Tyranny through fear, page 1

Here is an ATS thread about overbearing regulation, the idea of regulation and fear is similar.
The Fear That Dare Not Speak Its Name

This thread is about governmental objectives, in investing in popular fear.

I think right now our federal government is using fear of terrorism, to further it’s own power and personal intrusion. Where even an arrested suspect in custody at a local police station is still provided basic rights none such rights exists within the environment of the TSA. They act with complete authority based on the assumption that travel is a privilege not a right. You don’t want to get searched, then you could always just walk.

There are several issues that lead me to greater concern, than just as it is now. The first is the “Trusted Traveler” idea:
www.washingtonpost.com...

Travel industry analysts think the long-awaited report will continue the debate over screening procedures and add another element to it: Even a voluntary trusted-traveler approach would require passengers to provide credit information, tax returns and other personal data to verify that members pose little or no risk. In return, they would be allowed to zip through security.

Now most Americans are all about convenience, no secret there. The government has dictated to us complete suspicion of every citizen, with the ability to search en masse. Once that has been established they now propose the “Trusted Traveler” solution, to the very situation they created. In that with the submission of credit, tax and “other” personal info you will once again be considered legitimate and to bypass local search at the terminal.

To me it’s offered as a lesson to the public, that complete compliance towards government intrusion, has it’s rewards. What’s bothersome is that your financial situation is now directly equitable to the degree of freedom you can enjoy. If your credit rating is a mess and taxes delinquent, will there be a point where you could be outright denied the “privilege” of mass transit?

This article provides an overview of how the Israelis do airport security. They have a 100% success rate.
www.nypost.com...

Security officials should pay less attention to objects, and more attention to people. The Israelis do. They are, out of dreadful necessity, the world's foremost experts in counterterrorism. And they couldn't care less about what your grandmother brings on a plane. Instead, officials at Ben Gurion International Airport interview everyone in line before they're even allowed to check in.

An interesting thread for those with IDs that can be scanned:
ID Scans

This carries over to the “Six points of ID” necessary to obtain a driver’s license. Here are the requirements for my state: www.state.nj.us...
Contrary to the publication, a current drivers license, birth certificate and passport were not enough for the lady at the desk. I also needed to show the utility bill and credit card statement.

This article references our foreclosure rate at 600,000 a month!
www.ft.com...

Certainly a great many of them have found alternate living accommodations, still, I’m also sure that some may not. Once you have fallen off the grid, to get a foothold back on, won’t be easy. How many of the homeless have a social security card, marriage license and/or birth certificate crumpled up in their front pocket?

In addition they will also need a utility bill in their name (homeless) and a current credit card statement (bankruptcy). It’s one thing to be beaten down, it’s another if you’re never able to get back up. This is possible because a driver’s license is also a “privilege” like having food to eat, a place to live, or air to breath are also privileges, not being specifically mentioned as protected rights. So when you tie it all together, if you don’t have a permanent address and don’t have a driver’s license, you are no longer a legitimate member of this country. No matter how frivolous these “privileges” are, for most they are the necessities towards the pursuit of happiness.

I was required to renew my license with the new six points of ID. After I had a renewal for change of address. Now the question here is that if six point are required the first time for identification, why would it be necessary for the second? The system is either untrustworthy and/or ineffective, if they still don’t know who you are after the first time. So if it’s self proven not to be about identification, then what is the purpose? I have my assumptions, I’ll leave you to yours.

Recently I ran across this article where the TSA has funded research into a mobile version of the x-ray used in airport security:
blogs.forbes.com...

The 173-page collection of contracts and reports, acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request, includes contracts with Siemens Corporations, Northeastern University, and Rapiscan Systems. The study was expected to cost more than $3.5 million. One project allocated to Northeastern University and Siemens would mount backscatter x-ray scanners and video cameras on roving vans, along with other cameras on buildings and utility poles, to monitor groups of pedestrians, assess what they carried, and even track their eye movements. In another program, the researchers were asked to develop a system of long range x-ray scanning to determine what metal objects an individual might have on his or her body at distances up to thirty feet.

The implication of course is to use it on traffic and pedestrians. But hold on a second, these folks aren’t boarding anything, so now that unlimited authority shouldn’t apply. Walking down the street, or driving the car with the assumption of privacy isn’t a “privilege”. Right? (pun intended) If the intent was out of the question to use it, then why would they fund the research for it?

My argument isn’t that more security wasn’t necessary after 9/11, it was and has been improved. But at what point will it be enough? The idea of a 100% guarantee of safety in a supposed free society is just an idiotic pursuit. Totalitarianism isn’t a valid defense of a free society. But as our government increases their propaganda of fear, that’s exactly what many seem to be clamoring for. Here’s my favorite Janet Napolitano telling shoppers to report anything suspicious at Walmart: www.dhs.gov...

How about an ounce of common sense? I’m pretty sure if someone notices a shopper placing the cartoon version of TnT upon the shelf, they would most likely mention it. It’s the inclination you would not behave responsibly, or need governmental guidance to exercise common sense, that I find offensive. You should always remember, that your fellow shopper might be rigged to explode at any time. Be afraid America, be very afraid! If you see citizens dressed as Indians, dumping tea in the Boston harbor, be sure to report that too. Certainly it would be suspicious.

So what happens “when”, not “if”, the next attack is successful? Is our culture at the point where search without probable cause and random x-rays are entirely acceptable? Was that really in the best interests and the will “of the people”? I’m at the point to conclude those that fear terrorism to this degree, are far more dangerous to our way of life than any mere bomb toting terrorists could possibly be. So what protection measures are we doing against that threat? The government clearly has incentive in exaggerating both the degree of personal threat and the severity of its response. After it’s all said and done who is protecting us from our government, if the spirit in which the constitution was drafted, is now void?