That the TSA is expanding its scope should surprise nobody. It's what bureaucracies do. Also it wasn't named the ASA (Airport Security Administration) it was named something much less specific. Probably won't be long before they're patrolling interstate highways in stealth-black Dodge Chargers with officious logos on the sides.
The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
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Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#12After an event I was at was targeted to be blown up, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot ) I have changed my views on anti-terrorist teams at events and mass-gatherings. I do find it silly, however, that these teams are supposedly a devision of the "Transit Security Administration".
Without belittling the realization of ones own mortality which is a very healthy thing, the question here isn't whether a police state "makes us safer" (it probably does) but what level of trade off between civil liberties and privacy we are willing to make to be safer.
Since being safer is infinitely possible and impossible to measure, we should start and end the conversation with civil liberty, not with safety. Do you want the government to try to perform stings on would-be terrorists, potentially entrapping otherwise innocent people? I'm ok with that. Do you want a government agency to have sweeping search and detention rights with cause or warrant? I do not.
As others have noted, anecdotal evidence is the enemy of reason when cases of actual terrorist attack are so infrequent versus the frequent antiterrorist measures taken "at" you.
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#13Every time I hear about the TSA trying to expand to other places such as this, I can't help but think they are like the Westboro Baptist Church of the government agencies.. and I believe that's really saying something.
That's right TSA, congratulations on accomplishing the impossible and becoming more hated than the I.R.S.
If you only would use your power for good and not evil.
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#14 > and passengers may avoid the search by electing
> not to fly
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#15The only way to stop them is to stop funding them and that requires both parties to agree. Good luck with that. Get used to the new TSA overlords. High school dropouts will now be groping you since it's the only job they will be able to get.
Both parties already agree. They agree that de-funding the TSA is political suicide. Especially if any sort of terrorist attack happens. Even if the public doesn't attempt to point fingers, political opponents will (during the next re-election campaign most likely).
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#16I'm already thinking it's too late to prevent the US (and most of the Western World) from becoming an Orwellian dystopia. The US is already more corrupt than Singapore, a country with no democracy:
http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results
So every year we have more corruption, less freedom, more taxes and more IP trolling.
Can someone convince me that the pendulum is going to swing back?
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#17I'm already thinking it's too late to prevent the US (and most of the Western World) from becoming an Orwellian dystopia. The US is already more corrupt than Singapore, a country with no democracy: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results So every year we have more corruption, less freedom, more taxes and more IP trolling. Can someone convince me that the pendulum is going to swing back?
Not without an overwhelming amount of capital (both human and financial) losses, I'm afraid.
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#18I'm already thinking it's too late to prevent the US (and most of the Western World) from becoming an Orwellian dystopia. The US is already more corrupt than Singapore, a country with no democracy: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results So every year we have more corruption, less freedom, more taxes and more IP trolling. Can someone convince me that the pendulum is going to swing back?
I doubt it. American cynicism pretty much makes it impossible. If you can't bring hope to the table, you put a double burden on someone else.
Not sure why you think Singapore is not a democracy, though.
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#19The broad and vague ruling that enables the TSA to do anything they want in airports[0] can (and will) be applied to just about any public event. It's probably just a matter of a few years or so before the TSA is searching us at virtually all public gatherings. And there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. [0] http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/11/20/how-...
A public that is passive and follows "the rules" enables this, unfortunately.
Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it
#20I'm already thinking it's too late to prevent the US (and most of the Western World) from becoming an Orwellian dystopia. The US is already more corrupt than Singapore, a country with no democracy: http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results So every year we have more corruption, less freedom, more taxes and more IP trolling. Can someone convince me that the pendulum is going to swing back?
I doubt it. American cynicism pretty much makes it impossible. If you can't bring hope to the table, you put a double burden on someone else. Not sure why you think Singapore is not a democracy, though.
Call me a pessimist, but the lemming nature to following the reactionary rules of the TSA makes me believe the person you responded to is correct.