Getting security right is a challenge for the best of us. But when you put security in the hands of government, getting it right is a virtually insurmountable obstacle. Here are a few ways government made you less secure and wasted your money over the last couple of weeks.
At Orlando (Fla.) International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration disposed of hundreds of “sensitive security information” documents by tossing them in the trash. Without shredding, burning or anything. Some of the documents were described as “excellent . . . for terrorists planning an attack.” A dumpster-diving teenager found them and turned them in to police.
And at O’Hare International Airport near Chicago, Ill., an ongoing investigation by CBS affiliate WBBM-TV found 47 “more” airport ID badges missing. The report says the station has discovered a total of 3,807 missing badges, that employees who complained about the missing badges were fired, that airport employees are not searched when entering the facility, and that some people “piggyback” or follow another employee into secured areas without swiping their ID badges.
Down on the border, Mexican officials are upset that a 2½ mile section of border fence in New Mexico was accidentally built on the Mexico side of the border due to surveying errors. Mexico wants the fencing removed from its territory “as quickly as possible,” which will cost at least $3 million.
Back inside the Beltway, Pentagon officials shut down 1,500 computers serving the Office of the Secretary of Defense after discovering a successful penetration into the office’s unclassified e-mail system. Unlike his underlings, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is unaffected, since as he says, “I don’t do e-mail. I’m a very low-tech person.” (Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff has also said he doesn’t use e-mail.)
But would we be any better off if government could somehow be more effective and efficient? Likely not. The White House Office of Management and Budget published its annual Program Assessment Ratings Tool which measures the effectiveness and efficiency of some 1,000 federal programs. And Congress is going to spend some $1 trillion of discretionary spending on programs which aren’t even moderately effective. “The main activity these programs are really efficient at is spending your money in new and interesting ways on things they shouldn’t be spending your money on in the first place,” says Cato Institute director of budget studies Stephen Slivinski. “Slapping the ‘efficiency’ label on certain federal programs is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.”
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Budget flaws.
Jul 02, 2007
They simply need to buy the cheap paper shredders to destroy documents if it is a budget problem. Many Mexicans sneak in through New Mexico we were told. Atty General Gonzales has relatives in Mexico in high command we were told. Also they could easily balance the budget but, there is just too much corruption everywhere. They could all implement an Economics program that they have to adhere to. It is simply a matter of ethics,integrity and common sense. According to word of mouth many law makers (who are trying to tell us what to do with thier so called laws) have extensive criminal records themselves. What is the solution??? Compromise and common sense don’t you agree?
Combat Poverty.
Jul 02, 2007
They could possibly help Mexico by providing them with anti-poverty programs such as having them rebuild that fence and providing more jobs to help them too.Most people do not know that many Mexicans work for the US as soldiers to protect us. We need to implement anti-poverty programs around the world. This could combat terrorism too. Most Americans relatives were immigrants in the past too. We could even make other countries join us with and create another United States. They could help other countries around the world to prevent poverty too. Economics is a key factor in preventing terrorism.
Mistake
Jul 02, 2007
We could never make someone join us that would be an act of terrorism. We could pressent our ideas and make it attractive to build more United States and countries to prevent more terrorism. The terrorists commit suicide and commit acts of terror because, a great deal of them feel they would be better off in Paradise.(some do) Today should be a Paradise. Things will never be perfect but, things could be a whole lot better especially if people are more important than money.
Verbos
Jul 02, 2007
The poverty and suffering in the world is the direct result of greed and tyranny of elitists who control corporations. The Banking industry through fractional practices actually inflates the money supply to gather material wealth among a few, then tightens the supply to cause economic failure of many who then loose their material possessions again to the few. Over repeated cycles there becomes only widespread poverty and minority wealth.
King George
Jul 02, 2007
you know that most security sucks completely.
Everything from electronic, to hard copies can be bought, stolen, sold, swiped, couterfeited, clone, altered, published and changed to any form or factor, purpose and theme.
thing is.. if i give my details to the bank her ein uk, then send some money to a freind for a birthday in the US, the US gov then can see i sent this data from what account on what date, time and so on .. they can then share this data with other third parties…. no shredder insight… cos they couldn’t be arsed to shred an electron, they would store it somewhere and save it for a rainy day… until they decide to upgrade their hard drives and throw them out…. starting to get the picture???
