Thursday, July 5, 2012

About that DHS terrorism study ...

You know, the one that everyone's buzzing about because it says you're a terrorist if you are suspicious of government and love individual liberty ...

The data is mighty interesting.  For example, extreme left wing terrorism happens six times more often than extreme right wing terrorism (even using their goofy definitions).  So when you're arguing with a leftie and they bring this up, let 'em suggest how they'd restrict people's rights based on the report.  Then let 'em know that they're at the front of the line.

The other curiosity is it looks like Islamist terror is not included.  The 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 2001 (?) LAX assault, Ft. Hood - the numbers of deaths for those years don't seem to add up.

So we know that the study is lousy, because they cherry pick the data.  But even their cherry picked data shows that Progressives are the biggest threat to Homeland Security.  Me, I blame George W. Bush and Sith Dark Lord Cheney ...

7 comments:

Alan said...

You just have to look at it from the right perspective.

Islamic terrorism isn't a threat to the US government, that's why it's not listed. If anything it's useful: Because of Islamic terrorism the US government got a whole list of things passed into law that they'd wanted for decades. (Patriot Act)

Proponents of individual liberty are a HUGE threat to the US government and will be watched carefully.

Borepatch said...

Well, sure. But the data says that "right wing terror" is the smallest part of the problem for the last 20 years.

Sure, the headlines won't pick up on it, but that just means that politicians are liars that ignore the data. Sun also rises in east, as it turns out.

But I'm looking forward to turning this around on my leftie friends at parties. ;-)

Rabbit said...

By their criteria, I see a terrorist of the right-wing variety every morning when I'm shaving.

SiGraybeard said...

I call bullsh*t on the whole thing.

First off, I’m extremely skeptical of the whole “right wing terrorist” idea. Like who? There's only two or three I know of. Even if there were, by their own data, for every “right wing terrorist attack” there’s 18 of the others.

The environmentalists (ELF) by themselves have done more domestic terrorism than all the right wingers in history. Every assassination in American history was either a leftist or an anarchist (except maybe the Palestinian who shot Bobby Kennedy). Compare the DC mall after a right wing get together like Beck's 8/28/10 event and a left wing get together like the inauguration.

I bet if an objective person looked at their data, most of the so-called right wing attacks would go away.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm maybe I should get the missus to talk to her dad, he's a close friend of Cheney he's known him for years stays at his ranch out west but doesn't go shooting with him.
As for Sith Lord you have no effing idea these people are mega scary if you upset them, one phone call can destroy your life all legally of course. We keep a low profile on account of being in the metaphoric doghouse. Seriously these people are more powerful than you can imagine.

Anonymous said...

I just hope they spelled my name right in the report.

Ken said...

I would say "as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb," but I know the whole thing is an invitation to a magical one-way trip to Fort Sumter, and that is bait I decline to take.