-
Farewell to the Spectator
December 16, 2011 | 8 comments
-
Tentative Praise for Ryan’s New Bipartisan Medicare Plan
December 15, 2011 | 3 comments
-
The Day Ahead: Thursday, December 15
December 15, 2011 | 0 comments
-
Examiner for Romney, National Review Against Gingrich
December 14, 2011 | 39 comments
-
Paul Ryan to Introduce New Medicare Plan with Democrat Ron Wyden
December 14, 2011 | 4 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Rep. Ron Paul has introduced the American Traveler Dignity Act, which would strip away some of the TSA’s power over travelers by denying them immunity for any crimes committed in airport security stemming from their new invasive search procedures. Here’s the complete text of the bill, H.R. 6416:
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.
And here’s Paul introducing the bill on the House floor:
Meanwhile, Seth Masket writes a piercing observation of people outraged by the TSA’s new measures:
That said, this is not the great civil rights battle of our time…. What’s going on in the airports is simply a form of government humiliation that has hit the professional class.
There is something to this. The uproar over the TSA’s new assaults on the freedom and dignity of airplane travelers is reminiscent of the constant whining of the professional class, led by Thomas Friedman, that the U.S. is falling behind developing countries because our infrastructure and our airports are in worse condition than theirs. The vast majority of Americans never use those airports or those roads, and would never trade even the tiny amount of money necessary per person in higher taxes for shiny new infrastructure projects. Only the relatively small amount of people who use those airports and roads on a regular basis — i.e., people like Friedman — care about how gleaming they are. The same is true for the TSA complaints. Most people do not travel by air often, and nevertheless constantly face petty embarrassments at the hands of the government, by any number of federal, state, and local agencies.
Yet there is something new and more problematic about the TSA’s assault on travelers. Even if the outrage over the TSA’s methods is a uniquely professional-class phenomenon, it’s still troubling. The professional class is by definition a group with some power. If people in a position to change things would rather suffer routine humiliation at the hands of the government than take action, whether it be legal or political, then we’re in bad shape as a culture. If, in the name of safety, the government can regularly and casually violate the personal freedom and dignity of the country’s jet-setters — without making us any safer — it seems to me we’re on a slippery slope.
View all comments (10) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Joseph Lawler
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/18/our-airports-and-us
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
dac| 11.18.10 @ 1:10PM
The TSA's, and this administration's intent, is to wage war on American citizens rather than on our obvious enemies (which include, but certainly are not limited to, the Iranian, Syrian, Saudi Arabian, Yemeni, and Russian governments and their various paid thugs, stooges, and criminals).
Breaking Americans' will to resist physical assaults by government lackeys is absolutely critical to accustoming Americans to thinking and acting like slaves rather than citizens. Nobody with a shred of honesty (or tactical/security experience) would say that anything the TSA has ever done since its inception has made a single American safer. The government (beginning with 9/11) has been primarily reactive. Pro-activity has been limited to the limited "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan, which could have been over long ago if we'd been serious--meaning, killing our enemies and decapitating their governments by the hundreds of thousands, not a few IED-makers here and there.
But since everyone, the American citizens who do not wish to be slaves, the terrorists, and their state sponsors, knows the TSA is not only not serious about their stated duty, but in fact aiming towards a completely different goal, the TSA cannot admit to even reconsidering actions so obviously stupid and counterproductive. To do so would be to begin to expose their actual motivations, and (much like the old USSR) dismantle them one stinking lie at a time.
By the way, W's administration, while it might have had more sense than to permit what's going on now, is primarily responsible for foisting these unionized TSA thugs on us. So the blame falls now on the overtly anti-American Stasi-clones that dominate the Il Duce Negro administration--but it isn't limited to them.
One good company of Marines, supported by one SEAL team, in each or any of the Arab or Muslim capitals of their filthy regions/countries, and unfettered by candyass "rules of engagement", would do more for the security of Americans than a decade of TSA bullsh*t.
pete2| 11.18.10 @ 1:15PM
Why is Tyrell of TAS supporting full body scans and pat downs? He sees nothing wrong with it and has railed against Drudge Report for causing this "alarm". Just what is the problem with this guy that he has no issue with this violation of the 4th admendment?
Chuck O'Leary| 11.18.10 @ 2:37PM
What is wrong with this being the last straw? Regardless of whether it the uproar is facilitated by social media or has legs because it angers the professional class? Government intrusion on our rights and private lives has increased bit by bit for decades - every single such intrusion is philosophically and morally wrong, but the public as a whole hasn't stood up against it. Why not embrace the TSA revolt as a symbol for every lost iota of personal freedom at the hands of the Feds? What is wrong with drawing the line here?
The aspect of the process that I find most offensive is having to raise your hands in the air for the scanner. You are standing there with no shoes, having given your wallet, cell phone and keys into the care of the screeners, and you assume the position of a suspect about to be hand-cuffed (or strip searched). If you so much as crack a joke taken incorrectly by the blue-suited TSA agent you may be arrested and prosecuted. If they don't like what they see then you are lead away for further screening, still without your shoes or your personal effects.
TSA agents as individuals are human beings, and I have always felt sorry for their having to go through with the security kabuki, but as the visible representatives of a repressive government (of course with the best of intentions), I have come near to punching out an agent myself.
Eric Cartman| 11.18.10 @ 3:54PM
I say we all show up wearing raincoats and big smiles on our faces. Ask if we can go through again and again.
MikeBee| 11.18.10 @ 4:50PM
Ron Paul's bill begins to put things in proper perspective. If you believe that we are all various levels of serfs, to be ruled by a big federal government, then you sheepishly follow procedures at the airports, without any recourse through the court system for "government mishandling."
However, if you believe that we are the rulers of this great country, then the approach must be entirely different. First, a federal government would wish to protect us, the rulers. In doing so, this government would attack our enemies, not attack us. Secondly, if we decide that screenings are necessary in our airports, the rulers of this country (we, the people) should have access, through the court system, to redress the government for personal violations of privacy that might occur.
Define the enemy. Attack them. Make THEIR lives uncomfortable.
Treat the rulers of this country with the utmost of respect. If you work for the government, you are a servant of the rulers of this country (the people). Act appropriately.
Wayne | 11.19.10 @ 1:21AM
I don't think any of these security procedures are necessary. They certainly don't make me feel "safer". But I don't feel safer because of the EPA, or because of OSHA or because of the FDA. We really need to analyze wether any of the government nanny agencies are beneficial and constitutional. Lets simplify government.
Dale Cord| 11.19.10 @ 10:40AM
The criminals in our government are testing the American people,to see how much they can get away with, in violating our constitutional rights as citizens of the free world. The bottom line here is, to seek out and prosecute those individuals, who are getting away with breaking the laws of our land, through rape and seduction of our government employees in Washington with bribes to cast their vote for these outrageously stupid, and ridiculous laws attacking the American people, in the name of national security.
Mark | 11.20.10 @ 9:42AM
Don't just "opt out" of naked scanners only to be sexually molested/assaulted, instead. Boycott Flying COMPLETELY, until sanity returns! Please join us: http://www.facebook.com/pages/.....1010710392
Aldon| 11.24.10 @ 1:26PM
I think it is time we became reacquainted with cars, boats, and trains.