Let's get real here.

[cornermouse]

The repubs like to claim that we're safer now than we were before we invaded Iraq. This is so false. I heard another neo-con mouthpiece again just this morning state it so I looked for a timeline of terrorist attacks.

The timeline shows that it was 8 years between the attacks on American soil. All other attacks occurred in other countries. Sort of like they're doing now....

[unblock]

1. the very idea of shifting massive resources to fight terror is idiotic

in 2001, terror killed about 3,000 on u.s. soil.

that same year, heart disease killed over 700,000.


in the 4 years before and the 4 years since 9/11, how many people have died on u.s. soil from terror? unless i slept through something big, i think the number would be somewhere around ZERO.

whereas heart disease is a perennial killer.


and not to pick on heart disease. cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia, alzheimer's, motor vehicle accidents, liver disease, and septicemia all routinely kill many times more people EACH YEAR than terror has killed in the one worst year in out entire history.


imagine how many lives could have been saved if the hundreds of billions spent on fighting terror had instead been directed to fighting heart disease, just as an example?

[cornermouse]

3. But then they wouldn't have all that lovely money to think of

fancier, more expensives toys that destroy things and kill people.

I agree. I would rather spend the money to save or improve the lives of people here in the U.S. I like the beating swords into plowshares philosophy.

[FormerOstrich]

2. Including the deaths from 9/11..

terrorism was on a steady decline.....until we invaded Iraq...every study that seems credible all paints the same picture.

Here what really gripes me most.....

every failure that occurs results in * wanted to assume more power..

Patriot Act, Patriot Act II, Enemy combatants, military power in catastrophes, pentagon spies.....that's just what comes immediately to mind...I'm sure there are many many more.

The bottom line is by design or incompetence they fumble....grab more power to prevent fumble....fumble.....grab more power to prevent fumble....

It's like saying...you really screwed that up buddy I think I'll promote you and give you more authority and if you screw up again I'll just have to promote you and give you more authority.

...and as back wards as it seems they ask and they receive.

:wtf:

[cornermouse]

4. Yeah.

Tell me about it. As I said earlier this morning.

I've been thinking about adopting a wild horse, unfortunately, I didn't realize they were in the area until it was too late to get there before they closed up and left town so I went to the website thinking that I could look at some of the horses they have available online like they've had in the recent past. Apparently, that option/ability is now history. (Are they still turning a profit by selling them to meatpackers?)

Went to the Bureau of Land Management to look up their online land patent records from the 1800s... Was met with the information that they are improving the security on records that are at least 100 years old? Why? Have these people completely lost their minds? Clicked on the home page with the very faint hope that it would provide me with an alternative site to look through the records... What do I get?

BLM Spotlight

BLM Responses to Hurricane Katrina

See for yourself.

http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm

More of the same at the CMS website. Try to look up information about medicare and what do you get? Surprise, more self-promoting ads, more garbage.

[FormerOstrich]

5. wow...

I loved that the land patent records were on line...I thought it was so cool....here's the page I get now. Thank you for bringing this to my attention....grrrrrrrr

check out the site url....really sort of says it doesn't it.


We apologize, but the page you are seeking
is temporarily unavailable.

We are working to improve the security of BLM Websites and are restoring site elements as they are ready for reconnection.

The BLM Website is an important aspect of customer service, and we take seriously our obligation to protect and ensure the integrity of our internal information systems and the online information we provide to our customers. Improving security in the short term will also allow the BLM to serve you better in the future.

In addition, the BLM is currently involved in a court action in which the adequacy of information security is an issue. Failing to demonstrate adequate protections could result in a much longer-term, mandatory disconnection. As a consequence, it is imperative that all sites be properly secured and tested before being reconnected.

Because the BLM is a large organization with a great deal of information and many systems that support our mission, reengineering our Web infrastructure to enhance the manageability & security of these assets is a complicated effort that will take months to complete. We hope to begin reconnecting state office and other BLM sites as soon as possible. We are aware of the inconvenience this causes and greatly appreciate your understanding and patience.

Please log into the www.blm.gov site for new information and reconnection updates.

We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to creating new and innovative ways to reach out to our customers and stakeholders to ensure full involvement in matters under BLM consideration.

In order to further minimize the impact of this temporary interruption, the BLM Director has instructed all employees to be particularly attentive to customer requests as we work through this challenge. BLM staff at the following phone numbers in our State Offices will help address your information needs.

Alaska 907-271-5960
Arizona 602-417-9200
California 916-978-4400
Colorado 303-239-3600
Eastern States 703-440-1600
Idaho 208-373-4015 or 208-373-3889
Montana 406-896-5004
Nevada 775-861-6500
New Mexico 505-438-7400
Oregon 503-808-6001
Utah 801-539-4001
Wyoming 307-775-6256
Washington, DC 202-452-5125

Fire:
National Interagency Fire Center: 208-387-5512
National Fire Information Line: 208-387-5050

National Training Center (NTC): 602-906-5500

National Wild Horse & Burro Program: Please visit the Department of the Interior's Web site (http://www.doi.gov/horse/) for current information about the BLM's wild horse and burro adoption and sales programs. Or, for adoption information by phone, please call 1-866-4MUSTANGS.

For additional information, please contact [e-mail].


http://www.blm.gov/offline/