"What form of group madness is it that forsakes judgment and discernment for process run amok?"

That's the definition of the word "bureaucracy".

I'm thrilled to see these op-eds. I've been feeling like a fringe ranter -- and yet this should be a subject everyone should be up on arms about. If the WSJ and NYT columnists start ranting a little more, maybe it will wake some apathetic people up. (Alas, many of my friends seem to take their opinions wholesale from one or the other.)

I know this is like feeding beef to vultures, but you folks will get a kick from Glenn Greenwald today as he dumps on the Nation:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/23/tsa/index.html

Jerry, thanks so much for posting that salon article. I want to sleep with that guy for writing it.

Amy, I agree with you. But the hypocrisy the Salon guy points out is one of the big reasons why I'm sick of both major parties (on top of the sleaze and overspend).

I have a couple of acquaintances who are very active in the Democratic party. They screamed bloody murder about the Patriot Act. I demanded to know why they weren't screaming about the scanners and gropers. They had no good answers, and I think the Salon guy is right on about their real reasons.

Everyone in Washington is for sale. That's how the TSA got these *nifty* scanners. Until common sense and some judgment become profitable for someone, we are stuck with this mess.

I'm a lot less concerned with wire-tapping than I am with the possibility of being groped by a stranger. Several years ago, I went on a trip and came back. Both times, my luggage got searched. Not great, but nothing was taken or messed up. Still, very uncomfortable.

As much as I dislike the idea of being wire-tapped (unlikely, and anyone doing this would be very, very bored), the idea of being groped (which because of the randomness seems much more likely) is really icky.

I heard about a TV special recently on dogs in Russia that are used to smell for explosives. This sounds much better.

After all these years, I finally need advice from this blogger.

"As much as I dislike the idea of being wire-tapped (unlikely, and anyone doing this would be very, very bored), the idea of being groped (which because of the randomness seems much more likely) is really icky."

Agree. Which is why it mystifies me that anyone would shriek about the Patriot Act and be OK with scanning and groping. I can't think of anything other than hypocrisy to explain it.

> I heard about a TV special recently on dogs
> in Russia that are used to smell for
> explosives. This sounds much better.

Ten years ago, that's how it worked in Cairns.

The security team, dressed in full military uniforms would line a group of about thirty of us up in two lines facing each other, about six feet apart, like the start of an old hillbilly square dance. We each had our luggage on the floor beside us.

They were as friendly as can be... Maybe that why it seemed almost fun. Australians are perhaps the politest people who ever lived on this planet. And they'd say something like "Folks," —maybe "Mates"– please stand without motion for a moment as the dogs come by. They're very friendly animals, and they will not hurt you."

And then they'd bring out a dog in a leash and say "Go, boy!" And the dog would silently and briskly sniff the bags and a few passengers, but never intrusively. It was over in forty seconds.

The room was pleasantly-lit, with good carpeting.

Not a problem. I'd do that for every flight of the rest of my life....

BUT NOT MUCH MORE THAN THAT. Got it, Janet? Keep your hands to yourself.

The ranks of the "domestic extremists" continue to grow! :-)

"I demanded to know why they weren't screaming about the scanners and gropers. They had no good answers, and I think the Salon guy is right on about their real reasons."

Sigh... I just had this exact discussion with a relative the other day. The only spoken answer I got was: "I don't want to get blown up". The unspoken answer, though, was: "I trust my tribe with dictatorial powers, but not the other tribe." Here's the thing about people who advocate dictatorial government: they have, without exception, granted themselves absolute moral authority. And because of this, they always, always assume that said dictatorial government will implement only policies that they favor. And the rights that they themselves care about will remain untouched even as the rights of The Other are sharply restricted. That's why they have such confidence in it -- the assume that as long as the Correct People put it in place, it will remain in power forever.

The other characteristic of this thinking is they morally justify it to themselves by assuming that their opposition will do the same if given a chance. Their outlook is that democracy is a fiction because most people are too stupid to govern themselves; therefore, the question of government always comes down to whether the country will be run by the Good Elite or the Evil Elite. They, of course, are always on the side of the Good Elite. Note that in their world, it's never a contest of ideas; it's a contest of personalities. Ideas are, to borrow a phrase, opiates for the masses; ideas exist merely so that the average Joe can convince themselves that they are more competent than they really are.

Now, watch the video. It really is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhEMRSp7vaY

One suggestion I heard is have a document that says something like:

-----------------------------------

1) The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

2) The regular TSA agent at the checkpoints are not law enforcement agents.

Having read and understanding this I am still going to conduct a search of the person who is carrying this document.

TSA Agent Signature:

Traveler Signature:

Date:
-----------------------------------

Tell them that when they sign it -- they can do the pat down; and not the porno scan.

Photocopy that and leave them scattered across airports in every nook and cranny you can find. I wonder how long all this crap would last. They can demand your "documents". Why can't the traveler?

The city of Portland proves my point: Now that the FBI has just saved their asses, they are just fine with their city police cooperating with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force -- as long as a Democrat is President!

http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/110577/