US & World

Department Of Homeland Security: What’s It Good For?

CONGRESS SHOULD SHUT DOWN AGENCY … FOR GOOD

ron paul

|| By RON PAUL  ||  Late Friday night, Congress passed legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security for one week.  This vote followed weeks of debate over efforts to attach a prohibition on funding President Barack Obama’s executive order granting amnesty to certain illegal immigrants to the Homeland Security funding bill.

Despite the heated rhetoric from both sides, no one seriously believes that Congress will allow Homeland Security funding to lapse.  Most in Congress believe that, without the Department of Homeland Security, Americans would be left unprotected from terrorists and natural disasters.  As with most areas of bipartisan agreement, the truth is the exact opposite of the DC consensus.  The American people would be much better off if Congress transferred the few constitutional functions performed by Homeland Security to other parts of the government and then shut down the rest of the department.

Many Americans associate Homeland Security with the color–coded terrorist warning system and the “if you see something, say something” public relations campaign. These programs were designed to inspire public confidence in the department, but instead they inspired public ridicule.

Ironically, the best case for shutting down this department is its most well-known component — the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  More terrorist attacks have been thwarted by airline passengers than by the TSA!  The TSA may be ineffective at stopping terrorists, but it is very effective at harassing innocent Americans like Lucy Forck.  Three-year-old Lucy, who uses a wheelchair, not only had to endure an intrusive screening from TSA agents, but the agents also took away her beloved stuffed animal.

When not abusing children who use wheelchairs, TSA subjects airline passengers to rules that seem designed to make air travel as unpleasant as possible. For example, TSA recently forced a Campaign for Liberty staffer to throw away a jar of Nutella she had in her carry-own luggage.  I am sure all airline passengers feel safe knowing that TSA is protecting them from sandwich spreads.

Ending the TSA would return responsibility for airline security to airports and airlines.  Private businesses have a greater incentive than a government bureaucracy to ensure their customers’ safety.  Those conservatives who think this is a radical idea should try to think of one area where they trust government bureaucrats to do a better job than private business owners.

Another agency within Homeland Security that the American people could do without is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  Having spent fifteen years in Congress representing a coastal area subject to hurricanes and floods, I have seen first-hand how FEMA places adherence to bureaucratic rules ahead of aiding victims of a natural disaster.  As a result, it is not uncommon for disaster victims to wait months or even years for assistance.

FEMA not only fails to provide effective relief to disaster victims, it also impedes private disaster relief efforts.  FEMA even hinders disaster victims’ efforts to help themselves.  While in Congress, I heard stories of individuals being threatened with fines or even jail time if they returned to their property without FEMA’s permission.  One individual in my district was threatened with arrest if he removed a tarp that FEMA put on his house — even though FEMA was supposed to have put it on his neighbor’s house!

Ten years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, it is clear that this department has failed to protect our security, but has infringed on liberty.  If Congress really wanted to enhance our security and our liberty it would shut down this unnecessary, unconstitutional department.

Ron Paul is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market movement in the United States. His weekly column – reprinted with permission – can be found here.

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9 comments

You Know My Name March 1, 2015 at 8:28 pm

As usual, Ron is spot-on with his observations and commentary. Also as usual, the mindless sheeple will naysay him and go “baaaa”.

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CNSYD March 2, 2015 at 9:07 am

The mindless ones are those who worship at the altar of Ron Paul. Origins of “bureaucratic rules” can usually be found in the legislation passed by Congress. The Secret Service is part of Homeland Security, as are Customs, ICE, the Coast Guard, etc. I guess we don’t need them either.

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shifty henry March 2, 2015 at 11:40 am

The Ecuadorian captain had grown increasingly anxious over
rumors of an impending air strike from neighboring Peru. “Pedro,” he ordered his aide-de-camp, “I want you to climb that mountain and report any signs of Peruvian activity.”

“Si, Capitano,” replied Pedro. He trudged up the mountain and as soon as he crossed the ridge he saw a squadron of planes heading their way. “There are many planes coming, Capitano,” he promptly radioed back.

“Friends or enemies?” the Captain demanded urgently.

Pedro again lifted his binoculars to the sky. “They’re flying very closely together, Capitano,” he replied. “I think they must be friends.”

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Bible Thumper March 1, 2015 at 11:52 pm

As usual, Ron is a silly foolish advocate for liberty. He trivialize liberty.

He wants to eliminate the TSA so that three year old girls will not cry over dolls and everybody gets to carry Nutella onto planes. If you don’t think a three year old child’s crying is usually trivial then you haven’t spent much time with one or I suggest you don’t attempt caring for one.

These sacrifices of our liberty are so much greater than the trivial matter of an airliner crashing into high rise buildings.

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Skeptical March 2, 2015 at 9:25 am

What happens when these sacrifices of liberty don’t stop the next plane from hitting a skyscraper? When do these sacrifices cross a line?

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2 peas in a pod March 2, 2015 at 7:56 am

Ron never liked blacks…Rand don’t like them Jews…the apple didn’t fall far from the tree…

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Ron Paul March 2, 2015 at 8:32 am

Well you know, black people are only against the war because they want that money for their food stamps. Oh shit did I say that out loud?

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Rocky March 2, 2015 at 9:23 am

What I hate about DHS is that part where FEMA helps people who’s town gets destroyed by tornadoes and hurricanes. God that’s so worthless.

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The Colonel March 2, 2015 at 10:11 am

It’s blind squirrel and nut day for Ol’RonBo. As usual, he approaches the argument from the kook zone but he has a point.

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