Security everywhere
 

I went to the Big 12 tournament in KC today, and it took at least a half hour to get through the queue to get into the arena. Everyone was being individually scanned. I lost two pocketknives, because I didn't think I needed to empty my pockets to go to a basketball game. Even after leaving two hours before game time, with all of the hassle at the gate, we didn't get to our seats until the first TV timeout. Are we gonna have metal detectors at the shopping malls next?

That being said, the Jayhawks sure look like the real thing. They played a sloppy game and still won by 12.

Regards,

D-Ray

Your papers, Herr D-Man.

You were carrying TWO pocketknives? Did they find the razor in your shoe? Only hope they didn't steal one that you were attached to.

I'm of a notion that these zero tolerance security measures are insane. And ineffective. It must be an effort at stopping terrorism, but what kind of idiot terrorist would pull a pocketknife in a crowd at a basketball game? I would advise anyone who tries this to first attach a lanyard, as to make it easier to retrieve his sticker from his, well.

I'm just thankful that this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, unlike some of those countries which are effectively police states.

Which reminds me. Back during the Ricin scare, the local pizza joint called the Chief of Police to investigate a pizza crust box which contained a suspicious white power. They also had a big scare at the courthouse due to a suspicious package left out front, which turned out to be a crumpled paper sack with some garbage in it.

Chas

I think they suspected a conspiracy of middle-aged guys with two inch blades, starting to say "I wanna Kill, Kill, Kill." That sounds almost as dangerous as littering. (apologies to Arlo Guthrie)

By the way, my condolences to the Tiggers. I really do like your coach. He played at Tulsa University while my wife was finishing her degree there.

Regards,

D-Ray

you are joking, right?

Not that funny.
 

Compared to the U.K. it's not a joke.

1). We have more CCTV cameras per head than any other country including
North Korea.

2). The government assumption here is that if the public wants to know
something they have to establish that they have a right to know. We do
have a freedom of information act, but it's amazing what the government
can hide on the grounds of 'national security'. In the U.S.A. the
assumption is the public has a right to know and if they don't want to tell,
it's up to the government to prove good reason.

Nobody likes terrorists right? But governments in the 'free world' keep the public unaware of all manner of things in the name of 'preventing terrorism'.

It HAS to be that way, Combwork.

I recently told all of my family/friends on Facebook;

"Everytime I hear one of you bitching about being hassled by the TSA at the airport, I smile inside. Because it means my government IS doing exactly as I would expect them too, trying to keep us safe. And the fact that only two, that's right TWO, would be terrorists have managed make it onto an airplane and into U.S. airspace since 9/11/01 is clear evidence that it IS working. Think of all of the millions upon millions of people who have boarded aircraft within and bound for the United States in that time. "Two" is not just good, it's positively fantastic. So, empty your pockets, walk through the machine, answer the questions and shut your fucking pie hole."

Regards,
Dave

I have to admit, after my recent trip on the big silver bird I really can't complain about the TSA. They appeared competent and were actually friendly. Don't really know why they pulled my wife to one side for the once over, but I guess they have their reasons.

But I still think seizing pocket knives at a basketball game is a little over the top. A Bowie knife yes, but a pocket knife? It would be easier to kill someone with a Bic pen than the average pocket knife.

Chas

BTW, I keep hearing the story that he was going to blow the plane up over Detroit. According to its flight path at the time he started mucking about with his undies the plane was over St. Catherines or London Ontario. So when did they stop teaching geography here?

Fair points, I've no problem with security where it's clearly needed; the latest fuss here is airport all-body scanners. If you look very carefully, you might just about spot whether it's a man or a woman. If it helps reduce or even prevent terrorism then great. But my general point still stands; governments use "prevention of terrorism" as an excuse to get away with more or less whatever they want.

Latest insanity is the full Burka. If you even hint that a devout Muslim woman should not wear it in public you'll have the anti racism brigade dropping on you like birdshit.

So how do you know then that it is a devout Muslim 'woman', it could be Elvis for all you can tell.

According to the newspapers, a shop owner in Bradford England tried to ban his customers from wearing a full Burka after he was robbed twice by men wearing them. He's been threatened, shop's been boycotted and the police involved by people accusing him of relegious discrimination.

Are you sure Elvis has left the building?

We have a 'woman' here in MD who got a driver's license and she wears one while driving, she even wore it for the picture, all on the grounds of 'religious freedom'. Frankly I would really appreciate some freedom from religion.

