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Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

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Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#141

Post by trunnell »

gaelian wrote: post #60
trunnell wrote: post #22

This is what elections are for. Did you know you can be stopped and searched without a warrant within 100 miles of the physical border? [1] Between that and this new screening policy for re-entry at international airports, I think we've crossed a line. Everyone I talk to about this is outraged . If we still have a functioning democracy, these policies will change. It's somewhat expected that now and then the governme…

Is this really what elections are still for? I remember the sense of relief and elation of many around me when Obama was elected. Change was coming and many people seemed to feel that the best time for it was when the old system has all but collapsed. I believe Obama himself actually said something to this effect at the time. Fast forward to a few weeks ago just before the US mid-term election and I saw Obama intervi…

what this guy did at the TSA security checkpoint seems far more effective than voting

I would agree that's effective, but civil disobedience is just different than voting. I was not denigrating the OP's effort in any way; in fact I find it commendable (much more so than Tyner who took a similar position but was too combative and rude).

My point is simply that if we Americans don't like TSA's policies we can do something about it. We can opt-out, we can complain, we can get media attention, but most of all, we can vote. Our complaints wouldn't mean much if we couldn't vote.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#142

Post by Natsu »

sgt wrote: post #133

Is it common to say "Sir" when speaking to a police officer in the US? Where I come from, the police officer is expected to call you "Sir" and act as your servant.

At least where I'm from, it's common. It's a sign of respect for the position, not submission.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#143

Post by [deleted] »

andreyf wrote: post #101
acabal wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A nice quote, but we've already given the TSA a lot. Now it's a fight to get it back. Hopefully it's not too late.

The TSA is obviously staffed by bureaucrats who are simply following bad rules. This should call for a restructuring of the organization, not a lash out against The TSA or (worse) The Government. Let's figure out what is wrong with the process, and how we can fix it. Enough being scared and pointing blame.

[deleted]

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#144

Post by gaelian »

trunnell wrote: post #141
gaelian wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this really what elections are still for? I remember the sense of relief and elation of many around me when Obama was elected. Change was coming and many people seemed to feel that the best time for it was when the old system has all but collapsed. I believe Obama himself actually said something to this effect at the time. Fast forward to a few weeks ago just before the US mid-term election and I saw Obama intervi…

what this guy did at the TSA security checkpoint seems far more effective than voting I would agree that's effective, but civil disobedience is just different than voting. I was not denigrating the OP's effort in any way; in fact I find it commendable (much more so than Tyner who took a similar position but was too combative and rude). My point is simply that if we Americans don't like TSA's policies we can do someth…

> I was not denigrating the OP's effort in any way

Sorry if it seemed line I was implying this. I didn't mean to.

> but most of all, we can vote.

I guess this sentiment is what I was replying to, though. I'm starting to think that beyond a certain threshold of imposition on one's personal liberties, voting - while surely important - is no longer "most of all" what we should be doing. But I guess you American's have to decide what that threshold is for yourselves. Hopefully it won't be too much further past where you are currently... you're setting a bad precedent for the rest of us. :)

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#145

Post by mcobrien »

ck2 wrote: post #71
hartror wrote: post #66

Ah – he’s gotten the Miranda talk. I hide my smile. Anyone know what this is? Edit: Thanks, live in Australia so don't get all the lingo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_warning When any law enforcement officer in the USA starts asking you questions, become EXTREMELY cautious and serious (even if they do not explicitly state the warning, which they might just say afterwards to cover themselves). People often think they can "talk themselves out of it", and almost always discover that is not the case.

Don't talk to cops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#146

Post by dnsworks »

frossie wrote: post #115
dnsworks wrote: post #81

I'm curious if any lawyers from the EFF have put themselves through this so that they have good grounds to sue the federal government for violation of constitutional rights?

I suspect you are thinking of EPIC - http://epic.org/ which has indeed filed a lawsuit - I don't see how this is EFF purview.

Never heard about EPIC, but the EFF is part of the engineering community. Our community solves the problems that the rest of the world creates. The EFF should be involved .. maybe somebody can get arrested for planning flash-mobs at the airports Tuesday and Wednesday to decimate holiday travel plans and put the issue into the national spotlight. That's something a bunch of hackers could put together.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#147

Post by snowwindwaves »

dholowiski wrote: post #14

That's awesome. Ever read Cory doctorow's "little brother"? That's what I think of every time I read one of these stories. I've said it before- there are two easy ways to avoid this 1. Drive, 2. Don't visit the USA. To us residents, especially if you live in hawaii- sucks to be you! Oh, and the rest of the world is laughing at you. Fix your flipping government.

have you been to hawaii? it definitely doesn't suck to live there.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#148

Post by aperiodic »

jballanc wrote: post #137
aperiodic wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work at a nuclear reactor, and for the type of dosimeters we wear on the job (thermoluminescent dosimeters), there's no chance of a false-positive, as far as I'm aware. The only thing that can cause the crystal to lose electrons is ionizing radiation in a certain energy range. As long as there were procedures to ensure that the badges are only worn on the job, false positives shouldn't be an issue.

You'll get false positives if anyone goes for a cardiac stress test...

That's why you only wear your dosimetry when you're at work.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#149

Post by gtufano »

dpatru wrote: post #43
Eil wrote: post #34

I agree entirely with the author's cause and I believe that the guilty-until-proven-innocent mindset of present airport security is wrong and should be unconstitutional. However, upon reading the article I very much got the impression that the author was refusing to be scanned or searched just to make trouble. When asked why he was refusing to be searched, his answers (in his own writing) seemed to be along the lines…

>I very much got the impression that the author was refusing to be scanned or searched just to make trouble. That's like saying, you are just making trouble when you resist a pick-pocket or robber. You are never "just making trouble" when you assert your rights. On the contrary, government is the one just making trouble. The only legitimate purpose of government is to protect rights. However, government seems to be f…

I, as European, always find fascinating when US people says: "The only legitimate purpose of government is to protect rights"... I feel the purpose of government is to protect and nurture the community and give the citizen common services. Different personal opionions and exceptions apply of course, but I feel this is probably the biggest difference in culture between US and EU.

Re: Re-entry to US without backscatter or pat-down

#150

Post by viraptor »

dholowiski wrote: post #14

That's awesome. Ever read Cory doctorow's "little brother"? That's what I think of every time I read one of these stories. I've said it before- there are two easy ways to avoid this 1. Drive, 2. Don't visit the USA. To us residents, especially if you live in hawaii- sucks to be you! Oh, and the rest of the world is laughing at you. Fix your flipping government.

> Oh, and the rest of the world is laughing at you.

Well... that's not the only thing. Of course I laugh at what TSA is doing... but on the other hand a lot of ideas from the US are copied in EU. I just hope this isn't one of them. UK already tried experimenting with those scanners, but I haven't heard about them for quite a while.

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