First they came for the homeschoolers, then they came for Rachel Maddow

Liberal talk-show host Rachel Maddow recently issued this warning to her viewers after her name was mentioned as part Freedom of Information  request by a conservative think tank seeking the emails of some professors at public universities:

"Watching this TV show...should not be an act of bravery," she said. "The conservative movement is making sure that you know it is. You are on their list and they are coming after you. If it feels cold all of a sudden, if that gives you a shiver, it is supposed to. That's how they roll."

If this gives Ms. Maddow a shiver, she ought to try being a conservative in post 9/11 America where the "conservative" President George W. Bush gifted us with the Department of Homeland Security.  Maddow's warning reminded me of this post (H/T Dad29):

During the past several years, I have witnessed a dramatic shift in the focus of law enforcement training.  Law enforcement courses have moved away from a local community focus to a federally dominated model of complete social control.  Most training I have attended over the past two years have been sponsored by Department of Homeland Security (DHS), namely the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)....

These federal trainers describe the dangers of “extremists” and “militia groups” roaming the community and hiding in plain sight, ready to attack.  Officers are instructed how to recognize these domestic terrorists by their behavior, views and common characteristics.  State data bases are kept to track suspected domestic terrorists and officers are instructed on reporting procedures to state and federal agencies.  The state I work in, like many others, have what is known as a “fusion center” that compiles a watch list of suspicious people.
So how does a person qualify as a potential domestic terrorist?  Based on the training I have attended, here are characteristics that qualify:

• Expressions of libertarian philosophies (statements, bumper stickers)
• Second Amendment-oriented views (NRA or gun club membership, holding a CCW permit)
• Survivalist literature (fictional books such as "Patriots" and "One Second After" are mentioned by name)
• Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)
• Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items)
• Religious views concerning the book of Revelation (apocalypse, anti-Christ)
• Expressed fears of Big Brother or big government
• Homeschooling
• Declarations of Constitutional rights and civil liberties
• Belief in a New World Order conspiracy

I hope this author is exaggerating how widespread the phenomenon is and how low the bar is to be considered a potential extremist (homeschooler? having a libertarian philosophy?), but it is certainly possible this really is the way things are.

When I shared this list with my wife, her response was, "well, I guess I'm an extremist," and she said we needed to update the first aid kit.