The Wretched TSA: Save US, Ron Paul!

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) was formed in direct response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Security at airports until this point had been handled by relatively private companies hired by the airports. Airports security is now handled exclusively by the U.S. government, funded by the taxpayers. Passenger safety being paramount, it's clearly the role of the government to keep us safe, right?  But has this worked?  A resounding Hell, No!!

All this agency has accomplished is to whittle away at private citizens civil rights and private property rights.  People are no longer allowed to enter into a voluntary contract with and airline without being treated as a guilty murderer who must prove ones innocence.

You will hear certain sheep, I mean people, who say that these are all sacrifices we must make to live in a free society.  Bull crap!!

When the guy with the crappy shoe bomb slipped past the "brilliant" TSA thugs, they made us start taking off our shoes.  Then, when the guy with crappy underwear bomb slipped passed these same high school bully drop out security screeners, they demanded to see us naked!  And now, if you decide that you want to "opt out" of this and do not want to be seen completely naked by some creep behind closed doors taking pictures of you with their cell phone camera, you will have to go through and new and enhanced pat down procedure.  This is were they grab your genitals and squeeze your boobs!  I love freedom!  Guess what happens if, once in security, you decide that you don't want any of this to happen and you want to leave?  You can't turn back. That's right, you will be placed in hand cuffs and arrested! 

In response to these totalitarian measures, Ron Paul has once again come to the rescue of our personal freedom and constitutional rights! In an impassioned plea on the floor of the Congress, he says "enough is enough" and "its time to shrug off the shackles!"  In the following video, the gentleman from Texas rises to endorse civil disobedience on  Nov. 24th's "National Nude Scanner Opt Out Day" and to introduce H.R. 6416 (The American Traveler Dignity Act).




The text of the bill is here:

A BILL

To ensure that certain Federal employees cannot hide behind immunity.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. NO IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN AIRPORT SCREENING METHODS.

No law of the United States shall be construed to confer any immunity for a Federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives Federal funds, who subjects an individual to any physical contact (including contact with any clothing the individual is wearing), x-rays, or millimeter waves, or aids in the creation of or views a representation of any part of a individual's body covered by clothing as a condition for such individual to be in an airport or to fly in an aircraft. The preceding sentence shall apply even if the individual or the individual's parent, guardian, or any other individual gives consent.

(Campaign For Liberty website)

Never mind the violations of civil liberties, it is ludicrous to attempt to stop terrorists in this fashion. Instead, let's try eliminating some of the reasons for young men to strap bombs to themselves and kill a bunch of innocent people. The underwear bomber specifically cited the unmanned drone attacks on Yemen as the motivation for his attempted suicide attack; immediately cease all unmanned drone attacks and bring home all our troops from all around the world. Take away the incentives.

A time lapse halloween

This guy combines a couple very cool things to make a great thing.  He sets up a time lapse of himself carving a pumpkin with Ron Paul's face on it.  What makes this great however, is the audio he puts the film to.  Ron Paul asks congress What If? in the most passionate, principled and spot on correct anti-war speech likely ever made on that most dubious floor.  Take a look and listen:

A "fair market"

The other night I was driving by the largest agricultural fair in New England on a busy Friday night.  This fair runs the whole first week of October.   I have driven by this fair many, many times in my life and I noticed something each time about the prime parking spots near the entrance gates.  These spots happen to be on the lawns of the people that live proximal to the fairgrounds.  Depending on the time of the day, the day of the week, and even the weather, the cost of a parking spot changes.  On a rainy Tuesday midday it might be 4 dollars to park, but in the last Saturday night of the fair, you are likely to pay 12 to 15 dollars.

What I like about this is that I see it as analogous to the way prices fluctuate in a voluntary free market based on demand.  You can park a mile down the road for free, but if you just drove for 4 hours, 10 dollars does not seem that hefty a fee to be a 1 minute walk to the gate and the peace of mind that your car is safe. 

A colorful chart

A cheery interpretation of Americas perception of the other guys.

Rhetoric - Per Usual

I find it absolutely ridiculous that the President claimed to be ending the combat mission in Iraq.  Bullshit.  50,000 armed troops that shoot people are combatants.  No two ways about it.  You can call them Buzzulwhips, but that does not mean they aren't combat troops.  My point is that this is just more of the same old rhetoric from a crappy career politician who doesn't mind having blood all over his hands.

This month there have been at least 20 unmanned drone bombings in Pakistan (I say at least because there are no "real" numbers on these secret missions being carried out under executive order).  This sucks!  Bombs are falling from space and landing on innocent people!  This is murder!  Arghhh!

Idiotic Republicrat Partisanship

In this video blog by Jack Hunter (I really like his writing, very clear and poignant), the author points out some of the ridiculous partisanship displayed by both parties and their loyal supporters.  The most important point, however, is how hypocritical and counterproductive the "patriotic" right supporters are in their indignation over trivial issues within the current administration (for example, Michelle Obama's trip to Europe).  As Mr. Hunter explains, many of the problems the right takes issue with can be traced back to the Bush years.  Massive expansion of the federal gov't is a most un-conservative ideal.  Explain, then, the perpetual chant of War, War, War, No Child Left Behind!

America the Benevolent