Comments on: The Price of Freedom is Occasional Vigilance http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance Committees exist to share blame. Tue, 22 May 2012 09:30:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Don http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance/comment-page-1#comment-70948 Don Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:52:16 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance#comment-70948 The part of the video at 8:10 is great, where they point out that the guy doesn't look like a terrorist. Look, I'm fine with people like the TSA having some leeway in deciding who seems suspicious and giving some people more scrutiny and a more thorough search of their belongings because of that. But no matter how suspicious they look, if they aren't carrying potential weapons or other dangerous goods like shampoo, then it is still completely irrelevant if they have lots of cash or to ask where they work. And yes, the assertion that this is related to government regulation or intervention into the economy is absurd. This is just a lack of accountability, poor oversight, and inadequate training about where their legitimate authority ends, combined with power-tripping jerks. The part of the video at 8:10 is great, where they point out that the guy doesn’t look like a terrorist. Look, I’m fine with people like the TSA having some leeway in deciding who seems suspicious and giving some people more scrutiny and a more thorough search of their belongings because of that. But no matter how suspicious they look, if they aren’t carrying potential weapons or other dangerous goods like shampoo, then it is still completely irrelevant if they have lots of cash or to ask where they work.

And yes, the assertion that this is related to government regulation or intervention into the economy is absurd. This is just a lack of accountability, poor oversight, and inadequate training about where their legitimate authority ends, combined with power-tripping jerks.

]]> By: Jack http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance/comment-page-1#comment-70947 Jack Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:27:40 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance#comment-70947 Oh, and I don't agree with the political analysis in the clip, if that's not obvious. Think for yourself about the relationship between corporations and government in the United States. Who controls whom? Oh, and I don’t agree with the political analysis in the clip, if that’s not obvious. Think for yourself about the relationship between corporations and government in the United States. Who controls whom?

]]> By: Don http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance/comment-page-1#comment-70946 Don Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:07:59 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance#comment-70946 I was going to say that I'm surprised that they are surprised by this. Not that I think that it is right or that this detained guy handled it wrong - but who is surprised that they can ask all kinds of questions about how much money you're carrying, where you're going, and where you work? And they are unversed in the law and their legal rights to detain people and ask questions because they're used to doing and asking whatever they want. However, then I realized that I was conflating the TSA (airport security screeners) with customs officers / border guards, because I normally encounter them both when travelling to/from the US by air. So, yeah, I wasn't really surprised that the TSA was so overboard about this, but I am surprised that they would do this about something that is not even tangentially or remotely connected to security of the airplanes and airport - carrying a lot of cash. I was going to say that I’m surprised that they are surprised by this. Not that I think that it is right or that this detained guy handled it wrong – but who is surprised that they can ask all kinds of questions about how much money you’re carrying, where you’re going, and where you work? And they are unversed in the law and their legal rights to detain people and ask questions because they’re used to doing and asking whatever they want.

However, then I realized that I was conflating the TSA (airport security screeners) with customs officers / border guards, because I normally encounter them both when travelling to/from the US by air. So, yeah, I wasn’t really surprised that the TSA was so overboard about this, but I am surprised that they would do this about something that is not even tangentially or remotely connected to security of the airplanes and airport – carrying a lot of cash.

]]> By: Jack http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance/comment-page-1#comment-70944 Jack Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:07:17 +0000 http://mentalpolyphonics.com/posts/the-price-of-freedom-is-occasional-vigilance#comment-70944 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law" rel="nofollow">Godwin Number</a> of the full recording? 7. 3: Man, the TSA is just trying to do their jobs, they are $15/hour water carriers. There is no conspiracy here. Just tell them you do not have drug/terrorist money and go on with your goddamn life. 7: Man, the Gestapo are just trying to do their jobs, they are 75 Reichsmark/hour water carriers. There is no conspiracy here. Just tell them you’re aren’t Jewish/gay/gypsy and go on with your goddamn life. [I lied. Godwin was actually 4. I just liked that exchange.] Godwin Number of the full recording? 7.

3:

Man, the TSA is just trying to do their jobs, they are $15/hour water carriers. There is no conspiracy here. Just tell them you do not have drug/terrorist money and go on with your goddamn life.

7:

Man, the Gestapo are just trying to do their jobs, they are 75 Reichsmark/hour water carriers. There is no conspiracy here. Just tell them you’re aren’t Jewish/gay/gypsy and go on with your goddamn life.

[I lied. Godwin was actually 4. I just liked that exchange.]

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