[ RadSafe ] airport body scanners

[garyi at trinityphysics.com]

Well, you have the strength of your convictions. :)
Here's most of your post, just to refresh you:

> I must agree with Franz that the security frenzy that began 
> after 9-11  and continues to this day is not only ridiculous and 
> counter- productive, but it threatens to bring to a sad end the 
> oldest  constitutional democracy in the world.  I no longer 
> recognize the  country I grew up in.  I used to feel sorry for 
> the people who lived  behind the "Iron Curtain" who were 
> spied upon by their own  governments, could be picked up by 
> the police and questioned any time  of the day or night. People 
> who had to show identity papers whenever  they travelled 
> even INSIDE their our country!  That could never happen  
> here we thought. Now look at us.  All those terrible things are  
> happening here in the US as I write this. We have given away 
> our  freedoms in exchange for the illusion of security.  God 
> damn us for  letting it happen - without even putting up a fight.  

Your claim is that since 9-11, the US has morphed into a tyrannical police state where terrible 
things are happening.

OK, here are the million dollar questions:
1) How long have US police been able to pick you up any time, day or night?  With a warrant 
or probably cause, since before there was a US.

2) Why is pre-flight mandatory identification a terrible horrible thing for airlines, the favourite 
punching bag of terrorists?  What reasonable excuse can you offer for refusing to identify 
yourself at the place most likely to be targeted for terrorist attacks?  For responsible citizens, 
there is no such excuse.  You are not required to identify yourself just anywhere (unless 
driving, I think).

3) "We have given away our freedoms."  Do you mean that if it takes you longer to get on a 
plane, and you must present an ID, that you have given away your freedom?  Lets use the 
"Iron Curtain" percent scale to estimate your lost freedom, since you are comparing the US to 
the Iron Curtain countries.  100% is your freedom on 9-10 (or even 1960 if you want) and 0% 
is your freedom as a comrade under Khrushchev.  Hmmm...I may be reading this old analog 
dial badly, but I'm seeing you at 100%, maybe 99.5, even after that plane trip to the 
Bahamas.

So your assertion is nothing but paranoia.  It has no substance.  Outside of DC, there are no 
terrible things happening in America.  You have merely contracted a contagious whine.  I 
prescribe a reduction in your TV and blog consumption.  Your condition should improve 
rapidly if you take my advice.

Finally, I think you wanted to tack on something about "extra-judicial killings".  You are a little 
obscure, but I think you are referring to military tribunals for captured terrorists.  Well, when 
US military personnel are tried for criminal acts, aren't they given a military trial?  If that is 
good enough for the men and women who lay down their lives to protect the rest of us, then it 
better be good enough for the terrorists.  If you ask me, its too good for them.

-Gary Isenhower

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On 10 Mar 2010 at 2:23, Clayton Bradt wrote:

>Hi Clayton

>Do you really stand behind all of this? No statements here that you might withdraw, on
>second thought?

>-Gary 

I stand behind it all