I’m a fairly skeptical person, but it’s clear I need to revise my assumptions about some things I thought were no-brainers. Take access to citizens’ confidential information, for example. Who knew an unelected, non-security-cleared megalomaniac with a posse of hackers could just stroll into the federal bill-paying office, kick everybody in there out, and start taking things apart?
Nope, I was a blissful idiot; until this morning when I read an article [see Mike Lillis in The Hill (Feb. 3) informing me Rep. Hakeem Jeffries will be introducing legislation to block “unlawful access” to information systems operated by federal agencies like the Treasury Department. This wasn’t already a no-no? Maybe things are different in the other Washington, but around here, tight security seems alive and well.
For instance, because attendees must be at least 21, I am required to provide proof-of-age (note my 80th birthday is seven weeks away!) before being allowed to step foot inside a Cinnebarre theater. And at a nearby market, not only is a “no-beer-buying-allowed-for-old-geezers-without-ID” policy strictly enforced, but many items, including some apparently irresistible brands of laundry detergents, have been moved into locked cabinets!
While these idiotic excesses are annoying, they’re not insurmountable. I can buy needed sudsy stuff elsewhere and, of course, send letters of complaint (not that they’re answered). But as regards our coup-in-progress? I think I watched too many WWII movies in my life. Lots of “the right stuff” in evidence back then.
Now I’m just hoping an effective resistance (by which I don’t mean endless polling and fund-raising) is being put together somewhere. I’m imagining a back room filled with seriously intelligent, highly capable, tough and trusted people of unquestioned integrity, working together — right this minute — on our plan.
Candace Plog
Edmonds
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