IG

Listeners to Democracy Now on Monday morning the 11th were alerted to InfraGard.

From InfraGard's website

InfraGard is an information sharing and analysis effort serving the interests and combining the knowledge base of a wide range of members. At its most basic level, InfraGard is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. InfraGard Chapters are geographically linked with FBI Field Office territories.

Essentially you have an alliance between the FBI and business. That sounds fine but there are some things to be aware of.

According to Matthew Rothschild at the Progressive Magazine -

...The members of this rapidly growing group, called InfraGard, receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does—and, at least on one occasion, before elected officials. In return, they provide information to the government, which alarms the ACLU. But there may be more to it than that. One business executive, who showed me his InfraGard card, told me they have permission to “shoot to kill” in the event of martial law.

A few obvious concerns come to mind.

Marshall Law? Are we about to visit this dreaded segment of history in America. If not, then why is it on the table so to speak.

Why would shoot to kill be part of the equation.

What exactly is the intention here.

Certainly we have experienced an erosion of the connection between government and the citizenship over the past 7 years. Government has become much scarier with the weakening of constitutional guarantees. Its important to also point out that InfraGard begins during Clinton's term of office.