their cellular phones.Since it was launched in mid-2011, the federally-funded "Text Against Terror" project has produced no credible tips, according to a local newspaper report that reveals the feds have poured $5.8 million into the initiative. Police in New Jersey claim 307 tips have been texted so far and that includes people "testing the system."
Of the 307 text messages, 71 "referred to something regarding homeland security," according to the New Jersey police chief quoted in the story. The majority of the 71 texts were investigated, the chief says, and "eliminated as a cause for concern." In other words, the costly program, funded with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) public awareness grant, is a cash cow that's accomplished nothing.
The taxpayer dollars have paid for advertising time on local radio and television as well as fliers and ads on buses and trains. Other expenses include reserving a domain for unlimited texting capability. In a "rare instance" when a tip has required a follow-up, the New Jersey police chief says a state Joint Terrorism Task Force is available to get the job done. It includes state police, New Jersey's transit and port authority police and the FBI.
News of this disturbing waste of public funds for an ineffective homeland security program comes on the heels of a U.S. Senate report blasting a huge post-9/11 counterterrorism program that's received north of $300 million but hasn't provided any useful intelligence. Even scarier is that DHS has covered up the mess from both Congress and the public, according to the bi-partisan investigators who conducted the lengthy probe.
Next, they'll be probing our rectums in the name of stopping terrorism -- and we'll be funding that, too.
Despite the fact that we're all paying for this, I did find the bit about people "testing the system" amusing. (This means drunk dudes calling and ordering pizza and strippers.)
Creepy. This is like communist police states that ask you to spy on your neighbors. It's not right.
Sheep mommy at October 13, 2012 6:18 AM
While I agree this program was/is a waste, I can envision a circumstance where I would not want to hold a cell phone up to my face. I occasionally take the train. I am licensed to carry concealed in both states where I ride the train, but I am still prohibited from carrying on the train. I digress. So, imagine some peace loving individual, culturally unaware that TSA prohibits firearms on the train, jumps up screaming "allahu akbar" and starts waiving around a handgun. I am probably not going to want to attract his attention by holding a cell phone to my face. I may try to text somebody and ask them to contact the FBI.
Bill O Rights at October 13, 2012 7:44 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/10/text-against-te.html#comment-3379639">comment from Bill O RightsI may try to text somebody and ask them to contact the FBI.
As I started reading your post, that was my thought -- texting somebody to tell them to call some law enforcement personnel. (Actually, I have the email addresses of some cops -- I'd just email one of the Captains at my local station, and copy a few others in case he's off duty.)
And whaddya know -- you can do that (text a friend) without it costing taxpayers a buttload of money.
Amy Alkon
at October 13, 2012 8:00 AM
I wonder if any of the texts received were of the 'your Visa card is frozen'/ 'buy ecigs'/ 'you have won a Walmart card' variety that seems to be rampant these days?
nonegiven at October 13, 2012 8:49 AM
Sorting through old stuff, found an internet classic.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at October 13, 2012 10:55 AM
I was just at a self-defense seminar today given by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman (Ret.). It was very good.
One of the things he talked about was when the Soviets were in Afghanistan -- there were no Islamic attacks on Soviet soil. After they left, the attacks started in Russia.
The other was how we send all our children to schools which are mostly gun free zones. Security at most of them suck and is unarmed. I also learned about a the Beslan School massacre in Russia, which I don't remember hearing about before.
So if you figure that after we get out of Afghanistan the soldiers are going to be followed home by a shit storm of terrorism. And then just think how vulnerable most of our schools are.
Past behavior can be a predictor of future behavior.
What do you think will happen?
Side note to Amy -- he's a psychologist -- he would be really interesting to hear on your show sometime.
Jim P. at October 13, 2012 4:25 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/10/text-against-te.html#comment-3381149">comment from Jim P.Thanks -- his book, On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, looks interesting.
Amy Alkon
at October 13, 2012 5:13 PM
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