TSA gathers database about every U.S. traveler
Tuesday, 21 June 2005 | 109 readers so far
Don’t worry - the government only does good things for good reasons. You can relax. Someone else will take care of it.
That’s why it shouldn’t bother you that the Transportation Security Administration is saying one thing and doing another, in violation of directives specifically given to it by Congress. I’m not a big fan of either body, but the TSA does report to Congress, and is bound by law to follow mandates that Congress issues to it. So it’s no big deal that the TSA lied and gathered a “test database” about every single traveler in the United States during June 2004. Don’t worry, all that data is safe and will only be used for “official purposes.” Yeah, right.
Some people call me paranoid. Maybe I am. But I don’t want government to know any more than it needs to about me. It already knows way too much.
Others comment on the TSA’s abuse of government authority:
Prometheus - Hey, you think you’re processing credit cards here?
Billville - Transportation Security Administration Collected Airline Passenger Data Without Public Knowledge
Secondary Screening - More Questions about TSA and Privacy
The TSA isn’t looking for the right things, can’t find what it is looking for (I know, because I test) and won’t stop a determined terrorist(s). But honestly, how many of you think the next terrorist event in the U.S. will be plane related?
I flew to Dallas from Atlanta on Monday, and as I was shuffling through the security lines next to a dignified older couple, the man leaned over to me as he was struggling to put his shoe back on and said, “I think the terrorists have already won.” He’s right.
By causing the creation of the TSA, the terrorists scored a major victory in the war against freedom and liberty in America.
1 June 21st, 2005 at 9:42 pm
The New American Revolutionist says:
Trevor , Boortz and Bob Barr weigh in on the illegal antics of the TSA. I hope (but doubt) that the Bush administration takes action to reign in this out of control arm of the federal government. My solution would be to disband it and make the airlines and
2 June 22nd, 2005 at 3:23 am
Jake says:
“Don’t worry - the government only does good things for good reasons. You can relax. Someone else will take care of it.”
Good I don’t know what we would do without dictators. This reminds me of the quote “The Patriot Act makes us more free.”
I hope they have not won, I hope by 2008, America will wake up and elect some new people.
3 June 22nd, 2005 at 3:35 am
Trevor says:
Jake, the sad truth of the matter is that the system is already set up to make it almost impossible for anyone honest - especially any third party citizen with new ideas to try - to get elected.
There are all kinds of barriers in place to even get on the ballot.
4 June 22nd, 2005 at 7:21 am
Jake says:
I agree, they make the laws and make them harder for anyone to compete they are a monopoly.
5 June 22nd, 2005 at 5:06 pm
Frank Martin says:
Fortunately I do not travel by air.. except when the USAF tells me I am going somewhere on temporary duty.
But its starting to get so apparent that we are loosing our liberty to go where we want too and do what we want too without the government knowing about it.
I thought this was the United States.. Not the former Soviet Union.
6 June 22nd, 2005 at 5:45 pm
Holly says:
I am travelling to Argentina for the month of July to take 2 graduate courses and do some research for my thesis (ok, and enjoy the country a bit too!) and I haven’t been on an international flight since before 9/11. I am dreading the stupidness that I am going to have to go through to leave my own country and return. As usual, the government just seems to go about things in the most illogical manner possible. I’ll be sure to post to my blog as often as possible about all the crap I have to deal with in the airport - the fact that I know I’m going to be treated like a criminal makes me sick to my stomach.
7 June 22nd, 2005 at 7:41 pm
Joe says:
It’s all for your own well being, people. I know that when “the computer” picks me for a random screening, and the nice little arabian twenty-somethings are shuffled through, that the TSA has ensured my safety and the safety of others on board. Yes, me and Grandma are devoid of our nail clippers and all is well. *sigh*
8 June 23rd, 2005 at 12:15 am
mspissed says:
i got two nailfiles confiscated off of me when i flew last. a metal one, and a cardboard one. a CARDBOARD NAILFILE. the metal one i can sorta understand, sorta. what the fuck did they think i was going to do? assault the pilot’s fucking hangnails?
9 June 23rd, 2005 at 1:51 am
Trevor says:
Confiscating matches, paper nail files and knitting needles from old people in wheelchairs and putting up signs stating that anyone joking about safety will be arrested is proof positive that the TSA is more concerned with controlling you than it is with ensuring your safety.
I have a co-worker who had his computer toolkit confiscated while trying to board a plane. If this sort of asinine behavior is allowed to spread, the United States is already doomed.
Thanks for your comments everyone.