The federal government has already deployed new detection machines that can scan citizens without their knowledge from as far as 50 feet away and "read" their personal documents such as passports or driver's licenses.
The Homeland Security Department touts the high-tech devices as increasing security at border crossings, but privacy advocates are raising all sorts of red flags.
Critics say the new machines, which read one's personal information right through a wallet or purse, do so without consent or a warrant and may set a worrisome precedent.
The devices, called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) machines, allow officials to read remotely any passports, pass cards, and driver's licenses that contain special chips with personal information.
The RFIDs are so sensitive that, even before a vehicle pulls up at a border checkpoint, agents already will have on their computer screen the personal data of the passengers, including each person's name, date of birth, nationality, passport or ID number, and even.........................................http://www.newsmax.com/insidec.....mp;promo_code=725A-1
Respectfully, I think you are missing the point here. It isn't about having anything to hide. It is all about invasion of privacy. We, the majority, should not have to give up our 'private, personal' rights for the few nuts out there. When you open the door to one invasion of privacy, the flood gates will open. We have already, as a free nation, lost many private rights. I'm sure that there are some we aren't even aware of.
We are already being told what, when and where to eat, drink, smoke, and drive. We are being herded like animals. This is all just pathetic IMHO.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
After 911 our rights were just about gone and we have only 2 choices retain our privacy and let the terrorists into the country along with it's honest citizens or place restrictions on everyone who enters or leaves the country the good along with the bad.
Respectfully, I think you are missing the point here. It isn't about having anything to hide. It is all about invasion of privacy. We, the majority, should not have to give up our 'private, personal' rights for the few nuts out there. When you open the door to one invasion of privacy, the flood gates will open. We have already, as a free nation, lost many private rights. I'm sure that there are some we aren't even aware of.
We are already being told what, when and where to eat, drink, smoke, and drive. We are being herded like animals. This is all just pathetic IMHO.
Bum, my heart agrees with you, but my logical side is telling me that if this practice will prevent another 911 or similar incident I don't mind if they scan my purse.
After 911 our rights were just about gone and we have only 2 choices retain our privacy and let the terrorists into the country along with it's honest citizens or place restrictions on everyone who enters or leaves the country the good along with the bad.
Fear destroys EVERYTHING........diplomacy/war makes distrust.......a line drawn in the sand separates your enemies from your foes but,,,,,we must be willing to see the whites of their eyes......the eyes are the window to the soul.......unfortunately this computer and that cell phone/tv etc has made us closer and yet so far apart.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
The RFID scanners are an excellent additional layer of security. Sadly some Americans become idignant easily- Mostly those that dont go anywhere. Does anyone know what a zoo it is at the Huston ( IAD ) airport immegration ? Come on people wake up- Those lines on a good day are a 100 yds long. I dont care if they start scanningfrom the time we get off the plane-
Ok,,,,,you feel safer???? Really??? Be honest??? or is it just a fleeting thought of "atleast they're doing something"......because most of us are OK with that kind of thought......my thought,,,,hell, carnage is everywhere and the worst kind is on the tip of anyone's tongue at any time..... not to mention American Idol......
wait, I forgot one question those on the 'left' and those on the 'right'.....are folks inherently evil or good?? I gotta say,,,,the hippies or yuppies of today think everyone deserves a flower.....I say take an x-ray/scanner machine home and share it at the commune aka: burbs.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Ok,,,,,you feel safer???? Really??? Be honest??? or is it just a fleeting thought of "atleast they're doing something"......because most of us are OK with that kind of thought......my thought,,,,hell, carnage is everywhere and the worst kind is on the tip of anyone's tongue at any time..... not to mention American Idol......
wait, I forgot one question those on the 'left' and those on the 'right'.....are folks inherently evil or good?? I gotta say,,,,the hippies or yuppies of today think everyone deserves a flower.....I say take an x-ray/scanner machine home and share it at the commune aka: burbs.......
Hey - one more time- do you have a valid passport ? Do you fly anywhere ? Are you in a coma ? ( just kidding ) When was the last time you re-entered the US from a foreign country- never ?
Flight attendants and gate agents are not bank tellers or immegration agents. You know nothing of which you speak. Save your political rehtoric- its sounding very stupid
I must say that this sounds like a big incasion of privacy to me. I don't like it, but I know it's coming. I agree with Bumble. Remember, it doesn't matter how clean you are if someone wants to find something on you. You have to stay absolutely out of the way of these things. I think that they need to take time for the extra security, advise people to have all their information ready. If people have to wait for hours in line, then they have to do that. It's a price you pay for the want to move from country to country. It shouldn't be quick and easy. It should be secure.
Rene, as far as your remark, "Bum, my heart agrees with you, but my logical side is telling me that if this practice will prevent another 911 or similar incident I don't mind if they scan my purse," I just wonder...how deep do they want to dig into every single person? I don't know, but remember it was V.I. Lenin who stated..."A capitalist will sell you the rope you will hang him with, if he can make profit on it." How much "safety" are we going to demand before we have no rights?
I stand by my comment. If I'm on a plane, train or bus and this scanner prevented the scum of the earth from sitting next to me I'm ok with it. Maybe they scanned someone and found they were wanted for murder, this person was assigned to the seat next to me and planned to kill as many people as he could before killing himself but was removed before he could get on the plane...you think thats a stretch? I have so little faith in the human race as a whole I don't think it is at all. Ask the guy who just got trampled by the "human race" trying to save a nickel on imported Chinese products from Walmart. Oh yeah, you can't cause he's dead. How many times do we say on this forum "They walk among us"? They truly do.
I don't think anyone likes it but it's becoming a way of life when you travel out of the country. When leaving Aruba we were checked by immigration and customs agents from Aruba. Next were checked by immigration and customs from the USA b4 we were allowed to board the plane and the luggage was checked twice as well. I agree with Rene I don't like it but if it saves lives I guess we had better get used to the increased invasion of our privacy. If any of you have a pistol permit, clearance to go into a prison, or to work in any atomic energy regulated building, or were ever in the military, the government already knows all about you anyway.
I said this in one other thread and will repeat it here. WHY NOW! It has been almost 8 years since 911. This technology was around then, why wasn't it used right from the get go? It just amazes me that for the last 7-8 years, our boarders were left wide open with no concern of a threat. Very little to nothing was done about our boarders. Immigration was never delt with at a national or state level. And they want to scan 'me'?
Come on folks, right after 911 the average waiting time was 4 hours to board a plane. After some time, the airports lifted some of it's restrictions and allowed less waiting time and less investigating. Then there was the issue about granting illegals drivers licenses. Ya know, the same illegals who are living off of our tax dollar through public programs. These issues have never fully been addressed...and yet they want to scan me. WHY NOW!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Hey - one more time- do you have a valid passport ? Do you fly anywhere ? Are you in a coma ? ( just kidding ) When was the last time you re-entered the US from a foreign country- never ?
Flight attendants and gate agents are not bank tellers or immegration agents. You know nothing of which you speak. Save your political rehtoric- its sounding very stupid
Let me ask this another way......what is America known for??? Your thoughts, ideas, definitions etc.......be honest......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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