Stop the Government from Turning Neighbor Against Neighbor!

In one of the most misguided responses to the terrorist attacks, President Bush is proposing a program to recruit one million volunteers to act as spies and informants against their neighbors. Under the proposed program, the government would recruit letter carriers, utility workers, cable installers, and others whose jobs allow them access to private residences to report suspicious, ostensibly terrorist-related activity.

This dangerous program would not only allow peoples' homes to be searched without cause or warrants, but it would also turn neighbor against neighbor and potentially generate thousands of unreasonable and unwarranted charges against innocent people. Despite intense controversy around the Operation TIPS (Terrorist Information and Prevention System), Attorney General Ashcroft says the program could be launched later this summer.

The good news is that TIPS is in trouble in Congress. With Republicans and Democrats raising concerns, House Majority Leader Richard Armey is insisting that the legislation authorizing the creation of the new Homeland Security Department prohibit "any and all activities" to implement Operation TIPS. The House is expected to approve the ban later this week.

But the proposed homeland security legislation in the Senate does not currently address the TIPS program. Unless the Senate legislation is amended to stop TIPS, it is still possible that the program could be authorized. Senators should demand that the final Senate bill be amended to prohibit any and all efforts by the federal government to implement the TIPS program.

Urge your Senators to trash TIPS!
The TIPS program will encourage non-law enforcement personnel to enter and search private residences without due cause or warrant.
The President's program foresees the recruitment of a million volunteers drawn from postal workers, cable installers, phone company personnel, utility workers and others to look around peoples' homes and report what they believe to be suspicious activities. This program would make a mockery of individual privacy rights and protections against illegal searches.

The TIPS program could cause a wave of erroneous charges that would squander federal resources and defame innocent people.
With a million untrained informants, it is all but guaranteed that thousands of mistaken charges could be reported to authorities. Following up these tips would clearly squander resources sorely needed for real work to protect our freedom and security. At the same time, these bogus reports could cause irreparable harm to falsely accused citizens.

The TIPS program will cause undue tension and hostility.
Encouraging neighbors to spy on and report their neighbors is not conducive to a free society. Making homeowners suspicious and hostile to workers trying to go about their work also undermines the fabric of our society and will inevitably lead to more harm than good.


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