Slashdot Mirror
MATRIX - A Dossier for Every Person in Utah
jxs2151 writes: "According to the Deseret Morning News former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt signed Utah's 2.4 million residents up for a pilot program that gathers dossiers on every single man, woman and child and didn't bother to tell anyone. According to the article MATRIX -- Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange '...cross-references government records from both public and private databases, putting together a dossier on individuals for use by law enforcement.' The state's homeland security specialist dismisses concerns: '...any data gleaned for Utah's participation in MATRIX is information already available to law enforcement.'
The Utah legislature is trying to figure out how to get the state out of the program but the question is how was the Governor able to enroll the -whole state- without anyone knowing?"
(This is a great blog! Spend some time there and learn about the wacko Mormon Church. Truly a bizarre chapter in American history.
As usual, the ex-members of a cult (yes, Mormonism is a cult) are the ones to talk to, since they have been on the inside and figured it out.
As is usual in other cults, Mormonism is simpy about founder Joseph Smith's desire to avoid honest work, make money, rule other people, and screw lots of women. He was a charismatic leader much like David Koresh. Some of the funny parts:
Joseph Smith joined the Masons, and copied all thier secret rituals. This is what mormons do in their "Temples" even today.
Joe Smith was a great storyteller and treasure hunter in his early days. He used a "peep-stone" (rock) in a hat to trick people into giving him money to locate buried treasure. He used his imagination adn this rock-in-hat to dictate the "Book of Mormon" to a secretary. (this kind of folk magic was popular in new england in the 1800's).
He had many polygamous "spiritual" wives (the youngest, Fannie Alger, was just 14), all a poorly kept secret to his first wife Emma. His usual M.O. was to send the husband away on a proseliting trip, and marry the wife in a secret ceremony, after which he took her to bed.
He owned a saloon attached to his house.
He was feared by the U.S. government because he had an army of 8,000 men at a time when the standing U.S. military was only 2,500 men.
Polygamy was openly practiced until the U.S. government threatened to withhold statehood for Utah, at which time a "revelation" from God was recieved which put an end to it.
Racism was openly practiced (no blacks could hold the "priesthood") until in 1978 the U.S. government threatened to withdraw the church's tax-free status, at which time a "revelation" from God was recieved which put an end to it.
Mormonism is a fascinating, disgusting, bizarre subject. I used to be one myself! (I'm feeling much better now) ;)
Visit the best Liberal Blog: DU