Originally Posted by
studentff
1) At some point within 25 years, flying commercial airlines will require wearing only airport-provided clothes, and/or no personal carry-ons including purses or books will be allowed whatsoever.
2) At some point within 25 years, US citizens will be required to provide the government a detailed "purpose of travel" (i.e., "business" is not an acceptable answer) in order to fly domestically or in order to enter or even leave the country? The answer will be subject to review and denial will not be uncommon. Appealing denial, if even possible, will require a court case that could take months/years.
3) At some point within 25 years, ID checks against a blacklist and/or "administrative" searches will be tolerated for pretty much any travel activity other than walking, including entering an interstate highway, crossing internal border checkpoints (state lines, county lines?) and boarding a long-distance bus?
4) At some point within 25 years, you will have to formally apply/register for "pre-approval" from the government to engage in activities like going to college, buying a car, buying a house, or banking.
5) At some point within 25 years, a court ruling will state that the 4th amendment applies only to physical objects within one's (single-family) home and not in view of a window, because that is the only place where one has a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Rental apartments/houses and condos will not apply because one knows the landlord/management might get access, and therefore the resident doesn't have a "reasonable expectation of privacy." No electronic communication, including that going in and out of the home, will be considered private.
Originally Posted by
dchristiva
I'll check back with you in 25 years, but I'm more than willing to bet that NONE of these things will happen. Your paranoia is impressive.
1) Unlikely. Although the "suggestions" by some TSA screeners "encourage" folks to wear only certain types of clothes.
2) Likely. We're already at that point for international travel (see the US/EU plans to subvert the VWP and require pre-approval). So it will shortly apply for leaving the country. Internally is harder, and less likely to happen (although you can expect your movements to be tracked through a national ID program that will be required by all travel providers, including hotels).
3) Moderately likely. While I haven't ridden 'em in years, a friend told me tha some bus lines currently require ID. Interstate highways that are toll roads will track you and associate you through a (mandatory) toll transponder tag. Checkpoints are harder on the roads, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're implemented under the guise of "stopping illegals".
4) Effectively here already. Financial institutions currently check you against a "watch list" to avoid potential penalties from the government for engaging in financial transactions with known "bad guys" (beyond "terrorist" to "money laundering" and so-forth). Some towns require new residents to obtain an
"Occupancy Permit" (note that towns other than Black Jack require same: do a google search), which are used to keep "undesirables" and "illegal aliens" out.
5) Very likely. Unless, of course, we reverse the trend in appointments to the court system. "Law and Order" types tend to like limited privacy provisions to enhance enforcement.
JMHO