June 7, 2004
Quote of the Day
You did hear that the Boston transit system now has the authority to stop you and demand ID, your itinerary, and your reason for travel, didn't you? Failure to produce all three will result in your expulsion from the transit system and probable arrest on suspicion.
Folks that can't see the similarities between this nation now and the Germany of the 1930's are both blind and stupid.
Frank Ney
Posted by Russell Whitaker at June 7, 2004 6:31 AM | TrackBackRussell, I clicked the link, but I didn't see anything that said "...authority to stop you and demand ID, your itinerary, and your reason for travel..."
Posted by: Michael Reed on June 7, 2004 3:43 PMMichael, I was pointing to the relevant transit police page so that people would know whom to contact to confirm the truth of that statement by Frank; I've not confirmed it myself... still waiting from an answer from Frank. In the meantime, I published the quote for discussion.
WOW! Just as I was writing this - I kid you not! - at 1138 PST, Fox News Channel just reported a confirmation of what Frank said: starting soon (I think I heard them say "4th of July weekend"), Boston police (not sure if that means regular police or transit police) will begin *random searches* of people and bags on trains!
I'll post a longer piece about this later as I find out more, since I expect more Fox News coverage of this, which they labled an "historic event." Historic indeed... *shudder*
Posted by: Russell Whitaker on June 8, 2004 11:41 AMRussell, I agree that this is extraordinary.
But I must say that I am torn here. This is obviously a pre-emptive measure against potential terrorists. No one wants another Madrid to happen.
On the other hand, it's the slippery slope aspect of this that makes free individuals shudder.
As your November 7, 2003 Quote of the Day from George Carlin had it: "I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a part of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect."
IMHO, this is part of the larger question of just what methods can a free and open society use to protect its citizens against the parts of hell that have broken loose.
Excellent topic.
Posted by: Michael Reed on June 8, 2004 12:43 PMI believe that this type of police intrusion into our lives based only on the POSSIBILITY of a crime being committed spells the end of a "free and open society". Remember that terrorism is nothing more than murder or assault committed for a political purpose. Once the police justify stopping you in an effort to combat terrorism, why wouldn't they do the same thing in an effort to combat "regular" murder? Or rape? Or expired license plates? There will be no "minimum threat" below which the police will simply leave you alone.
An interesting question: how can a "free and open society" require individuals to answer questions about their activities? What if I don't speak the language? Or if I am unable to speak at all? To consider the extreme case, would a deaf mute be imprisoned indefinitely simply because they're unable to clear themselves of suspicion?
It's been said before, but it merits repeating: the worst a terrorist can do is to kill you - only a government can keep you from being free.
Posted by: Bob Tipton on June 8, 2004 4:06 PM