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Saturday, August 13, 2005 |
OT: TSA Evades The Kennedy Problem
The TSA infamously detained Ted Kennedy in its dragnets once upon a time, so they've got an answer for that one, too: now they're going to give a pass to important people:
The TSA memo proposes to minimize the number of passengers who must be patted down at checkpoints. It also recommends that certain categories of passengers be exempt from airport security screening, such as members of Congress, airline pilots, Cabinet members, state governors, federal judges, high-ranking military officers and people with top-secret security clearances.Oh, sure, you won't have to take off your shoes anymore; but Congress will be exempt from the idiotic rules it -- or its apparently uncontrollable, independent bureaucrats -- imposes on everyone else.
Comments:
I don't have a problem with this. I seriously doubt Teddy Kennedy is going to try to blow-up a jetliner.
Now, if he was planning to fly the thing to... lets say… Chappaquiddick, then yeah, let's get a breathalyzer going or something.
Now, if he was planning to fly the thing to... lets say… Chappaquiddick, then yeah, let's get a breathalyzer going or something.
Maybe you don't, but you should. It's wrong for two reasons.
1) It sets up a precedent that Congress should be immune to whatever mischief it inflicts on the rest of the population. (I know, it's not really a precedent in that Congress does this routinely, but it's being flouted here.)
2) Much rests on what the definition of who "important people" are. Is there an automatic pass list? It sounds like there would be. And how does one get on this? And will it be subject to abuse? I have to believe it would be.
1) It sets up a precedent that Congress should be immune to whatever mischief it inflicts on the rest of the population. (I know, it's not really a precedent in that Congress does this routinely, but it's being flouted here.)
2) Much rests on what the definition of who "important people" are. Is there an automatic pass list? It sounds like there would be. And how does one get on this? And will it be subject to abuse? I have to believe it would be.
This would all be solved if they would just start profiling people. You know, "Hey, that guy looks like the typical terrorist, let's look at him a little more closely."
Designating a group as "low risk" and allowing them to bypass security measures makes no less sense than ignoring groups who are "high risk" and arbitrarily deciding who goes through advanced screening, as is now the case.
I understand your worry of a slippery slope, but we’re talking about elected officials and those with advance security clearance – it’s hardly a broad swath of society.
I understand your worry of a slippery slope, but we’re talking about elected officials and those with advance security clearance – it’s hardly a broad swath of society.
There is a group in existence who advocates that all lawmakers should be reqired to eat their own cooking. I would be very happy if every April 15th all members of Congress and the President were required to figure out and file their own tax returns with only a pencil and paper and the tax code at their disposal.
Stan from Tacoma
Stan from Tacoma
# posted by 
: 8/13/2005 03:33:00 PM
: 8/13/2005 03:33:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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