If I can't wear a ski mask into a bank or casino...

He was robbed by Muslim cross-dressers?

Somehow, I get a little chuckle off of that.

Dave

You and me both Dave, especially as devout Muslims regard anything other than the 'normal' life style (beat your woman, bully your children, hope to die a martyr so you can screw a few virgins) as an abomination.

Bet none of you has been to a concert lately. The last couple I went to you even had to remove your shoes. Right there on filthy gum encrusted cement.

Judging from the amount of pipes I saw in action this wasn't a very effective deterrent.

People often misunderstand what freedom is. If you want to wear a Burka, carry a gun and tatoo "Death to the Infadels" on your hand you have the freedom to do that. You have a right to free speech, a right to express your religion and a right to bear arms.

You do *not* have a right to fly on an airplane. If you want to exercise the privlige of doing so, there are some rules you'll have to follow. Sorry. That's how it goes. Just like driving. Not a right. Can't sober up long enough to drive over to the liquor store? No driving for you.

Another way to look at it- if you're opposed to the search and security at the airport, you have the right to stay home or go by car. No one is forcing you to go through it.

Freedom is not all freedom for anything you want to do any time anywhere. If we had total freedom I could shoot you in the head because I don't like how you smell. That would be total freedom. It would also be anarchy, which near as I can tell is what many of the Tea Party folk advocate. For all our talk of Socialism and our rights being taken away we have far more freedom than just about anyone else on Earth. I think it's crazy to be marching in the streets about conditions 90% of the people on Earth would do anything to have.

Some people take literally the words of Etta James - "99 percent just won't do."

Regards,

D-Ray

We should all strive for perfection even if it not possible to reach.

I shoot for good 'enuff, but I'll settle for half assed.

Chas

I suspect your half assed is better than most folk's good enough! :)

But there is no such thing a perfect freedom. People's interests are always going to overlap. I can drive down the left side of the road if I want to, but not when someone else is coming. At that point I accede to the rule of law ( in this country at least) that requires vehicles to drive in the right lane. I have given up my freedom to drive anywhere I want in return for the safety of uniform rules of the road. I might be free to burn my trash in the city limits, but when that trash burning is fouling everyone else's air, the social contract requires that I and others like me refrain from burning trash. Our ability to be free is a constant balancing of the interests of all who want to coexist.

One might wish for a utopia where there was no conflict between the interests of all citizens, but I think most of us would be bored to tears.

Thus endeth today's lecture on political philosophy .01.:o

Regards,

D-Ray

Your post reminds me of a conversation I had with my older sister years ago. Over the years she taught me a lot about how life works. At the time I was 18 years old, in the Army and was bitching about it. The one thing that bothered me the most was the fact that I couldn't just quit when I got fed up. She pointed out that I couldn't just quit a job as a civilian either. Damn! She was right again! There are obligations that have to be met. ;)

Yeah, being responsible is a pain isn't it. My younger kid is working part time in college. He's seeing that showing up every time he's scheduled, doing his job completely, coming in when they are short means that he gets called more. (He only missed one shift when he had the swine flu) At least he collected enough chits to say no when he needs to say no and not lose any respect. I tried to get him to cash in some chits when I had hard-to-come-by tickets, but the kid was too danged responsible. (Actually it was for the game that prompted this thread. Then he would have gone with his brother and I would still have my pocket knives.)

Regards,

D-Ray

I had an interesting conversation on "property ownership" once.

If you have a mortgage on your home and land, do you really "own" it?
No, the bank does. And even once you pay it off, you still pay taxes.
Stop paying the taxes and the government will seize it. Let the
government decide they want the land for something else, and they will
claim "eminent domain".

Here in Va., we pay yearly property taxes on everything that has wheels, wings, or a hull that you can squeeze into and go somewhere. Stop paying the tax and the state seizes your vehicle, (And this is a "Red" state.).

So, what in this country do you really "own"? The clothes on your back, a few sticks of furniture, and maybe your stereo, provided it's all paid for, that's about it.

Regards,
Dave

That's my point. We're pretty damn close in a lot of ways. Give everyone 100% freedom to do what they like when they like is anarchy. Gang bangers in Compton want to kill people all day. Should they have that much freedom? Or should there be some limits, like, you can't kill people all day?

Which is pretty much what the Framers said (see post #7 in The real revolutionaries thread over in Politics).:rolleyes: