# "Homeland Security", "Patriot Act"; Find These Phrases Orwellian/Huxley Repulsiv **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784 "2003-08-26T17:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/1 "2003-08-26T17:04:38Z")
These phrases annoy me to no end. To me, it is political babble-speak that is dangerously wrapped up in a pretty red, white and blue flag, flaunted in the face of idiot bubble heads who think, “Golly, how can a bill with the word ‘Patriot’ be a bad thing? Damn right I am behind it. I don’t even know what it is, but only a commie, pinko, Streisand-lovin’ faggot would vote against it. Count me in!” What is next? The “Mom And Apple Pie Act”? The “Support Our Troops Amendment?” The “Liberty Bell Nuclear Test Act”? Or am I just being too thin skinned about this? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/2 "2003-08-26T19:14:17Z")
You’re just demonstrating why you’re here at the SDMB and not at, say, [FreeRepublic.com](http://FreeRepublic.com). ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/3 "2003-08-26T19:32:09Z")
I think it’s humorously ultra patriotic. It’s like someone at the bureau of naming things was leafing through their comic’s collection from the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/4 "2003-08-27T03:42:14Z")
It is sickening to me in an Orwellian way. It seems to me that the military industrial complex has really gotten it’s double speak and propaganda down to a science, at least in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/5 "2003-08-27T05:49:43Z")
I’m not enamored with these phrases either, but what would you use instead?? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/6 "2003-08-27T06:11:06Z")
I think we’re becoming the former Soviet Union. Along with the naming schemes outlined in the thread, I’ve noticed my eyebrows becoming much bushier, and my wife is wearing a scarf on her head a lot. Seriously though, the names do have an ominous and authoritarian tone to them. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/7 "2003-08-27T07:46:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Violet \* > I’m not enamored with these phrases either, but what would you use instead?? Something more accurate and less jingoistic, maybe? “Domestic Security” or “Domestic Defense” instead of “Homeland Security,” for instance. And what’s so patriotic about the “Patriot Act”? “Anti-Terrorism Powers Act” describes the same thing but without the flag-waving, though these days calling it the “ **Un** patriot act” would be more accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/8 "2003-08-27T14:17:14Z")
I don’t have too much trouble with the name “patriot act”. A lot of what the act is designed to do is make people feel better that the government is doing something to make us safer. So, they gave it a trendy name. Don’t bother me. My feelings on this may be influenced by the fact that I have yet to hear a single good reason why the Patriot act is bad that hasn’t been easily debunked. But, that’s not for this forum. I do dislike the “_Homeland_ Security” department. It’s just tacky. “Domestic Security” would be much better. I’m not too up in arms against it, though. We’ve got bigger problems to worry about than tacky names in government. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/9 "2003-08-27T14:21:57Z")
The word _patriot_ had been ruined for me forever. It’s become meaningless political jargon. And _Homeland Security_ is just as disturbing. I hate this spin nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![MetalDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@MetalDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetalDog)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/10 "2003-08-27T15:07:46Z")
The first time I hear the phrase ‘Homeland’ being bandied about the airwaves, the instant connection it made in my mind was ‘Fatherland’. Wasn’t terribly reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/11 "2003-08-27T18:45:32Z")
Ranks right up there with “People’s Republic of (pick a country)”, “The (blah-blah) Liberation (Front, Army, Brigade)”, “Freedom Fighters” (read “terrorists”), etc. Regrettably, it seems that organizations–or in this case laws and departments–that use these sorts of patriotic-sounding words in their titles are covering up some sort of egregious behavior or philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/12 "2003-08-28T02:53:08Z")
Homeland Security makes me ill. The previously mentioned Homeland/Fatherland sound for the first half. No one in America EVER mentioned the word Homeland to refer to their country before this act. And yes, I can speak for the entire country. I have them over for tea twice a month. And the fact that it does NOT increase security for the second half. America is too big and too free to ever have security. Did not a wise man once say the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Real Americans choose freedom over security. And yes, I do get to make that decision for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/13 "2003-08-28T04:13:00Z")
I’m another who doesn’t like them. They might not be full-fledgedly Orwellian, but certainly close. I agree with **rjung** about the title of the Homeland Security…it should be Domestic Defense, or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/14 "2003-08-28T04:19:32Z")
It’s not new and they are all getting names like that. Remember the “Defense of Marriage Act”. What the ??? ---
**Author:** ![sajwalke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@sajwalke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sajwalke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/15 "2003-08-28T05:45:55Z")
The fist time I heard of “Homeland Security” I thought it was some kind of security company, like maybe they install buglur alarms, or transport valuable goods in armoured trucks. I’d definitely go with “Domestic Defence” on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/16 "2003-08-29T06:00:25Z")
FWIW: Supposedly an independent, non-partisan group’s analysis of the Department of Homeland Security: [http://trac.syr.edu/tracreports/tracdhs/DHSreport030825.html](http://trac.syr.edu/tracreports/tracdhs/DHSreport030825.html) Main (front) page: [http://trac.syr.edu/index.html](http://trac.syr.edu/index.html) Interesting to note: > [@](#): > > As of March 2003, one in every twelve workers in the federal government – a total of 160,201 – was on the DHS payroll Looks like a good report. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/17 "2003-08-29T06:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Satasha \* > \*\*It is sickening to me in an Orwellian way. It seems to me that the military industrial complex has really gotten it’s double speak and propaganda down to a science, at least in the US. \*\* The worse part is,. people eat it up. Fucking sheep. The first time I heard “homeland security” I thought it was a new home alarm company,. like Brinks. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/18 "2003-08-29T07:20:03Z")
> [@](#): > > **BoringDad** :…And yes, I can speak for the entire country. > > \ > > And yes, I do get to make that decision for everyone else. Now _that’s_ a refreshing post! Welcome to SDMB. BTW, I agree with you about the value of freedom over security. Is there a program that spits out titles for these things the same way that it does for research papers? Operation Star-spangled Glory? The Free and Forthright Act? The Home Invasion Project? (REJECT! REJECT!) I think acts often used to be named after the persons who introduced them to Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/19 "2003-08-29T11:48:22Z")
The “Patriot Act” bugs the shit out of me. There’s nothing patriotic about giving the government more power. Something like “The Emergency Anti-Terrorism Act” would have been a far more honest name. I guess that I’m OK with “Homeland Security,” altho’ I’ve never, ever, heard anyone refer to the US as their “homeland.” ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784/20 "2003-08-29T12:19:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Satasha \* > It is sickening to me in an Orwellian way. It seems to me that the **military industrial complex** has really gotten it’s **double speak** and propaganda down to a science, at least in the US. Speaking of overused annoying phrases… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-patriot-act-find-these-phrases-orwellian-huxley-repulsiv/197784.md?page=2)