Don't Be Lulled By Detroit!

When I heard the news reports of the attempted act of terrorism about a Detroit bound airliner, something did not sit right with me. After a few days of looking up some information, I am now quite certain that the incident was fake. By fake, I mean it was planned to bring about a desired consequence.

For most of the year, there was a desire by the current Administration to implement new screening technology in airports all across the nation. The first official endorsement I can recall would have been on February 25th, 2009 by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. However, there was a hitch in the Administration's plans. Many, including organized privacy advocates, stood against what was believed to be an unnecessary and overly intrusive invasion of people's privacy. Incidentally, these new machines that would do the scanning cost approximately $200,000 each. Lets not even consider the cost associated with operating and maintaining them or even upgrades that will certainly be needed on an annual basis.

Now, months later, we have an incident which has scared people in believing that something must be done. Unfortunately, many fail to realize that problems such as this cannot be solved by government. Instead, they tend to only make things worse.

The machines that many want to place into our airports are of a relatively new technology making use of millimeter waves which tend to give a very detailed image of a person's body even underneath their clothing. This technology was developed by Farran Technology which is based out of Ireland. Imaging technology is not all that Farran is involved in. They also develop equipment in the fields of wireless broadband, satellite, defense and radar technologies. All fields likely to thrive on government contracts.

In 2005, Farran Technologies was acquired by the UK based company Smiths Detection. Smiths Detection is a global company with a long history of technologies involved in the sensing and detection of chemical, narcotic, biological and explosive agents. In other words, they thrive on defense contracts. Smiths Detection is a part of a much larger entity know as Smiths Groups.

Smiths Groups is another global entity that has a presence in many ways that most of us would not even be aware of. They have the standard government contracts that would be expected. However, they also do a great deal of technology based work within the medical, communications and engineering fields.

In 2007, many of Smiths Groups components were acquired by or merged with various portions of General Electric. Smiths Aerospace was bought outright by GE. Smiths Detection was merged with GE's Homeland Protection to form Smiths GE Detection. In regards to the merger, GE CEO Jeff Immelt had the following to say. “We are delighted to bring our detection assets to the Smiths GE Detection joint venture. Under the leadership of Stephen Phipson and the combined executive team, there is no doubt that our complementary capabilities will enable us to bring new enhanced detection solutions to customers more rapidly. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Smiths to create a dynamic and innovative business to serve the growing global detection market.”

Some will bring up the point that in less than a year, plans for this proposed merger of GE Homeland Protection and Smiths Detection collapsed. However, the circumstances that surrounded the collapse could easily allow one to believe that the break-up was more mutually planned than an actual collapse. First, Smiths Detection was not made to pay the $70M break fee that it was obligated in the event of a breakdown in the merger. I am not aware of many business people that will just walk away from that amount of money for the sake of being a nice guy. Also, both Jeff Immelt, GE CEO, and Keith Butler Wheelhouse, Smiths Detection CEO, are on record saying that both companies would maintain a strong working relationship in the screening business regardless of the status of the merger. This can be evidenced by seeing the many links to GE on the Smiths Detection website.

By now, anyone should be able to see the conflict of interest involved here being that Jeff Immelt was named to President Obama's Economic Advisory Board and has a direct link to the President on a daily basis.

Now, that people are likely to be fearful of someone being on their plane with some manner of homemade explosive, there will be far less resistance when the attempt to implement this new screening technology is again made. As a matter of fact, many groups and networks are now calling for immediate action to prevent another similar occurrence in the future. So, thanks to one man, which I believe to have been planted, we can only count the days until yet another multi-billion contract is announced so that government may keep us safer. I will not be surprised when the contract is awarded to Smiths Detection. Neither will I be surprised when the merger attempt is renewed between GE and Smiths.

Many will think I am paranoid and crazy as usual. Some may even agree with my thoughts on this. Only time will tell. Either the fear and panic will settle and we will be allowed to go on with our lives. Or, we will begin to be forced to this new invasion into our privacy and health at any airport if we continue to try to fly. I am willing to bet the $200,000 machine will be bought in bulk and will become a daily part of people's lives to the point that it will simply be accepted. I am also willing to bet that I will never fly again. Of course, a suspended license may be a factor there also!

Yet another reason to justify my personal desire to be completely detached from government and shun what has become considered as the standard American way of life. Many may be content with being controlled and coddled....but I am not. Fuck government and it's criminal ways!

Limited Government and Unicorns

When I was a small child, I believed in Unicorns. Being that I was from the country, what could be better than a horse that could spear you with a sharp horn projecting from it's own forehead? I know, not the typical reason people like Unicorns. But, then again, I have never been your typical person.

During the majority of my adult life, I believed in a concept called limited government. This being the form of government where our elected officials actually serve our interests and the State is held in check by the Constitution. In striving for this idea of limited government, I supported libertarian candidates that best represented my believes. Plain and simple, if they advocated for government growth and expansion, I was against them.

Now that I am getting close to middle age, I have come to a profound conclusion. Unicorns may very well be real and limited government is a myth! After all, if limited government was a realistic possibility, the State would not have grown as powerful as it has and we would not be in our current situation.

After many years of supporting libertarian candidates, I have finally realized that I have done nothing but waste my time in a futile attempt. The few electoral successes that I have experienced have resulted in no increase in my own freedom. No matter who has been placed into office at any level, the State has continued to grow and expand at our expense.

Many may criticize my choice to withdraw from this system, but it is my choice. However, when you consider the make-up of our system, not participating makes perfect sense. Would you ask a child to choose which physically abusive parent he or she wants to remain living with? Would you choose which burglar would be allowed to rob your home on a daily basis? Hopefully, you would answer no to both. So, why should I be expected to continue choosing which criminal will be allowed to control my life?

I am a responsible, grown adult and only I know what is best for me. The idea of giving consent to the State to control my life just makes no sense. Instead of continuing this game of politics, I will continue on the path of finding ways to expand my liberty and enjoyment of life on my own at the expense of no one but myself.

This path will not be without obstacles. At times, it most likely will bring me into conflict with the State and the established powers. When this occurs, I will have to choose the most appropriate course of action to take. Of course, once one gets a taste of freedom, one rarely wishes to give it up. So, the eventual outcome may not be pleasant to some. But, that is my choice and mine alone to make.

So, while others will continue to fight for this mythological concept of limited government, I will be living my life on my own terms. On my path, I may even spend time looking for the Unicorns I loved as a child. At least that will be a far more worthwhile pursuit than continuing the illusion that the State has my best interests at heart.