The Obama administration [this] week is expected to create an official committee to consider modifying or even abolishing the widely ridiculed color-coded terrorism alert system introduced by the Bush administration after the 9/11 attacks.
Current and former government officials, who asked for anonymity when discussing nonpublic information, told NEWSWEEK that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will appoint a “task force” made up of national, state, and local government experts, possibly including governors and mayors, to examine whether the color-coded system has outlived its usefulness. Bush administration officials who developed and oversaw the system may also play a role. The committee is likely to solicit comments about the alert system from industries affected by it, including airlines and companies that make or ship hazardous materials. The committee will have 60 days to examine the system and draw up recommendations on its future.
Democratic Rep. Jane Harman [...] says the color-coding system had become so ineffective that even top officials like Tom Ridge, George W. Bush’s first homeland-security secretary, used to make jokes about it.
So, what would you replace it with?
I’m sure they came up with the color coded levels so as to not be confused with DoD’s “Defcon” levels. Which BTW, are the reverse from the way Hollywood usually portrays them. It’s “1″ to “5″, not “5″ to “1″, for increasing levels of action. As for the Terror alert levels. They may be of some possible use to the local police and rescue organizations. But I doubt that more than three are needed. Like “Green”, “Yellow”, “Red”. But orange is so much nicer than red, I think it should be the last level. And it’s also a fruit. So why not extend the metaphor, and name the other levels after fruit or flowers. Merigold or Pineapple, for yellow (can’t see using “Lemon”). Lime, for green (NO, not “Clover”).
I’m sure they still want this system to be taken seriously. So attempts to associate it with the “Lucky Charms” colors, will be greatly frowned upon.
You need the stupid system just in case.
I thought of few things we might use instead but they were rude, crude and vulgar so why not just use it as is and not waste any money?
Oh, this must be another jobs program. Sorry, my bad.
Well, Uncle Dave. You almost made me shoot my cafe latte venti through my nostrils with that terror alert chart.
#2 No, he’s gonna change it. Wasn’t that why he was elected for? Change I’m believing!
#9 You’re gonna cringe once you learn conFusion is part of that task force.
#15 He wasn’t elected to eliminate. He was elected for change and change it he will.
use the same colors that M&M’s are…. the our alerts can come in plain or peanut
This blog should be using this:
http://terror-alert.com/
No self-respecting techie is without this in the sidebar:
http://tinyurl.com/mwywnr
I consider myself a liberal. I agree with almost everyone else about “Homeland Security.” Kill the department of Homeland Insecurity, and replace it with nothing. Keep only the agencies that once had a real mission like the FBI, which is useful for solving crimes that cross state lines. The rent a cops at airport inspections are especially annoying, and should just go away.
The threat level alerts were especially useless, and everyone knew it years ago (October 2001).
I was aware of the forgotten Fruit Brute but I was completely unaware of Yummy Mummy!
I would scrap the system altogether. Whether it is pale green or flaming red, I’m going to live my life the same.
If the government is aware of a specific threat or target, then the specific government officials and agencies should be notified, of course.
While we understand that our leaders need a system of communication, we contest any experiment on the civilian population. We simply have no use for the color codes other than as an object of our fears. These unspecified threats create fear, while conveying no real information whatsoever.
In the name of peace, 40 artists in the USA and Canada have joined to create an artwork called ‘Home Automation’, over a 4 year period. The project is a parody of the color code threat alert system that features a performance of a lifesize metal animatronic crash test dummy family. The family self destructs as they watch government threat alerts on their home TV, in a reaction of mechanical fear and paranoia.
Please check out our art
To truly love, we must be completely free. If we strive to be free, true love and liberty will follow.
David Karave