Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: vaskidmark on April 18, 2012, 06:31:50 AM

Title: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: vaskidmark on April 18, 2012, 06:31:50 AM
http://www.infowars.com/tsa-to-search-bags-question-passengers-on-houston-buses/

Quote
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Tallpine on April 18, 2012, 11:09:39 AM
So, being in a public place is now "probable cause"  ???
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Ron on April 18, 2012, 11:43:46 AM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Nick1911 on April 18, 2012, 12:20:06 PM
Damn, one step closer to turning into the Soviet Union.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Tallpine on April 18, 2012, 12:47:44 PM
Damn, one step closer to turning into the Soviet Union.

And some people wonder why I am so upset over the TSA at airports.   :mad:
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Jamisjockey on April 18, 2012, 01:01:53 PM
Pretty much ensuring I'll never use Houston public transit.

Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: Perd Hapley on April 18, 2012, 01:19:22 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: dm1333 on April 18, 2012, 06:45:39 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: MillCreek on April 18, 2012, 06:48:21 PM
Random bag checks on the bus?
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: De Selby on April 18, 2012, 09:03:29 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: lee n. field on April 18, 2012, 09:31:34 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff sirst?
Post by: TechMan on April 18, 2012, 09:59:29 PM
Pretty much ensuring I'll never use Houston public transit.



That's okay, TSA will be soon coming to a toll road near you.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Nick1911 on April 19, 2012, 02:40:19 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Tallpine on April 19, 2012, 04:01:43 PM
I'm thinking that eventually there will be a confrontation that will not end well.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on April 19, 2012, 10:11:14 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: RocketMan on April 19, 2012, 10:17:13 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: just Warren on April 20, 2012, 01:04:07 AM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Tallpine on April 20, 2012, 12:02:23 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: longeyes on April 20, 2012, 03:24:00 PM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: RoadKingLarry on April 20, 2012, 09:58:02 PM
Fat lady hasn't sung yet.

She's too embarrassed after getting groped at the airport to even think about singing.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: just Warren on April 20, 2012, 10:26:05 PM
She still hasn't gotten her permit yet.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Waitone on April 22, 2012, 08:36:20 AM
Every day it is another thumb in the eye.  At some point there will be pushback.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Ron on April 22, 2012, 10:11:03 AM
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.

Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Jamisjockey on April 22, 2012, 10:51:33 AM
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.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Ben on April 22, 2012, 11:11:04 AM
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!!!!!!
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Perd Hapley on April 22, 2012, 11:52:30 AM
How many Americans actually fly, though? I think people forget that a lot of us aren't opting out of the body scanner simply because we don't travel often enough or far enough to be at the airport (or not very often) and we prefer to travel by automobile.

I think we would find, if we commissioned a study, that people who are most prickly about their individual liberty, or most resistant to strip-searching and body-scanning; are people who don't want to be in a crowded airliner fuselage anyway. Us curmudgeonly sorts prefer the open road, and only travel by airline if the benefits far outweigh the costs.

It could also be a matter of tax bracket.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Tallpine on April 22, 2012, 12:03:33 PM
Quote
Now, I'm just hopeful she doesn't die in a gutter choking on her own vomit.

I'm just trying to stay out of the way of the mess.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: erictank on April 23, 2012, 06:10:16 AM
How many Americans actually fly, though? I think people forget that a lot of us aren't opting out of the body scanner simply because we don't travel often enough or far enough to be at the airport (or not very often) and we prefer to travel by automobile.

I think we would find, if we commissioned a study, that people who are most prickly about their individual liberty, or most resistant to strip-searching and body-scanning; are people who don't want to be in a crowded airliner fuselage anyway. Us curmudgeonly sorts prefer the open road, and only travel by airline if the benefits far outweigh the costs.

It could also be a matter of tax bracket.

TSA claims two BILLION passenger screenings per year in American airports.  Not all are Americans, obviously, but most are. And sure, a lot of those are frequent-flyers - but Ma and Pa Smith travel to see the grand-kidlets once a year or so - and there are a LOT of Smiths.

Having said that - it's the frequent-flyers, not the Smiths, who tend to be more up-in-arms over the violations forced on the travelling public by the TSA, because they face them more often.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Tallpine on April 23, 2012, 11:27:14 AM
I just refused to go back to CA this week for work, partly because the customer is such a jerk but mostly because of the TSA crap.

If I could drive there in one day, I would.


Terrorists Succeeded Already
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: lee n. field on April 23, 2012, 06:41:11 PM
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.

I'm borrowing that for possible later quoting.
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: freakazoid on April 25, 2012, 02:36:41 AM
I just refused to go back to CA this week for work, partly because the customer is such a jerk but mostly because of the TSA crap.

If I could drive there in one day, I would.


Terrorists Succeeded Already

I wish I had that option. :laugh:
Title: Re: How about we address the overt stuff first?
Post by: Tallpine on April 25, 2012, 11:39:49 AM
I wish I had that option. :laugh:

You make your choices and you pay the price.