America's Secret Government by Proxy

[LIBrty4all 3,754]

Some very salient points made herein.  Comments?

 

Quote

Security state agencies must justify their existence.

There are 1,271 counterterrorist, homeland security, and intelligence organizations; 1,931 private sector analogues; 10,000 locations of these organizations; and ~854,000 people with top-secret security clearances as of 2010. To make matters worse, the line between private and public is obscure in this industry.

 

This massive effort requires massive tax collection. Since government endeavors do not compete and do not participate in reciprocal exchanges, then they have no profit-and-loss test to determine if their efforts are worth the money taken from citizens. Additionally, since only the free market can determine prices, government endeavors must continually disseminate propaganda to convince citizens that the endeavor is useful.

 

Continues here: https://mises.org/wire/americas-secret-government-proxy 

[Mike E 11,740]

When 854,000 people know the top secrets  there aren’t any secrets.  

[TBoneTX 45,498]

And how many of the 854,000 are politicized, as with the FBI, DOJ, et al.?

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

19 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

And how many of the 854,000 are politicized, as with the FBI, DOJ, et al.?

i know of one who isn't  

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

A top secret clearance,  does not necessarily mean you have access to sensitive James Bond info.

 

I had a top secret clearance when I worked in a brigade S2 shop.  The only thing I ever saw when they opened the safe was a Booby Trap Manuel.  I saw the same Manuel for sale at the surplus store a few weeks later.

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,498]

20 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

Manuel

And what about José, Pancho, Humberto, and Jorgé?

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

3 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

A top secret clearance,  does not necessarily mean you have access to sensitive James Bond info.

 

I had a top secret clearance when I worked in a brigade S2 shop.  The only thing I ever saw when they opened the safe was a Booby Trap Manuel.  I saw the same Manuel for sale at the surplus store a few weeks later.

 

 

odds are that s2 shop was not able to store ts - most are lucky if they can store secret.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

10 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

odds are that s2 shop was not able to store ts - most are lucky if they can store secret.

I am sure you are correct.  Still you would agree most with TS clearance don't see really super sensitive type stuff.

 

Also a secret clearance is nothing but a finger print background check. If I am not mistaken and my memory serves me correctly every officer had a secret clearance. I am pretty sure all of my fellow cadets got one when we got commissioned. 

 

Not sure about warrant officers. All they do is lay around the quarters and drink. 

Edited September 4, 2022 by Nature Boy 2.0

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

3 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I am sure you are correct.  Still you would agree most with TS clearance don't see really super sensitive type stuff.

 

Also a secret clearance is nothing but a finger print background check. If I am not mistaken and my memory serves me correctly every officer had a secret clearance. I am pretty sure all of my fellow cadets got one when we got commissioned. 

 

Not sure about warrant officers. All they do is lay around the quarters and drink. 

there is ts, and then there is ts with caveats.  the caveats require more than just a ts clearance.
secret used to be a national agency check, that has changed to include a law and credit check.  in addition to every officer having a secret clearance, every officer could function as a notary public.
warrants usually refined their ability to come and go at the blink of an eye.

 

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

3 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

there is ts, and then there is ts with caveats.  the caveats require more than just a ts clearance.
secret used to be a national agency check, that has changed to include a law and credit check.  in addition to every officer having a secret clearance, every officer could function as a notary public.
warrants usually refined their ability to come and go at the blink of an eye.

 

I did not know I could have been a notary.  Never heard that before.

 

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

2 hours ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I did not know I could have been a notary.  Never heard that before.

 

you probably were not told as you can't spell "notary"...........

[LIBrty4all 3,754]

5 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

you probably were not told as you can't spell "notary"...........

He thought they said rotary, and he didn't want to have to buy a Mazda......

[LIBrty4all 3,754]

11 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

there is ts, and then there is ts with caveats.  the caveats require more than just a ts clearance.
secret used to be a national agency check, that has changed to include a law and credit check.  in addition to every officer having a secret clearance, every officer could function as a notary public.
warrants usually refined their ability to come and go at the blink of an eye.

 

I heard a rumor long ago that a CW3 left a spare cover on his desk and people thought he was still at work long after he had enjoyed many days at the golf course and had PCS'd to Hawaii.

I'm sure no WO ever did this, however.  Doesn't pass the common sense test.

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

18 hours ago, Ban Hammer said:

you probably were not told as you can't spell "notary"...........

10+ C, my Friend 10+ Well played

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

12 hours ago, LIBrty4all said:

I heard a rumor long ago that a CW3 left a spare cover on his desk and people thought he was still at work long after he had enjoyed many days at the golf course and had PCS'd to Hawaii.

I'm sure no WO ever did this, however.  Doesn't pass the common sense test.

I did an OER for a Warrant one time. CWO XXX exceeded at eating MRE's , breathing oxygen and staying well hidden.  Not joking