Hard drives, documents, badges.. dosn’t matter… they will ALWAYS FOOK up where it matters.
King George
Jul 02, 2007
and where it matters is no where near what matters to you ! or I !
As long as it dosn’t cost them any more than absolutely needed. cos we know all those billion sin tax are needed to ensure everyones security witha tomahawk missile… kind hard to steal some papers in a dumpster with a tomoahwak bearing down on you … yup… thats whats known as micro management in a macro world from micro brained people thinking in macro terms on a cosmic scale with a micro intent……. i think i should be a politician.. i almost confused myself there
Simply put.
Jul 02, 2007
The electronic data can be demagnitized to destroy it for security reasons. Old hardware can be re-used to recyled. The less explosions or fires we have the less damage to the ozone layer and less skin cancer throughout the world. Everyone’s ID around the world should have an index finger print. This can prevent a great deal of problems. They have to track everything for rules and regulations. Brain waves can even be read if need be so, there is no reason we cannot combat terrrorism. It has to be a Universal act!!
What do you think?
Jul 02, 2007
What about the Scooter Libby action today?? If you do the crime make sure you can fork out $250,000 for the CIA leak. This is a great sight. You may want to check out Prison. planet.com so, you can see other BS that goes on.Propeganda and law enforcement BS. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Q
Jul 05, 2007
They shouldn’t be shredding anything. Especially if that information was current, whoever put it in the dumpster might be working for the other side.
Q
Jul 05, 2007
If you get caught taking pictures on any of the bridges in New York, they arrest you and question you for hours, is the person who placed those documents out in the open being questioned?
There’s even a chance they wanted the media to find it to see how flawed it is.
no name 314159265359
Jul 05, 2007
i agree with #9, the person who didn’t shred the documents and threw them in the dumpster could very well be working for the enemies of the United States.
GOD
Nov 02, 2007
BE CAREFULL WHAT YOU DO TO LATIN AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS NOT ALIEN, BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN THIS PLANET NOT ANOTHER.yOU ARE USING RACIAL PROFILING, YOU ARE CREATING A WITCH HUNT GAINST THE LATIN PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUR TRUE FRIENDS. DO NOT FORCE THEM TO BECOME YOUR WORST ENEMY. REMEMBER YOU ARE LOOSING ALLIES ALL OVER THIS PLANET.IF YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS PLANET THAN BUILT YOUR OWN WORLD OUTSIDE OF THIS ONE COLONISE THE MOON OR MARS , NOW YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THAT PLANET AS YOU WISH. BUT REMEMBER THAT THIS NEW HOMELAND AS YOU CALL IT AS HITLER DID IN THE 1930S MAY HAVE SOME OTHER TYPE OF LIVING ORGANISM THAT MAY NOT BE TO YOUR LIKING BUT STILL WILL HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER.LEARN BY THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST SO YOU WONT REPEAT THEM AND LOOSE IT ALL. GOD HAS SPOKEN TO THE SOCIETY RUNNED BY WICKED MEN. LIVE AND LET LIVE OR DIE TRYING TO LIVE
GOD
Nov 02, 2007
BORDER IMMIGRATION SECURITY, WHAT A JOKE. WHY BECAUSE ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE COMMING IN LEGALY FO 4000 TO 6000 DOLLARS A HEAD , HOW SWEET. HOW? THE COYOTES FROM SOUTH CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICAN AND THE BORDER PATROL ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED ON THE MONEY WEB AND CORRUPTED.CROOKED BORDER PATROL AND YES US, MEXICAN POLITICIANS ARE ON THE PAY LIST.THIS MONEY IS SPLIT BETWEEN ALL PARTIES.JUST AUDIT ALL THE BORDER PATROL AND IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND FOLLOW THE PAPER TRAIL CREATE THE DOMINO EFFECT.