Originally Posted by
Bart
If there's anything that's a slow erosion of our freedoms, it's the laws that allow the police to stop us just to make sure we're wearing our seat belts. The way I see it, we have a God-given right to be stupid. And failure to wear a seat belt is certainly stupid. However, when a police officer stops a driver to make sure the driver is wearing a seat belt, a whole bunch of other things come into play. That officer then can justify, for self-protection, to conduct a search of the car and the driver. To me, this allows police officers an opportunity to "fish for evidence" they may not have originally thought was there. I see this as a slow erosion of our liberty and a gradual slide of government crossing the constitutional lines protecting us against unreasonable searches.
Just like many people in this forum are doing with respect to TSA, fight to have the law changed. Can't be done, you say? Negative - look at the motorcycle helmet laws that many states repealed after successful lobbying efforts.
Originally Posted by
Bart
Nothing like this happens at a security checkpoint. Passengers voluntarily undergo the screening process.
(Choke; cough, cough) Voluntarily? Yes, if you include
implied consent with the inability to fly if you do not comply.
Originally Posted by
Bart
The screening process itself is designed to look for a specific list of prohibited items. The passenger is well aware of these prohibited items. Possession of these prohibited items result in either the passenger being given the opportunity to exit back into the public area to dispose of these items or the passenger abandoning these items at the checkpoint. No arrests, no detention.
There is no consistency in this process, save for the "standard" guns, knives, hand grenades, tactical nuclear devices, etc. There are too many individual screeners at too many different airports that make up rules as they go. Even your director says procedures are intentionally inconsistent to "keep the terrorists on their toes."
Originally Posted by
Bart
Nope, there's no erosion of freedom at the checkpoint. The people, that is the Voice of the People as represented in Congress, voted and agreed on establishing the TSA as the agency responsible for and conducting airport security.
Freedom of speech: You have to be careful what you say to screeners, lest you be selected for "further screening."
Freedom of movement: Once you check in, you can't check out (Hotel California rule).
Freedom of assembly: Apparently, groups of "Middle Eastern" men can't fly without harassment.
Yes, Congress established your employing agency, but sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for.