'Ecoterrorism' database plan prompts fear, suspicion

[Newsjock]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WST%20Ecoterrorism%20List
'Ecoterrorism' database plan prompts fear, suspicion

By REBECCA COOK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Tucked into the Senate Republicans' budget is $50,000 to create a database of people and organizations believed to be involved in ecoterrorism.

Opponents say the proposal smacks of McCarthyism, and worry overzealous list-makers could label peaceful activists as terrorists.

"Almost anybody could end up in this database," said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, who tried unsuccessfully Wednesday to delete the provision she called "spooky" and "scary."

... Senate Democrats complained that state law doesn't define ecoterrorism, so WASPC Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs would have a whole lot of power to decide who should be in the database.

more

[renegade000]

1. what about a corporate criminal database?

i think we need one of those...

[UpInArms]

2. well, if you need to get even more

depressed today, it seems folks don't "care" about "corporate criminals" - see

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8040725.htm

"I'm getting bored with them," said Hurst, a sales representative who invests in stocks. "I could care less about Martha Stewart or that Tyco guy."

So what's behind this sudden disinterest in corporate crime?

Tannenbaum speculates investors, content with their growing stock portfolios, choose to look the other way.

and I didn't mean to hijack the thread -

I hate that this over-reaching goverment run by thugs paid with by our dollars is turning us all into criminals because we disagree with policies that are destruction to our lives and the lives of our children.

Eco-terrorists? Give me a break!

Wouldn't that make * an eco-terrorist? He's the one promoting the destruction of anything alive and natural?

[renegade000]

6. heh

"yeah as long as it doesn't hurt my portfolio i don't care how many people are screwed over"...*sigh*...and thus we as a nation atrophy.

on ecoterrorism - does it even exist beyond a few small fringe groups which we probably already keep tabs on?

[bluedeminredstate]

3. They are on a naked power grab

and I bet we see other states with repug legislatures doing similar things.
Sounds an environmental "enemies list" a la Nixon. I think Senator Fraser is right when she says it's spooky and scary!
The mere fact that they're dealing with only fifty grand is very telling in itself. They're not serious about terrorism - it's about intimidating people.
Perhaps that fifty grand (or fifty million) would be better spent on preventing real terrorism that might arrive in Washington via its open border on the Pacific. Now there's something they could work on...

:scared:

[MisterP]

4. "Ecoterrorism is a training ground for other types of terrorism."

says sponsor Stevens
ah, yes, all the al-Qaeda initiates start out by breaking open mink farms

[DBoon]

5. So now Sierra Club members

can look forward to a cold prison cell, shared with a member of the NEA?

[dusty64]

7. We kind of knew this

was coming. If democracy doesn't work again in November we are ALL seriously screwed. Dissent of any kind will be tantamount to "treason". Scary, VERY scary what these fascist are planning (often in plain sight).