Letters to the editor

Following are responses to an FCW.com poll question that asked, "Given an opportunity, would you work for the Homeland Security Department?"

I am a programmer/analyst for the Jefferson County Management Information Systems department in Beaumont, Texas.

Because I am assigned to our criminal justice system, I understand the monumental task of trying to bring together different agencies to a common goal. I have encountered obstacles of every kind, and I'm talking about agencies within "walking" distance of each other. I can only imagine what the Homeland Security Department will be up against.

Whatever their plans/strategies are, I hope that they will succeed in bringing communication and cooperation to the forefront.

Linda Kaye Sexton Jefferson County, Texas

***

I would work for Homeland Security Department if they could really define what they intend to do. From what I see, the concept of the department was established out of pure hysteria to give the U.S. populace a sense that something was being done to allegedly protect them. I see this department as a super bureaucracy whose major accomplishment will be a PowerPoint defense (more briefings), the mindless approach that less freedom for American citizens will mean more security and more bureaucrats running around trying to justify their existence.

Terrorism is being looked on as something identifiable and defensible. This may be true, but some in-depth work must be done to define just why terrorism exists and what intelligent approach can make terrorists realize that terrorism is counterproductive to their objectives, whatever they may be.

Name withheld by request