John Mahoney

His previous columns are archived HERE.

JOHN MAHONEY

The Era of the Patriot Tipster

The Bush Administration is busily tapping into that repressive predisposition that has been part of the American psyche since the Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock.

The control freaks -- those who would forbid everything except that which they permit -- have sometimes been in charge, and at times lacked power.

But, generation to generation, they have always been with us.

Now, once again, they will get their kick at the can.

Starting in August, 2002 the US government will create a cadre of one million civilian spies for "homeland security."

These volunteer spies will be operatives of the Terrorism Information and Prevention System: Operation TIPS.

Tipsters, if you will.

Sound familiar?

Do you remember the grubby network of state security spies in the former communist state of East Germany -- the Stasi? Neighbor spying on neighbor, family members turning each other in for imagined traitorous insults to the State?

The US Justice Department envisions four percent of Americans functioning as Patriot Tipsters.

That certainly will go a long way towards making the world safe for democracy and free enterprise (à la Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom).

Here's the deal:

• TIPS is a nationwide program that will give "millions of American truck drivers, bus drivers, train conductors, mail carriers, utility readers, ship captains, port personnel, and others a formal way to report suspicious terrorist activity."

• You'll get an "Operation TIPS information decal…with a toll-free reporting number."

• Your hot tip will be fielded and routed to the appropriate agency for assessment and possible action, and thence into a national database.

It would be funny if it weren't so scary.