Why must the Democratic party continue Homeland Security and the TSA?

[RepublicansRZombies]

These are gross violations of our Constitution, not to mention very expensive slush funds.

Why is it just assumed we must continue Bush Administration Big Brother programs?

[datasuspect]

1. freedoms freely given

rarely come back

[WinkyDink]

2. Pretty sure "very expensive slush funds" answers your question.

[Chunk]

3. Because the republicans control the house.

What do I win?

[kydo]

10. a freckle nt

[former9thward]

11. Nothing at all.

The president can abolish a cabinet position without the consent of congress. They work for him, not for congress. The TSA is another story since we have to have some form of security at airports.

[Chunk]

14. Bzzzzt wrong answer.

The Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002, (Pub.L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, enacted November 25, 2002) was introduced in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and subsequent mailings of anthrax spores.[1] The HSA was cosponsored by 118 members of Congress.[2] It was signed into law by President George W. Bush in November 2002.[3][4]

HSA created the United States Department of Homeland Security and the new cabinet-level position of Secretary of Homeland Security. It is the largest federal government reorganization since the Department of Defense was created via the National Security Act of 1947 (as amended in 1949). It also includes many of the organizations under which the powers of the USA PATRIOT Act are exercised.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Act

[former9thward]

24. Bzzzzt real answer. That was the window dressing.

That was the window dressing. Bush announced what he was going to do and Congress provided the legal framework. If Obama wanted to get rid of a cabinet position congress would comply. The president has total power to run cabinet positions and as a practical matter it would be impossible for congress to keep it running if the president did not want the position. (Of course most of the positions such as Secret Service, etc would have to be put somewhere.)

[Chunk]

25. Bzzzt whatever,

Since we are making up our own facts. Obama should get rid of Department of Defense, Treasury and lets say Department of Transportation because the president has total power to run cabinet positions and as a practical matter it would be impossible for congress to keep it running if the president did not want the position.
Yeah it could happen! Just ask Perry.

On Edit: Thought I would add, I hate Department of Homeland Security as much as anyone but to say Obama can just get rid of is far from the truth.

[former9thward]

26. I gave the real answer.

You gave a college student's Wiki answer. Good luck to you on that.

[Chunk]

30. Sorry, how's this? Social Studies for Kids - How a Bill Becomes a Law

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/government/howabillbecomesalaw.htm

[former9thward]

32. I am sure you are doing great in your civics class.

But when you graduate don't embarrass yourself by trying to be the smartest kid in the room. You won't be able to cut it.

[fadedrose]

4. I don't like the sound of "Homeland"

It sounds so nazi.

[forestpath]

5. +1, gives me the creeps every time I hear it.

[RepublicansRZombies]

31. it should

It came straight from Nazi Germany

[lastlib]

6. I agree, time to break up the KGWB

...and repeal the Patriot Act while we're at it.

[Glassunion]

7. Not going to happen.

There is way too much money to be made by our ruling class by keeping these agencies going.

[RepublicansRZombies]

9. It would happen in WE the People demanded it!

This is our country not their country.

The GOP that keeps talking about freedom and the Constitution needs to be called out on their creation of these programs.

If just one freeper with a brain could bring this up on Limbaugh or Beck.....

[Glassunion]

13. I'm too synical

You are right, it is our country. However those that run the empire, both repub and Democrat would stand to lose money. It'll never happen from my point of view.

Far too many politicians have a lot of the companies that contract with these agencies in their pocket. How many Democrats vote in favor of these programs and renewing provisions when they expire. I had hope when Big O was elected into office that some of these programs would be ended. I lost that hope a long time ago.

Freedom surrendered is rarely returned. Power given is rarely set aside.

[RepublicansRZombies]

15. Oh I can understand completely

Learned helplessness in ingrained in our politics at this point and l feel it too.

But we have to take our power back!

[Glassunion]

16. We should save up and buy a couple of politicians.

[RepublicansRZombies]

18. okey- but it's going to take me about 50 years or so

Maybe if we started speculating on oil...

