THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO "SECURITY" PROBLEMS

by Mary Pitt

According to recent news reports, the Chief of Police in Washington D.C. has been upset by the traffic changes, street closures, and stop-and-search orders that have been issued by the White House in the name of "Homeland Security" without prior consultation with his department. It may be no more than a case of pique at the ignoring of the importance of his responsibility or merely a failure of common courtesy on the part of the officials involved. However, it does give rise to some thought of the ultimate outcome of these measures.

The first thing that comes to mind is that this is a symptom of the power-grab by this administration and the possibility of a declaration of martial law at some near-future date. Of course, that thought is merely more "conspiracy theory" and nobody in their right mind would entertain it for long and, besides it would be terribly politically incorrect!

Of course, we are accustomed to the fact that the White House is no longer "the people's house" as it was during the tenure of Bill Clinton. The streets around it are closed off and concrete barricades surround it while visitors can only view it from afar except by special invitation and after presenting documentation and submitting to search. Now the streets near the Congressional buildings are to be closed to all traffic, causing still more inconvenience for those who may have business there.

It would cause one to wonder whether the fear evidenced by these actions is truly one of "the terrorists" or of the American people themselves. When appearing for one of the campaign speeches by Vice-President Cheney, you are required to sign a pledge of support and attendance at appearances by the President require invitations and advance screening. It is obvious that the administration trusts absolutely nobody to approach them without a desire to destroy them, their places of business, and the horses they rode in on. With that concept in mind, there may be only one remedy for this fear.

We have watched as Ariel Sharon has developed a highly effective means of keeping the Palestinians from attacking them, (and, incidentally, also kept them from their own fields and orchards) by building a fence which appears to be a solid concrete wall around the nation of Israel. Perhaps we should offer one of those famous "no-bid" contracts to that fence-building team to build such a fence around the whole federal complex in order to secure it from the rest of Washington D.C. as well as the rest of the country. This could have a dual salubrious effect. While guaranteeing the safety of those inside, it would keep Mr. Bush on the job rather than on the campaign trail or vacationing in Texas. OR, those of us who are tired of the constant fear-mongering could lock all the gates from the outside and get on with our lives!

Mary Pitt mpitt at cox.net   is a septuagenarian Kansan who is self-employed and active in the political arena. Having three generations of descendants, she feels obligated to leave them with the same rights and freedoms which she has so enjoyed.