Holy Moses. If this isn't BIG BROTHER attempting to claw away at your privacy with his big hands, I don't know what is. This from the Washington Post.
Fliers to Be Rated for Risk Level New System Will Scrutinize Each Passenger, Assign Color Code
In the most aggressive -- and, some say, invasive -- step yet to protect air travelers, the federal government and the airlines will phase in a computer system next year to measure the risk posed by every passenger on every flight in the United States.
The new Transportation Security Administration system seeks to probe deeper into each passenger's identity than is currently possible, comparing personal information against criminal records and intelligence information. Passengers will be assigned a color code -- green, yellow or red -- based in part on their city of departure, destination, traveling companions and date of ticket purchase.Most people will be coded green and sail through. But up to 8 percent of passengers who board the nation's 26,000 daily flights will be coded "yellow" and will undergo additional screening at the checkpoint, according to people familiar with the program. An estimated 1 to 2 percent will be labeled "red" and will be prohibited from boarding. These passengers also will face police questioning and may be arrested.
Wow. This creeps me out. I understand the rationale, but disagree with the methodology. Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we just extradite ILLEGAL ALIENS from our country and send them home? Or, how about this. racial profile those who LOOK like terrorists instead of frisking and wanding grandmas in support hose!
The first mistake was federalizing airport security. It should have been privatized. This system is the next mistake. How many people are going to be erroneously coded as yellow or red? Ah, and how long before people of faith are going to be labeled as "dangerous", thereby receiving the "scarlett color"?
Stay safe folks. It is getting crazier by the day. Be sure you are standing on the Rock, cause the storms are coming.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
September 9, 2003 04:14 PM
I don't know if I could get a green or not, as I earlier e-mailed Attorney General John Ashcroft my opinion that he is a dangerous enemy of the U.S. Constitution.
Joel T.
September 9, 2003 06:09 PM
First time I've ever admitted to being yellow...
September 13, 2003 12:39 AM
Joel, you Must be a chronic like me, I think this is the third time we have been drawn to reply to an issue at this site. Well JT, This time I got to agree with you! That's a bit to much for my liking and not the first time as of late. And I am a republican and consider myself slightly right of moderate but only very slightly. It's not so much the computer involvment that troubles me. It would be nationality or race, or facial features, if not for the computer. The computer does allow for more and quicker info.
What concerns me is the relatively easy time Ashcroft had, of being able to circumvent what many of us consider our civil rights. We will never give up our freedom to terrorist, but if we are not carefull, We may give them away to our own Government.Sure,Ashcroft say's we have to fight terrorist,and he's right,but the "little extra leeway he seeks today could turn out to be the fiasco the RICO act turned out to be. The politicians start out wanting to do something they think is for our own good and then someone else get's a hold of it and wham!!! "Whole nuther animal" RICO started out good,take away the property that was being bought buy lucrative criminals commiting interstate crimes. Next thing you know elderly couples are losing their homes because when little Johhny visited granny, He forgot to take that joint out of his pocket and gets busted driving their car.In Florida,it was also used to profile black drivers that followed the speed limit to closely and confiscate their money if they had what the sheriff thought was to much for a Black to have. Anywhere from about three hundred bucks on up.Police confiscate cars and property for simple possesion charges everyday citing the RICO act.It was never originally intended for that. It was meant to fight high level narcotics shippers and dealers on a high level such as organized crime bosses. Ascroft may say he is going after terrorist today, but down the road, what will someone else be doing with that easy access to records and wiretaps and other information. What is the reason those roadblocks he seeks to remove are there? Did someone else think they were neccessary to protect us once?Or did Ashcroft, like so many other politicians, forget about the part where all rights not "specifically" given to the government, in the constitution,, are reserved for the public?
September 16, 2003 07:52 AM
Joel, are you confused? No I'm not attacking you by any means. Just you position here sounds a bit alarmist. No ones suggesting 'frisking any grandmas', or for that matter waylaying any regular citizens.
A. THey already have the technology.
B. They already have the data.
C. They're already using the data!
D. It is very much like the 'profiling' you suggest.
Just for the 1st time they're telling everyone ahead of time they've got you under the scope.
My point is, they're already doing the screening part, why then would you not want the 4 or 5% that are 'red' to not board with you?!?
I know Id feel safer flying with out 'Abdul', with the towel on his head, and the feverish gazed eyes not sitting next to me.
Amendment: My arabic/muslim/Islamic brothers, take no offense at my choice of words. Not meant to be disparaging, in fact I have many friends who are and they all agree with me. No true believer thinks that any who don't believe are less than human [as the terrorists do]