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You know that idiotic, color-coded terror alert system?

The Department of Homeland Security has thus far spent $90 million on it. I know, I know, that would barely purchase the stationary necessary to print the documents to buy out a single failing bank.

But still: $90 million bucks.

Oh, yeah. The Office of Management and Budget has determined it doesn't work, and that DHS should stop spending money on it until its effectiveness can be proven. The White House (wonder of wonders!) agrees. The Congress agrees. The General Accounting Office agrees. Even the DHS Advisory Committee agrees.

So what's going to happen?

DHS has announced it's moving ahead with the program.

Somewhere in the bizarro world this makes sense: the people to whom we have entrusted our national security have a system that doesn't work and nobody wants, but they're not going to drop it.

And, apparently, nobody is going to do anything about it.

[h/t Michaelbrownblog]

Comments

Brian Shields said…
It was really only used when Bush was running for reelection. It has served it's purpose, and will be dismantled.
What a travesty. Those odd colors just never made any sense to me.

I think there should be a three tiered system to keep the public aware:

1. Everythings groovy, so chill.
2. Some funky sh-t goin' on, but doesn't seem to be nothin, folks.
3. We're f--ked !

So much simpler, and everyone would understand it (once it is translated into all of the appropriate languages).

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