Well, this certainly has been a shit week for freedom, hasn't it? Let's review: First, George W. Bush nominates someone to the Supreme Court. John Roberts could be the next Souter or he could be the next Dread Pirate Roberts, but either way, does a Bush nominee sound like a good thing for liberty and freedom?
That by itself might not be too noteworthy, but then today we learned that New Yorkers will be subject to search any time they want to use public transit. Already, I've seen folks on the internets sneering at how public transit is a choice, blah, blah, blah. Maybe it is in the Los Angeleses, Cincinnatis and Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplexes of the world. But in New York, it's a choice the way having a job is a choice. Technically, you can choose to sit at home, watching CNN until you cower under the bed, but at some point, you're not really living anymore, are you?
Look, in this country, the police don't get to search you unless you do something that warrants it. Going to work, or to meet your friends, or just getting out of the house because it's a nice day and you want to walk around and people watch and be glad you're alive is not a reason to suspect someone. End of story.
And after the City of New York gave its residents the finger, the House of Representatives decided to do the same to its own constituents, renewing the cynically named USA Patriot Act. (Read about some totally responsible and not at all galling legislative chicanery here.)
You know, after the election in November, everyone was talking about how we were going to have to re-fight the Enlightenment all over again. Turns out maybe those of us in the reality-based community will have to re-argue the Bill of Rights instead.
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On the other hand, if they really do "hate us for our freedom," this is an effective strategy to make them hate us a lot less.
Well, if this policy last's a week, it's sure to spread to all major cities soon. I wonder how long it will take them to start that here in Chicago/Milwaukee?
um, really, i wouldn't worry too much about milwaukee.
Evil Girl, even if Milwaukee isn't as high on a terror target list as N.Y. and D.C., the issue isn't realistic threat assessment and response. (If it were, NYPD wouldn't be launching this venture, it would be doing something effective.) The issue is a power-grab by officials who instill fear for their own purposes. I doubt that the public servants in Wisconsin and Wyoming are any more restrained than the ones here.
I just read today that the chief of the DC Metro police is closely monitoring how people take to the searches in New York.
And given that DC Metro cops have been known to throw the book at children for eating one french fry (it's a good thing we have certain judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit looking out for our rights!)...I'm sure their random searches will be lots of fun.
If it happens, though, and Crimenotes or one of his law-oriented friends want to try their hand at civil rights litigation...well, I'm probably going to be arrested for refusing the search. I'll need a bit of help...
Why thank you Crimenotes, you have an excellent point. And Evil Girl, you do know that Miller Brewery has it's home in Milwaukee, don't you ;-).
With Chicago being a major city, with Milwaukee not so prime a target, but still less than 2 hours away make it an easy secondary target.
Good things about Wisconsin...Russ Feingold, only Senator to vote No to the original Patriot Act, bad thing about Wisconsin Congressional District One...Congressman Paul Ryan.
And Crimenotes, if I might make a huge imposition upon you, check out my blog and leave me a comment so that I will know that at least one person on the planet has at least taken a look at it ;-)
i'll look at it, but only if there's an equally bad use of emoticons and poor punctuation.
Milwaukee also is home to vast strategic reserves of bratwurst and secret sauce, as well as national treasure Bob Uecker.
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