The Department of Homeland Security has a special message for Walmart Customers

[Vekseid]

Walmart Public Service Announcement

From the comments:

I was at Walmart and after I saw this I sought out the manager. I let him know that I heard we are supposed to report suspicious behavior.

So I told him that a federal government cabinet secretary was using his store's video screens to fill his customers with fears about nonexistent attacks, and that it seemed suspiciously like fascism to me.

[Sure]

I don't see how this is different from the New York campaigns...

[Talia]

You want to laugh, followed by shaking your head. The fact that actual tax paying dollars went into this Public Service Announcement is absurd.

[Vekseid]

It doesn't exactly top the illuminatus logo they were going to use, but it's still funny in a morbid sort of way.

[Talia]

It doesn't exactly top the illuminatus logo they were going to use, but it's still funny in a morbid sort of way.

Yes, very true.

[Oniya]

It doesn't exactly top the illuminatus logo they were going to use, but it's still funny in a morbid sort of way.

They were?  I wish they had - but that would have made things too easy.

[Talia]

I don't see how this is different from the New York campaigns...

Are you talking about the 911 attacks and the public service announcements that followed ??

[Vekseid]

They were?  I wish they had - but that would have made things too easy.

It was one of the proposed logos for a subdepartment, I forget which. They dropped it after the mockery got through to them.

[Lilias]

It could have looked too much like this:

[Neroon]

I would say that there is a simpler explanation. 

Someone in your government is fed up with the video messages of a shopping list of appropriate greetings in stores this time of year and so has decided to replace the "Happy Holidays, Christmas, Yule, Kwanzaa, Diwali etc." with a satirical reminder about how one's liberty can be threatened by an overzealous government chasing a threat that has been overexaggerated by its predecessor.

Somehow, though, I think once more a government has demonstrated that one cannot protect freedom by removing it.

[Jude]

I must be missing something because I don't understand what's wrong with this at all.  There's a good chance that she chose to inform Walmart customers about potential suspicious activity because they intercepted information that leads them to believe something regarding Walmart is likely to happen due to actual evidence.  I don't understand what's so absurd about that.  If you think about it, a terrorist attack in a store would be the perfect way to shoot down America's economic recovery:  make people afraid to shop during prime shopping season.

[Revolverman]

If you think about it, a terrorist attack in a store would be the perfect way to shoot down America's economic recovery:  make people afraid to shop during prime shopping season.

Thats really a comment on how weak western economies really are.

[Vekseid]

The natural state of humans is not one of perpetual fear no matter how much you intend to claim otherwise. Nor is overbearing paranoia healthy.

Thats really a comment on how weak western economies really are.

That's even assuming you agree with the premise, that 1) People would be afraid and 2) Wouldn't resort to online shopping.

[Talia]

*Rolls eyes.*

Yup, because nothing helps the economy more than putting fear into people. Perhaps if they made the spot a little more dramatic nobody would go shopping.

Oh, and instead of Walmart asking, "You if you want a cart," Wallmart could ask, "What hand gun type you would like." A sure way to bring the crazies out.

[Revolverman]

Oh, and instead of Walmart asking, "You if you want a cart," Wallmart could ask, "What hand gun type you would like." A sure way to bring the crazies out.

doesn't Wal-mart sell handguns already?

That's even assuming you agree with the premise, that 1) People would be afraid and 2) Wouldn't resort to online shopping.

I meant more about how the economy is driven by consumption rather then production.

[Vekseid]

During the 1950's we were no less driven by consumption, but policy reflected that, and made the economy very strong. That isn't the case now.

[Oniya]

doesn't Wal-mart sell handguns already?

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/1753482018

[MasterMischief]

There is an entire website dedicated to reporting suspicious activity at Walmart.  Do these people even know about the interwebs?

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[Noelle]

The only thing about this video that concerns me is her usage of the term "more safe".

[Doomsday]

There is an entire website dedicated to reporting suspicious activity at Walmart.  Do these people even know about the interwebs?

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

Ugh, the only website in the world more grotesque than 2girls1cup.

[Serephino]

Why do I think this was a PR thing in prime shopping season?  Of course people are going to want to give their money to a company that's dedicated itself to keeping America safe *rolls eyes*  Of course, yes, it could have the opposite effect and make people afraid to shop.  Then they'd be pretty much shooting themselves in the foot.  Personally, I'm getting really tired of the fear tactics. 

[kylie]

...  Wonders a little if this has anything to do the 2008 stampeding at a Walmart ...  Does kind of make it look like an easy place to incite a catastrophic attack, no?  :P  Then again, which kind of "suspcious" did they have in mind? 

         Lots of people with dwindled paychecks at one of the few places they can soak up the cheaper foreign goods, crammed together in large numbers and racing with each other to bundle home a few symbolic finds.  All at a time of year when everyone is real big on keeping score to see who can still "provide" a hint of success story, while infrastructure and unemployment spending have been on the verge of choppings left and right.  Nah, no chance of trouble here... 

         Also let's see, how are labor relations at Walmart lately?  Seems like there are more than a few people bearing tensions already...

Filed in 2001 on behalf of as many as 1.5 million female employees, the suit says Wal-Mart paid women less than men and gave them fewer opportunities for promotions—claims that could lead to billions of dollars in back pay and punitive damages.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704156304576003313491986164.html