Security AND Freedom

A wise patriot, Benjamin Frankin, once said that "Those who trade their freedom for security deserve neither." Well, that's what our republican government is trying to do to us, scare the common man into giving away their rights in the HOPE that this will help the government keep us safe. So Ashcroft and his ilk came out with the patriot act.

That however wasn't enough for them, apparently being able to see what books I borrow from the library or buy( hence my buying some 'left wing books' with cold hard cash). Heck in a recent report Rep. Frank Wolf, R-VA., read a letter from the Justice Department stating that ``as recently as this past winter and spring, a member of a terrorist group closely affiliated with al-Qaida'' had used Internet services at a public library. So OBVIOUSLY we have to monitor people using library computers( I guess terrorists are poor and can't afford a computer of their own). It also allows 'roving wire taps' so they could tape a public phone instead of just a specific person's phone.

But I digress... What angers me today is that I live in Boston and since I'm poor and don't have a car, I ride Mass transit. You see to 'protect' me, my fellow Bostonians, and DC fat cats; the T system wanted to unveil a 'random bag check' for the Democratic Convention. I was very happy when the ACLU and others pointed out that a) this is in violation of the forth amendment-
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
and b)that 'random checks' won't be or simply put- odds are a middle eastern looking person would be more likely to be stopped then a white person. Then again if you were rich, you'd drive and thus not have to worry about a bag check.

So in today's Metro( a local daily right wing paper) leads with the fact that faced with the ACLU's obection for 'random searches' the T police will stop EVERYONE. Think about that for a moment. While Boston is not as big as NYC, I could easily see 30 odd people come into one of the stations during Rush Hour. NOW they have to inspecting ALL the bags, bringing commuting to a halt. They are also saying that T officials are considering KEEPING this policy, of checking everyone's bag AFTER the con. See they figure if they can take a right from you for a while- why give it back?

This bothers me to no end. I mean, say I have one of Al Franklin's book in my bag and the guy who's checking my bag objects to it? Or if I buy some porn and put it in my bag... He gets to see that. It gets worse if the guard is of the opposite sex. So this will change my buying habits as before I buy something I'll have to think 'Will the T guards find this offensive/ un american?"
And if they have to keep these bag checks FOREVER, doesn't that sorta imply that we in Boston will NEVER be safe?

Actually what really scares me is that if this CONVENTION will make Boston unsafe, how unsafe will we be on election day( red? blackwatch plaid?)? Maybe W. will cancel the election til he's SURE that we're all safe....