the 4th amendment reads:
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I don't mind going through that metal detector. It doesn't pick up the 3 staples I have inside me from my gall bladder removal (xrays pick it up though. looks funny!)
I don't mind my soon to be 18 year old daughter going through the metal detector. I do have a thing about her going through the virtual strip search *yes, those pictures are able to be saved, and transferred to another machine*, or being groped by some TSA goon.
The "enhanced" pat-down does not involve the back of the hand. it's fingers & palms, prodding you places only your gynocologist should be, or your doctor as a guy turns his head & coughs.
They've "decided" in their wisdom that 12 and under do not have to go through the Nude-O-Scope. How generous of them. What about those ages 13 up till they're 18? It's still illegal to view naked children, or take pictures of them. Also while going through there, you don't have view of your belongings (all of it, including wallet/purse, Ipad etc) on the belt.
People say "flying isn't a right - take some other transportation". Since when does MY purchasing a good from a company (an airline ticket) give the government the right to do a virtual strip search without any cause?
There is the National Opt-Out Day on November 24th. People will be opting for the patdown vs. the virtual strip-search. If you are flying that day, get there *extra* early, as I suspect the lines will move slower than they usually do on this day.
Oh, by the way, there are 2 different types of machines - magnetic wave, which produces a scan that you can't see the goodies in detail; and the backscatter xray, which *does*. With the backscatter, they can see your surgery scars on you. I suggest writing "f*** you" on yourself with a sharpie, if they can see your scars, they will be able to read your message to them. I am not sure if a black sharpie or a metallic sharpie would be best for this. Or cut out letters from foil and taping them on yourself to spell that out. And consider giving them a rude gesture with both hands while they are strip-searching you.
The TSA has a blog, written by "blogger bob" (such a nice generic name), and many questions are asked - but none are answered. Also lies and damn lies are posted on that site, as in "our machines cannot transmit, save, or print any pictures". The representative for the company that makes these machines says they can. "oh yes, believe everything the government says, they are only here to help you."
Don't think they are Nude-O-Scans? This is the image seen (in high-res) by TSA agents while you stand there with your hands in the air like a criminak being told "keep your hands in the air!" by a cop.
I really don't see why or even *how* people rationalize this. There have been suggestions for males that are Scots, drink Scotch, or even watched the movie Braveheart, wear a kilt.. just as they do back there...going commando. On the TSA blog, one poster asked if they could be taken to a private room, strip naked, and not have to be touched. No way, said TSA. You have to be subject to pat-down.
Again, how is this "reasonable"?
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Oh, by the way, the shoe bomber, and the underwear bomber, were coming in from outside the US. Not inside the US.
ReplyDeleteDiane:
ReplyDeleteColumnest DAVE BARRY had an article about his "blurred groin"...it was hilarious.
But I agree that we need something "better" than what is currently employed.
El-Al uses DOGS to scan the people, has used AIR MARSHALS for many years, PLUS they also "profile", and that airline has NEVER had ONE terrorist hijacker coming out of Ben Gurian airport...makes 'ya think.
Maybe if we had something like what was used in the movie: TOTAL RECALL
Just skeletons and weapons show on the scanner...
BTW, I am NOT in any way, shape or form connected to "blogger bob"...I am the "original" BOB...LOL
(think of me as "Bob-Zero")
Of course GEORGE SOROS (spooky dude) is (or was) in on the scanners...sold off his 11,000 shares of the company that made them...how "interesting", hmm?
And it makes you wonder what exposure to these scanners does to the body (like infertility perhaps)?
DO we REALLY know, and are they telling us EVERYTHING?
I doubt it, but it IS for "our protection".
(Yeah, and so are condoms...until they break.)
I would not fly today for so many reasons, and that's a shame, because I used to LIKE to fly (the Grand Canyon is spectacular from 35,000 ft!)
Excellent post and observations about this.
Well done.
The former DHS head, Chertoff, pushed for these scanners, lobbied for them, cheerleaded for them in that "we need them"...however.. he made alot of money by their purchase. Its big money, and security is not 'enhanced' at all. As Mark Steyn just said, "profiling used to be called good policing".
ReplyDeleteDiane:
ReplyDeleteI heard Mark say that Thursday on Rush's show...I was actuially CHEERING him!