The War Funnel...

With all chatter going on here in New York City after the "bombing" in the early evening, on a beautiful Saturday -- I just can't but help thinking… All the freakin' money that goes into "keeping us safe."

First-off, I was on that exact corner, 23rd st and 6th ave earlier that very day… And, if I was the fragile type, it might freak me out a bit, I guess. Look, I think it sucks that people got hurt, just going about there day because some A-HOLE wants a little attention, or forgot to take his medication, or thinks his god is better than someone else's god -- or whatever!

But, the safety thing is what gets me going… Can the government keep us safe -- the local city councils -- or even your local police department. If you have read any of my stuff, I talk a lot about Hells Kitchen and my Dad being a cop (Special Investigations Unit) in a very elite division.

(left to die by a fellow officer…)

He quit that job when he realized it's was all a bunch of bullshit… When the very people he put his life on the line with became the very ones he had to protect his family from when -- "he didn't go along…" When he realized they weren't keeping people safe. When he realized people were more afraid of the police then the criminals. When he realized more than half the police force was "on the take."

The corruption that takes place in law enforcement is the scariest kind -- after all, these guys carry guns and have badges… They feel like they can do as they please. But back when my Dad was a cop -- corruption was OUT OF CONTROL -- it was rampant. 

(All Dirty Cops...)

Even if you didn't want to be a "dirty cop" you still went along, in fear of retribution from your fellow officers - these cops were referred to as "grass-eaters." And, they just went along with the status-quo, of the moment, just to get along. Then there were the "meat-eaters" -- these guys were just plain DIRTY -- using there position to enrich themselves -- Pay-offs. Shake-downs. All kinds of nefarious practices, that certainly weren't "protecting people."

Two great movies that highlight this time are Serpico, starring Al Pacino and Prince of the City, starring Treat Williams. If you're into this stuff, they are definitely worth a look…

My Dad was lucky… He got out early. He got out to protect his family -- and he did a great job, protecting us all. But many of the people he called colleagues didn't… Many killed themselves. Many went to jail. And some were killed by he very people that wore the same badge…

This was a whole different kind of terrorism.., but it was, make no mistake -- it was terrorism. Today, terrorism is a whole different thing… With the attack on the World Trade Center, terrorism was taken to whole different level and opened up a whole new "can of worms," so to speak…

With the implementation of of The Department Homeland Security and the requested budget of 38.2 BILLION -- it seems "keeping us safe" is a never ending money pit. And just as in the 1970's NYPD.., it's hard to imagine there is no corruption. We all know, when that much money is involved -- people get greedy.

I couldn't even begin to list the number of agencies that operate under the guise of "protecting the people." If Im recalling correctly, over 2 billion dollars was unaccounted for right before "a hijacked plane flown by, less than novice pilots," flew a few hundred feet off the ground and directly into the pentagon, where all these "records" were destroyed…

Sounds like a work of fiction.., nobody would even believe if they saw it in a movie...

This level of corruption dwarfs anything a few dirty cops (way more than a few) from the the 1970's ever could of dreamed of… And makes the majority of the population culpable in their ignorance… Their acceptance of fact, the finger pointing and blame -- just so they can raise the defense budget. How about signing 10 year deals with contractors that build and develop, the very weapons we use to decimate.., when we were all told, the war would be over in a few months, at best -- 15 years later!!!

My Dad has been deceased for quite sometime… Way before we started pouring all this money down the War Funnel -- unimaginable sums of money to all the "defense agencies" and private contractors… But, if he were still around -- his head would be spinning looking at all the extra cops of the streets. The National Guard in the airports. Another "special division" of cops called the Hercules Squad… I can hear his voice, right now as I bang away at my keyboard -- "You gotta be kiddin' me…" (in and ironic chuckle). Stay safe.

"Make love not war…"

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