[Glassunion]

20. Add in my money and it will take us 25 years.

We the people just need to setup a trust.

We could call it the "Doing the Unethical to Achieve the Ethical" fund.

[kurt_cagle]

8. Breaking up DHS

DHS was a hybrid organization, something of a chimera that was put into place primarily in response to 9/11, and it's worth noting that it was a bipartisan effort.

Having said that, I've often felt that in the rush to concentrate efforts, too many different functions were rolled into DHS that probably shouldn't have, and as a consequence, it's become something of an elephant compared to most other departments. Personally, to me it would make more sense to split the organization into three different departments:

Department of Intelligence
--------------------------
Central Intelligence Agency
National Security Administration
CyberSecurity (a DSH function)
Secret Service

Department of Transportation and Border Integrity
-----------------------------
Transportation Security and Safety Administration
Naturalization and Immigration Services
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Aviation Administration
US Border Patrol
US Coast Guard

Department of Science, Energy and the Environment
--------------------------------------------
National Energy Agency (formerly Department of Energy)
National Science Agency (formerly National Science Foundation, but would also fold in DARPA)
-- National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-- National Weather Service
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institutes of Health and Medicine (formerly National Institute of Health)
-- Centers for Disease Control
National Education Agency (formerly Department of Education)
National Agency for Information Technologies (new)
Environmental Protection Agency
-- Resource Management Agency (formerly Bureau of Land Management)
US Geological Survey


I don't think it'll ever happen, mind you, but it seems like a far more logical breakdown, especially for moving into 21st century concerns. It also has an interesting effect of promoting several tier 2 departments - Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Education, much of Dept. of the Interior, into a single tier 1 department. National Science Agency would take over a lot of the research aspects of what's currently Dept. of Energy, the Bureau of Land Management would become part of the EPA. A new IT agency would consolidate both research and coordination of Federal IT functions (including the Internet), except those related to surveillance and security (which is currently handled by the DSH Cybersecurity group.

It's very likely that such a division would send conservatives into an apoplectic fit, especially since it not only treats education as a science function (ooh, scary, the atheists are controlling the classroom!) but puts a lot more clout into the science and environmental role of government overall (putting Bureau of Land Management under the auspices of the EPA). Again, probably wishful thinking, but it would make for a more functional government overall.

[RepublicansRZombies]

12. sounds like a plan

nt

[jwirr]

17. I think it could be done simply by openly transferring the duties of HLS and TSA to law enforcement

programs such as the FBI. This is how it should have been done in the first place.

[Motown_Johnny]

19. Because if anything did happen after we dropped them it would be seen as our fault

and the political ramifications would be overwhelming.

The Republican party is imploding. We need to not turn on each other for another 8 or 10 years. Once they are no longer a viable national party we can move left again, but we need to finish this job first. The Republican party, as it now exists, must die.

[RepublicansRZombies]

21. no matter what, they will make some shit up- I am still stunned by their Benghazi hypocrisy

We have to just ignore them and do what is right for the country.

The Republicans they have been brainwashing about protecting the Constitution, should be able to make the transition to real violations of the Constitution.

[Cleita]

22. Did you see the jab they did on Homeland Security on "The Mentalist" last night?

Patrick Jane and the CBI goes after a billionaire who they suspect murdered a journalist who was about to expose a crime he committed in Brazil. Homeland Security visits Theresa Lisbon and basically tells her to drop the inquiry in a very threatening matter. Lisbon asks them if they are trying to threaten her. She does have to drop the investigation. The writers of the series I believe are trying to point out that Homeland Security is in the pockets of private billionaires and corporations. I wonder how long those producers are going to attempt to poke that bear before the real Homeland Security makes them stop?

[RepublicansRZombies]

28. sounds cool

I should check out that show, is it on Netflix by chance?

[Cleita]

29. Probably, but I don't do Netflix. n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. The "patriot act" as well! And the NDAA please!

[appal_jack]

27. k&r, n/t