How about we address the overt stuff first?

[vaskidmark]

http://www.infowars.com/tsa-to-search-bags-question-passengers-on-houston-buses/

Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee unveiled the program, labeled Bus Safe, during a press conference on Friday. According to a Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston (METRO) press release, agencies involved in the scheme will, “ride buses, perform random bag checks, and conduct K-9 sweeps, as well as place uniformed and plainclothes officers at Transit Centers and rail platforms to detect, prevent and address latent criminal activity or behavior.”

For some reason I had always expected either California or one of the Northeastern states to be where this would start.  (And yes, I'm aware of the VIPER stuff, but that is more of a one-time deal while this is supposed to be permanent or until crime stops, whichever comes last.)

There are darned few training aids for folks to refer to when trying to deal with this sort of stuff.  All the WWII/Cold War movies I can recall have the Gestapo/Stazi/KGB winning the "Papers, please" scenes.

I know this is evil, but I'm thinking that this just might show the silver lining regarding all those hoodlums/ gangsters that relocated to Houston after Katrina.  I just hope that they can avoid sprayong the entire bus/train at those close distances.

stay safe.

[Tallpine]

So, being in a public place is now "probable cause" 

[Ron]

So, being in a public place is now "probable cause" 

Be quiet slave, the very act of being human means you engage in interstate commerce, putting you under control of the government.

Fear not, you have nothing to fear, the government will keep you safe and take care of you.

Here is a piece of bread, enjoy the circus.

[Nick1911]

Damn, one step closer to turning into the Soviet Union.

[Tallpine]

Damn, one step closer to turning into the Soviet Union.

And some people wonder why I am so upset over the TSA at airports.   

[jamisjockey]

Pretty much ensuring I'll never use Houston public transit.

[fistful]

They're just doing this to keep us safe. It's not fair, though, as it mostly affects the poor. They'll have to start searching our cars, too.

[dm1333]

Somebody is going to get rich suing them for violating their 4th Amendment rights.  I wonder what twisted logic they are using to get around that?  Without PC I wouldn't let anybody search my person or belongings.

[MillCreek]

Random bag checks on the bus?

[De Selby]

If only a candidate would run with a promise to get rid of the TSA...

I can't imagine how anyone got to taking these plans seriously.  I suspect the people in charge have seen one too many episodes of 24.

[lee n. field]

Random bag checks on the bus?

There was a guy very recently who got nailed in Chicago, gun in his bags in the Greyhound bus luggage bay.

[adively]

Pretty much ensuring I'll never use Houston public transit.

That's okay, TSA will be soon coming to a toll road near you.

[Nick1911]

That's okay, TSA will be soon coming to a toll road near you.

Exactly.  Heck, there's more or legitimacy for that by way of driving already being a revokable privilege subject to contractual terms with the state.  In a similar way to how refusing to submit evidence against yourself instantly invalidates your license (breathalyzer test), it would be easy to make declining a search do the same thing.

[Tallpine]

I'm thinking that eventually there will be a confrontation that will not end well.

[RoadKingLarry]

I'm thinking that eventually there will be a confrontation that will not end well.

I used to think that might happen with the TSA sexual assaults at airports but I think Americans are mostly too far gone down the road of sheepdom to put up much of a fight.

[RocketMan]

I used to think that might happen with the TSA sexual assaults at airports but I think Americans are mostly too far gone down the road of sheepdom to put up much of a fight.

Sadly, I believe you are right.  There will be some noise from places like APS, but everything will soon go quiet again.  How far away are we from permanent checkpoints and a requirement for internal passports to go interstate?  How many years, I wonder?

eta: Yes, I am in a deeply cynical, nasty mood tonight.

[Warren]

I've been wondering how long it will be before you need a permit to earn any money from any activity.

Given the number of "permissions" that exist now it's an easy step to needing some bureaucrats okay to even earn $50 helping someone move.

And that will be on top of all the other opportunity killing regulations, taxes, and easy-to-file lawsuits.

[Tallpine]

I used to think that might happen with the TSA sexual assaults at airports but I think Americans are mostly too far gone down the road of sheepdom to put up much of a fight.

Fat lady hasn't sung yet.

[longeyes]

A lot of Americans are a lost cause but the number who aren't still far outnumber the political martinet class. The government is playing a very dangerous game of chicken.

[RoadKingLarry]

Fat lady hasn't sung yet.

She's too embarrassed after getting groped at the airport to even think about singing.

[Warren]

She still hasn't gotten her permit yet.

[Waitone]

Every day it is another thumb in the eye.  At some point there will be pushback.

[Ron]

Flew out of OHare to Ft Lauderdale yesterday.

Full body scan and pat down.

The only reason I'm flying is to see my 70+ year old mother down here.

I decided to submit myself to the indignity of modern commercial flying with eyes wide open. Dealing with the security theatre and having one of the symptoms of the decline of the republic shoved in my face overtly was a good object lesson for me. It reenforces in my mind that I am correct about liberty and tyrannical nature of the state.

This is what the people voted for.

[jamisjockey]

Flew out of OHare to Ft Lauderdale yesterday.

Full body scan and pat down.

The only reason I'm flying is to see my 70+ year old mother down here.

I decided to submit myself to the indignity of modern commercial flying with eyes wide open. Dealing with the security theatre and having one of the symptoms of the decline of the republic shoved in my face overtly was a good object lesson for me. It reenforces in my mind that I am correct about liberty and tyrannical nature of the state.

This is what the people voted clamor for.

FTFY. 
Sadly, many of the sheep are happy with this state of existance, and I think the freedom-minded are outnumbered easily by they who accept and or beg for the nanny state's protections.







America is like a drug addicted family member. 
Early in our relationship, I was an enabler.
Then, when I awoke to the depths of her depravity, I just hoped she would get better.
Now, I'm just hopeful she doesn't die in a gutter choking on her own vomit.

[Ben]

One of my coworkers, who flies a lot and is by no means "conservative", was lamenting to me the other day that she's sick of being the only person at the airport every time who refuses the full body scanner. She opts out, and when they ask if she wants a private room, she always tells them "no" and says they should do their groping in front of everyone. But she says most people in line look at her like she's a weirdo when she opts out.

Like so many other invasive regs, people simply become accustomed to them. Also, as pointed out above, there is a large contingent (and I think more so in the conservative community than in what we refer to  as the "nanny staters") who think all this stuff is a great idea. It's for our safety and fights terrorism!!!!!!