This week in part one of the DB you are looking at other radical ideas, from gassing passengers on airplanes, to attaching transponders on the millions of foreign visitors to the US. Like many of the science fiction ideas, these ideas are far from practical, and bring in ethical and legal issues. In part two you will discuss the budget of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate.
Part 1
Choose 1 of the following ideas. Argue its feasibility, or lack thereof, and justify your reasoning. Use 200–300 words to make your point.
• Sedate airline passengers to prevent hijacking.
• Solve the communications interoperability problem by requiring all responders to buy their radios from one manufacturing company.
• Attach transponders to foreign visitors to prevent them from becoming illegal aliens and potentially forming sleeper terrorist cells.
Review and comment on at least 2 other posts.
Part 2
In 2012, Congress presented a bill to the President proposing to cut the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s budget to $398 million. Of that amount, more than half was earmarked to maintain laboratories and other mandatory spending. That left $106 million for discretionary research and development, amounting to an 80% cut over the previous fiscal year.
Use 200–300 words to answer the following questions:
• Why do you think Congress cut the Science and Technology (S&T) budget so drastically?
• As President, would you sign or veto the bill that was presented by Congress? Why or why not?
