Originally Posted by Spiff
Just because something has been ruled constitutionally valid does not make it "American". Slavery, non-universal-sufferage, Prohibition, etc. were all validated by one or more incarnations of the Supreme Court. Would these be considered "American"? Only in a historical sense, not in any principle about which we should be proud sense.
The comparisons are weak and you know it. According to you, the rights of a drunk driver are more important than the rights of a family driving to see grandma. We as a free society don't have a right to stop a drunk driver unless s/he clearly shows incompetence. Well, we all know of people that could drive straight but yet fell asleep at the intersection because of drinking/drug use and wipe out a family or an innocent person. Where are their rights?
Same with air travel. We as society recognize that there are some dangers involved when flying, We as a society decided that it's better for the majority of innocent passengers if we checked everybody before they get on the plane. I don't see a problem with that. Your statements are so easy to make till one day you have a gun stuck in your face by somebody that doesn't give a sh*t about your beliefs or your life.
How does that compare to your examples. Governments make mistakes, enact laws that are clearly wrong, and I will be the first to raise hell when that happens, but to compare society safety issues to abuse of governmental powers is weak. Sorry.
I'm still against personal info being used in order to travel, but I really believe it's a whole different issue. I'm 100% behind everybody being checked for weapons at the airport. I like to enjoy my flight, not end up in some third world country, being ordered around by some as*hole and possibly killed for her/his cause.