Whitehead notes how the Department of Homeland Security has become this large and ominous organization spread out all over the United States. He seems to agree with my suggestion that one of the biggest challenges facing civil liberties attorneys is convincing government that concerns over civil liberties supersede the possibility that hundreds of thousands of dollars will be wasted if government just decides to do away with the machines they have recently purchased.
Roberts' reaction is different. He immediately asks, "Whose money did they spend to buy those machines?" He notes that this is Recovery Act money, which makes it taxpayer money. And, so, we have every right to fight in resistance and should hesitate at the thought that the government might successfully minimize civil liberties protections in this country.
He sums it up like this: The purchase of these machines by the government is corruption of the highest degree. But, even worse, it's corruption that now is "undermining the very fabric of our society, our whole concept of a free and just society."
I will publish both of the interviews in two full-length articles over the weekend.
Both of these individuals recently appeared on "The Sean
Hannity Show." (They actually had a bit of trouble with Sean Hannity who didn't
think TSA wasn't really trained for the kind of security this country needs, which they're not. They can't do psychological or behavior analysis of travelers that could really prevent attacks.)
They, lawmakers, and Yeffet are pushing for more common sense security in this country. They are disputing this idea that has become conventional wisdom--the idea that no one has a "right" to fly in an airplane, it is a privilege and individual rights are secondary to the rights of society.
That notion, although it has been used in history, has never been allowed to stand. Citizens through political leaders have always risen up to challenge the idea that rights or civil liberties can be subverted to keep people "safe."
Roberts and Whitehead are also directly challenging the corporate welfare by government that has led this country into this mess. A select group of companies (L-3, Rapiscan, and Smiths Detection) have received contracts that are backed by stimulus money. The government has chosen to, instead of investing in jobs, stimulate the economy through scanners that will likely pose health risks to frequent travelers in the short term and passengers in the long term.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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