Beware the Name

Les M^cKay

January 17, 2005

    Often times the government will try to market a bad or even harmful idea by giving it a good name.  There is the "No Child Left Behind Act" which sounds admirable, but it just throws more bureaucracy at our already over-bureaucratic and failing education system.  But, if you are not in favor of "No Child Left Behind" you are, by implication of the name, some sort of bigot or worse.  Who is really not for getting our children a proper education?  Although "No Child Left Behind" makes no guarantees.

    Another nice name is the "Patriot Act."  This is another one that certainly sounds admirable.  After all, what American citizen does not have at least some shred of patriotism?  In actuality, the "Patriot Act" gives government more law enforcement capability at the expense of our civil rights.  Defenders of the "Patriot Act" are quick to point out that the expanded powers are overseen by the judiciary for the purpose of protecting our rights.  Lest we forget, the Waco Massacre was all done legally, with warrants signed by a judge.  All law enforcement needed to get warrants issued was to tell a few lies about the Branch Davidians.  As a result they were given a free hand by the judiciary.

    Defenders of the "Patriot Act" are also quick to point out that it is only to be used against terrorists.  Now, I am finally beginning to feel better.  RICO laws were originally created to give government the added powers it needed to fight organized crime.  Organized crime is still with us, essentially unhindered by RICO.  However, RICO was used against peaceful abortion protesters who were simply exercising their constitutional right to free assembly.

    A few months back, I remember catching some news about someone (or a couple of perpetrators) loosening the bolts that hold a couple of power line towers, causing them to fall.  At the conclusion of the report, the announcer said something to the effect that this crime was being investigated as possible terrorist activity.  Knocking over a couple of power line towers does not fit the profile of terrorist activity.  It does fit the profile of a prankster or two.  Terrorists go for larger targets and more show.  Their intent is to intimidate, not merely to create disruptions.  I do agree that if the pranksters are caught, they should receive some sort of fitting punishment to include retribution to the power provider for repairing the damage.  But, if they are labeled as terrorists, they will receive much worse than they justly deserve.

    Basically, I do not trust the government to mean what they say.  Somehow the "Patriot Act" will be used against the wrong people.  There is nothing patriotic about taking away our civil rights, or even about us allowing them to be taken so easily.  Shakespeare said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  By implication, the same could be said for a thorn and its name.