Welcome to reality. Radley Balko | December 1, 2010 Janet Napolitano said last month that we should expect to soon see tighter restrictions at bus, train, and marine transportation centers, too. Here's a report about TSA, Border Patrol, and local police setting up a checkpoint at a Greyhound station in Tampa. Note how quickly preventing a possible terrorist attack expands to include catching illegal immigrants, and preventing drug and what sounds like "cash smuggling." (It's hard to tell from the audio.) Note also the complete and utter reverence the local news report bestows on these government agencies, who after all are merely "teaming up to keep your family safe." A liberal blogger wrote to me in an email this week that libertarians who call the TSA pat-downs a violation of their civil liberties do a disservice to actual violations of civil liberties. It's not difficult to envision the day where anyone wishing to take mass transportation in this country will have to first submit to a government checkpoint, show ID, and answer questions about any excess cash, prescription medication, or any other items in his possession the government deems suspicious. If and when that happens, freedom of movement will essentially be dead. But it won't happen overnight. It'll happen incrementally. And each increment will, when taken in isolation, appear to some to be perfectly reasonable. <object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X4G-0g9PRrE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X4G-0g9PRrE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object> http://reason.com/blog/2010/12/01/you-are-no-longer-free-to-move
Since customer satisfaction with govt. run health care is much higher than with industry run health care, I would prefer the govt.
All federal agencies are being cross-trained. It's basically one big agency. That's why the IRS is now amassing shotguns. Soon you will be able to get a prostate exam at the post office and it will be a glorious day. https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportu...5aba699e80621d&tab=core&_cview=1&cck=1&au=&ck.
The bad guys are probably laughing their butts off at our apparent paranoia. With a hint of blissful ignorance, too:
[rquoter] If and when that happens, freedom of movement will essentially be dead. But it won't happen overnight. It'll happen incrementally. And each increment will, when taken in isolation, appear to some to be perfectly reasonable. [/rquoter] Ten years ago, if I said in order to board a domestic flight, you would be required to either submit to nude x-ray photos or have screeners fondle your junk, I'd be laughed out of the room as a hopeless paranoiac. Each increment will, when taken in isolation, appear to some to be perfectly reasonable. If I was al Qaeda, I'd have a bomber stick a bomb in his colon and get caught, just so I could laugh when the TSA requires everybody to submit to a colonoscopy in order to fly. Edit: I didn't see rockbox's comment before posting. Apparently, it is obvious to everybody where airport screening is heading. But it will all be a perfectly reasonable response to a very tangible threat.
Federal officers are cross-trained for a ****load of different agencies, just ask one. And why don't you tell me why the IRS is buying weapons and getting combat training? "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intends to purchase sixty Remington Model 870 Police RAMAC #24587 12 gauge pump-action shotguns for the Criminal Investigation Division. The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, are designated as the only shotguns authorized for IRS duty based on compatibility with IRS existing shotgun inventory, certified armorer and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts. Submit quotes including 11% Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET) and shipping to Washington DC."
Damn the IRS just acquired 60 more shotguns for their 106,000 employees, thats definitely something everyone should be terrified of. Maybe you should tell your congressman or local news station that the IRS just acquired sixty more shotguns and how they are going to use them to subjugate the citizens of the United States. You do know that the IRS conducts law enforcement investigations? Usually pertaining to cases of tax evasion, where the tax evaders can possibly be some sort of criminal trying to hide how they make their money. These criminals are sometimes violent (Al Capone comes to mind), which calls for armed agents.
Being cross trained? Please link to proof of this. IRS is being trained in how to use shotguns and acquiring shotguns because their job requires enforcement.
The news agencies love to support government power, as evident form the video. And I have a pretty good idea what the IRS does, thank you. Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is VIPER car bomb checkpoints...hope and change...
If you knew all about what the IRS does why would their training and purchase of a few shotguns scare you?
