I am a Right-Wing extremist. At least that’s what the Department of Homeland Security would have you believe. I’m certain most of us have heard about this report by now and some feel exactly like me. I mean, it would be difficult to ignore some of the outlandish liberties taken with extremely blurry data in the April 7 report “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment”. It would be irresponsible of me not to point out that they made a mild retraction here, however, the release of this report and the liberties that were taken with the data contained therein is a sign that maybe those of us Right-Wing extremists who are outlined in the report aren’t exactly off-base in our suspicions of ultra left-wing government activity.

Shameron put together a very insightful LiveJournal response of her own that I’m going to make reference to here as well. However, I’m not here to regurgitate her remarks on the matter. Rather, I am going to make a rather bold statement of my own: this is nothing more than the immediate fallout of a nation of people voting for a man who is responsible for placing a first-rate spin-doctor HACK in the seat of the Secretary of Homeland Security. For all of the complaints about infringements upon civil liberties by that same organization under George W. Bush’s watch, I dare say this report is the darkest moment of the department’s short existence. To target a group of people who, despite any personal character flaws they might each individually have, give life and limb as part of their routine job duties and to describe them as a threat to the very culture they are told that they are protecting is an outlandish slap in the face.

My memories of the history of domestic terrorism tell me that ONE act of many was carried out by a man who fits the report’s definition of domestic terrorist threats of “returning military members” and “right-wing extremists”. Further, with a standing military force of around 2 million, I hardly find a couple of hundred people worthy of concern. What makes it more sickening is that I have to sit here and watch my tax dollars being spent frivolously by BOTH Democrats and Republicans, only to have a picture painted of me as a “Right-Wing Extremist Terrorist Threat”, because I thought Obama less than worthy of the job my fellow Americans voted him into. How does that work? I’m not even remotely Right Wing. Further, I find a great number of political figures and members of the right-wing media to be over-zealous, pompous jerks. Do I fit the modern classification of fiscal conservative? You bet. I am a staunch Laissez Faire Capitalist. I proclaim it and stand proudly by it. Am I offended by the fact that Stuart Smiley holds a seat in Congress? You bet your sweet ass. As much as I find the gluttonous mass of flesh we call Michael Moore offensive. Yet, you’ll also hear me proclaim strict displeasure for one Bill O’Reilly, of Fox News fame.

To me, this report and the ensuing arguments on both sides (again, why is our political system binary and closed to free exploration of thought?), are simply further indications that we have lost our identity and our purpose in this Country. A Country that was founded on classical liberalism and fundamentally sound economic principles has suddenly released a report that indicts anyone who firmly believes in those very founding principles.

I could go on a meandering diatribe about this and delve into more comprehensive statistical data, but I haven’t the time, nor the energy at the moment. But, I am pissed. While I’m finding out that the “Carbon Tax” is going to set me back as much as an extra $50 per month in electric bills, I have to mull over a document that was paid for by the very taxes that I pay. If feeling put out by the fact that MY MONEY is being used to fund reports and activities that are counter to everything that this country stands for makes me a “Right Wing Extremist”, then, by all means, I am a Right Wing Extremist. Note it in your log, Napolitano. After all, we scraped you off the pavement of a state that is known for its over-zealous exhibitions of criminalization. After all, you were the one forking over money to an over-crowded Arizona Department of Corrections while I was there.

For those of you who continue to believe that Socialism and Statism aren’t synonymous terms, I advise you to look deeply into this report and analyze your belief systems. I know you won’t, but the information is there for you, comrade.