Do you know what's good about Patdowngate?

[OmahaBlueDog]

Other than the fact that it means the renaissance of the Griswold-esque family car vacation....?

It represents the first time I can remember since 9-11 that Americans are pushing back against excess security measures. If you can recall the climate eight years ago, most Americans were in favor of ANY means necessary to prevent a terror attack, and everyday, we got to see if the Tom Ridge wheel-of-terror would be at condition yellow, orange, or red.

Enough is enough. If the Government has spent the past 9 years compiling vast databases on all of us, then the TSA should be able to take my ID, mine that knowledge to say "Oh...this is OmahaBlueDog. Somewhat left leaning for this part of the world, but he's never robbed a freight train or attended terror camp in Pakistan -- he can pass with a simple metal detector check."

I used to love everything about air travel -- now I dread it with every fiber of my being. If this is what we have to endure to travel, then the fact is the terrorists have won.

[FourScore]

1. That is really the crux of this argument.

I am so glad someone gets it and articulates it so well.

[liberal N proud]

2. About damn time

Isn't it!

[OmahaBlueDog]

4. It only took a decade, and short arm inspection to do it, but Yes.

I was afraid the next step was going to the airport in hospital gowns.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ah this is part of what doing actual security looks like

Enough is enough. If the Government has spent the past 9 years compiling vast databases on all of us, then the TSA should be able to take my ID, mine that knowledge to say "Oh...this is OmahaBlueDog. Somewhat left leaning for this part of the world, but he's never robbed a freight train or attended terror camp in Pakistan -- he can pass with a simple metal detector check."

That is what a real security system looks like. It is called profiling, but some people say that nobody would go for that.

Add to this, not just the are you from Pakistan... but behavior cues... and yes leave the magnetometers in place.

You see, it costs money to do this... but you indeed get it.

[OmahaBlueDog]

It costs money, and requires agencies to talk to one another

The irony of the National Intelligence Directorate:

In the 40s, the OSS (originally the COI) was formed as the result of Pearl Harbor. It seemed that intelligence agencies had information they weren't sharing with one another, so an agency was needed to review all of the information to make objective recommendations to the President. That organization became the CIA.........

flash forward to 2001....9-11 happened, in part, because of a major intelligence failure. This was caused, in part, because agencies (including the CIA) weren't talking to one another...so the NID was started to review all of the information to make objective recommendations to the President. ......

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Indeed

those who refuse to learn from history....

And we as a people are proud of that fact.

[BlueJac]

5. BUT..............

it will be gone in no time, we must obey the masters!

[FiveGoodMen]

6. "then the fact is the terrorists have won"

So many times over that I've lost count.

If we could be transported back to early 2000, we'd all think we were hallucinating.

It was a completely different world.

(Although the seeds of THIS world had already been sown for the most part)

[eleny]

7. Amen to that

I haven't flown since before 9-11. We like long car trips - so far so good.

[leftstreet]

8. Meh. White 'middle class' people suddenly take an interest in civil rights

The police state has been using excessive security measures on the population for some time

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. ...

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. Well, then it's good they get a teeny tiny taste of what poor minorities go through

[LisaL]

9. I'd rather undergo an extensive background check than

an enhanced pat down. Why can't our government give us that option?

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. There was talk of that around 2004, and then it died

There was discussion of a "trusted traveller" card. It was mostly so frequent fliers could get through the security lines quickly. The idea was that it would be like applying for a Passport. They'd perform a thourough background check, and if you passed, you got to go to an express line. I recall some objections because people thought it was reminiscent of the "papers please" checks in Europe....as opposed to what we have now :eyes:

I have no idea what happened to that proposal

[LisaL]

15. Why couldn't something like this be offered as a purely

volunteer program?

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. It actually does exist

Global Traveler program... it saves frequent travelers abroad some of the hassle coming back through certain Airports. Not all airports have it either.

http://www.globalentry.gov/

There is where they are testing this as a concept... and to a limited point it makes sense to test it there first.

No, they did not advertise it. I learned of it when I flew into Houston last time around from Mexico City.

[OmahaBlueDog]

18. Thanks. Good to know.

They need a domestic equivalent.

[KG]

10. some here would have you believe it's not excessive...

:eyes:

[sally cat]

16. Good points, well said.

[Dawson Leery]

19. I believe that this is the first time that there has been any pushback.

It is about time! Eight years ago at this time was a very bleak time indeed. You did not dare say anything about Bush and the GOP, though they could say whatever they wanted about you and the corporate media would repeat those smears.

[woo me with science]

20. I hope the protests this week exceed anything they expected. nt

[JoeyT]

21. And all it took was white men having to deal

with the same sort of shit everyone else has been dealing with.
Just like there was no such thing as police overreach until they got carried away and started harassing white guys.

But y'know, I'll take whatever pushback against the sniveling authoritarians that I can get as long as the restored civil liberties are for everyone.