CERDAFIED-Jobs are being created in America but it may not put a smile on your face. The Department of Homeland Security is spending big money to create armed forces that will be used to guard the IRS and other federal buildings during tax season. Why? Have you heard of a rash of bombings or attacks on Federal buildings recently? Are they expecting mass rebellion as the IRS cozies up to the Obamacare system?
Why would the DHS spend $19 million in Wisconsin and Minnesota to hire private armed security units with a “Top Secret” clearance? The Federal Business Opportunities report is requiring, “As an integral part of this security effort, the contractor shall provide and maintain all management, supervision, manpower, training, equipment, supplies, licenses, permits, certificates, insurance, pre-employment screenings, reports, and files necessary to accomplish this requirement. The project will have a requirement for the contractor to have a Top Secret facility clearance by the start of performance.”
Another DHS request, in October, solicited a contract for 400,000 service hours from Protective Service Officers for the state of New York worth over $75 million. Speculation is rampant as our government appears to be preparing for mass riots and protests. Perhaps due to the cutback in food stamps, immigration reform, Obamacare mandates and its taxes, or the TTP treaty.
In fact, it seems that every time President Obama puts down his putter and picks up a pen, American rights and freedoms are removed in favor of corporate interests with great frequency. Peaceful protest continues despite the almost antagonistic nature of the government.
It appears that the biggest threat to the 9,000 federal buildings and 1.4 million federal employees comes from within the government itself. Destroying evidence of their wrong doing is far more of an incentive than that of its citizens. Like the destroying of World Trade building 7.
But there is a dueling reality. On one hand the government is ramping up its military type response to every day occurrences in America, and on the other hand it is continuously trying to disarm Americans. The fact that the police kill more citizens than terrorist is sobering to say the least. The biggest threat to Americans is abuse or increasing government authority.
Our discussion of these facts creates accusations of “fear mongering”. Yet the government has used “fear mongering” to led us into war after war, guised as prevention of terrorist attacks, or prevention of attacks by weapons of mass destruction. It has pitted race against race, religion against atheist, rich against poor, sinner against saint, and in every shade of fear imaginable. But fear of government, despite obvious abuse, should be seen as “fear mongering”.
While we all can recognize routine acquisitions of equipment for training purposes we can also recognize a new prevalent abuse of power by authority. And the only remedy to Americans is to protest, and some would say by voter ballot, but not I. Voters are not creating large turnovers of politicians despite just cause. So protest we must.
(Lisa Cerda is a contributor to CityWatch, a community activist, Chair of Tarzana Residents Against Poorly Planned Development, VP of Community Rights Foundation of LA, Tarzana Property Owners Association board member, and former Tarzana Neighborhood Council board member.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 94
Pub: Nov 22, 2013