So, the Pentagon thinks outside the box for a change, and attempts to install a futures market to help with the prediction of terrorist activity. How do Democrats react:
Two Democratic senators slammed the move.
“The idea of a federal betting parlour on atrocities and terrorism is ridiculous and it’s grotesque,” said Senator Ron Wyden D-Ore.
Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan described the market as “unbelievably stupid”.
“Can you imagine if another country set up a betting parlour so that people could go in … and bet on the assassination of an American political figure or the overthrow of this institution or that institution?” he said.
The Dems got their way:
The Pentagon has abandoned plans to set up a ‘terror stock market’ in which investors could bag cash by successfully predicting terrorist attacks.
US defence chiefs had hoped the market would have been a valuable tool in second guessing when terror strikes would occur.
Instapundit has a whole host of links about the futures market- I am waiting for the left flank of the blogosphere to beat up on the Democrats for blocking this. Again, I will be waiting for a while.
*** Update ***
Yglesias is skeptical, but thinks the Pentagon deserves credit for thinking outside the box. They got beat up for it Matt, not praised- I await your condemnation of Dorgan and Wyden.
*** Update #2 ***
I am not defending this idea because I think it will be the end-all, be-all for fighting terrorism. I am not sure the damned thing will even work. What I am angry about is that no idea for fighting terrorism should be simply laughed away or dismissed for partisan political gain. That is what ires me- this might have had some utility, certainly would have been inexpensive- and it got nuked without even a chance.
