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Thread: Do gentlemen pack their bags?
Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit:
With Obama?
His administration has only one answer; government and more of it. The theater will continue and expand.
Which is a pity; it's a government intrusion, it's useless, and it divert resources from useful pursuits.
CR
Although this particular anti-terror law wasn't introduced by Obama, it appears he will keep it:With Obama?
His administration has only one answer; government and more of it. The theater will continue and expand.Which is a pity; it's a government intrusion, it's useless, and it divert resources from useful pursuits.
CR
Anyone in possession of a computer when going through customs may have their computer siezed and searched and copied or held indefinitely for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Proponents of this rule point out that it has helped nab a terrorist on US soil and a man in possession of child pornography. A few things to point out: the terrorist was already being watched by the feds, so customs had probable cause because they were warned beforehand, and it was likely the guy was going to be arrested that day anyway.
As for the guy in possession of the porn: out of a 1000 random intrusive searches of peoples computers they catch one guy with kiddie porn that he downloaded off the internet. Yay. What a glaring success.
Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump:
Although this particular anti-terror law wasn't introduced by Obama, it appears he will keep it:
Anyone in possession of a computer when going through customs may have their computer siezed and searched and copied or held indefinitely for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Proponents of this rule point out that it has helped nab a terrorist on US soil and a man in possession of child pornography. A few things to point out: the terrorist was already being watched by the feds, so customs had probable cause because they were warned beforehand, and it was likely the guy was going to be arrested that day anyway.
As for the guy in possession of the porn: out of a 1000 random intrusive searches of peoples computers they catch one guy with kiddie porn that he downloaded off the internet. Yay. What a glaring success.
I was not aware of this (yet another) possibility for the government to intrude into their citizens' privacy, yet again obfuscated in security considerations. It is brilliant though, our lords and masters can monitor directly the information of the more subversive, perhaps aware, geographically mobile, and more indirectly, through phone tapping, that of the more sedentary.Although this particular anti-terror law wasn't introduced by Obama, it appears he will keep it:
Anyone in possession of a computer when going through customs may have their computer siezed and searched and copied or held indefinitely for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Proponents of this rule point out that it has helped nab a terrorist on US soil and a man in possession of child pornography. A few things to point out: the terrorist was already being watched by the feds, so customs had probable cause because they were warned beforehand, and it was likely the guy was going to be arrested that day anyway.
As for the guy in possession of the porn: out of a 1000 random intrusive searches of peoples computers they catch one guy with kiddie porn that he downloaded off the internet. Yay. What a glaring success.
Perhaps a metal detector in my car will be next? I have always wanted one.
As of the low success rate with child pornography, it is clear that the administration's goal is not efficiency, as the mere existence of TSA seems to prove, but rather to discourage its citizens from travelling to places where they cannot be easily monitored by increasing the displeasure of such travelling.
Ironically, however, if most citizens stop travelling and airlines and manufacturers go out of business, emigration will probably ensue. It may be this is a good thing in the eyes of army recruiters.
If some terrorist wants to blow up a plane; so be it.
We'll save much more by throwing away these ridiculous "security measures" anyway.
Also, what idiot came up with the idea that the pilots should go through security too? I mean.... They have a freakin' axe in the cockpit!
We'll save much more by throwing away these ridiculous "security measures" anyway.
Also, what idiot came up with the idea that the pilots should go through security too? I mean.... They have a freakin' axe in the cockpit!
This topic also has reminded me of a David Sedaris quote:
In 10 years time i would not be surprised if someone passing through with a walkman (a tape-cassette one) was detained while the product was investigated.
Possibly a reaction equivalent to travelling with a wooden chest with copper corners instead of a suitcase.
Originally Posted by David Sedaris:
"When forced to leave my house for an extended period of time, I take my typewriter with me, and together we endure the wretchedness of passing through the X-ray scanner. The laptops roll merrily down the belt, while I’m instructed to stand aside and open my bag. To me it seems like a normal enough thing to be carrying, but the typewriter’s declining popularity arouses suspicion and I wind up eliciting the sort of reaction one might expect when traveling with a cannon.
‘It’s a typewriter,’ I say. ‘You use it to write angry letters to airport security.’ "
— David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day)
....With which I agree on the grounds that airport security are generally also not generally prepared to deal with anything outside the monotonous mediocrity of their daily experience, an much less so if it involves flexing their 'common sense' muscle."When forced to leave my house for an extended period of time, I take my typewriter with me, and together we endure the wretchedness of passing through the X-ray scanner. The laptops roll merrily down the belt, while I’m instructed to stand aside and open my bag. To me it seems like a normal enough thing to be carrying, but the typewriter’s declining popularity arouses suspicion and I wind up eliciting the sort of reaction one might expect when traveling with a cannon.
‘It’s a typewriter,’ I say. ‘You use it to write angry letters to airport security.’ "
— David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day)
In 10 years time i would not be surprised if someone passing through with a walkman (a tape-cassette one) was detained while the product was investigated.
Possibly a reaction equivalent to travelling with a wooden chest with copper corners instead of a suitcase.
what we have here is a massive civil liberties intrusion, that, in the larger scope of things, has no more a chance of nabbing the bad guys than old fashioned police work. I really hate to break it to the feds, but the whole no-liquid-on-the-plane rule is a dumb idea that has resulted in god knows how many citizen personal items lost (which becomes airport security gains -- yay, i got free shampoo and toothpaste and nail clippers today!)
The overwhelming aspect of civil liberties infringements do not justify the success rate. The terrorist attacks that have been prevented have been from solid, old fashioned policing....not some gay idea of searching people's boots and laptops randomly. Yay Patriot Act. And no one has the balls to change it, because it only helps the faction in power.
The overwhelming aspect of civil liberties infringements do not justify the success rate. The terrorist attacks that have been prevented have been from solid, old fashioned policing....not some gay idea of searching people's boots and laptops randomly. Yay Patriot Act. And no one has the balls to change it, because it only helps the faction in power.
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