President Obama's Worst Nightmare

President Obama's Worst Nightmare

In a speech yesterday during a townhall meeting in Racine, Wisconsin, President Obama took the opportunity to bash alleged republican beliefs. In his speech he was quoted as saying:
"[Republican's] prescription for every challenge is pretty much the same: cut taxes for the wealthy, cut rules for corporations and cut working folks loose to fend for themselves. "

Of course plenty of time could be spend discussing the horrors of taxing everyone fairly, or the atrocious ideas of free market business, however I think now is the time to discuss the last and most ghastly idea of all; people "fending" for themselves. I mean, good gravy republicans, are you actually suggesting that individuals shouldn't have to suckle at the big government boob? That they should be able to practice individual liberty? That they should be rewarded for their successes and penalized for their failures!? I mean, it's almost like you are implying that "working folks" are grown adults who should have to handle the consequences of their own actions! Next you'll be suggesting that it's wrong for individuals to have HBO and be on welfare. Or that the constitution should be interpreted using the original intent of those who wrote it. ARE YOU INSANE? Oh my, all this craziness has made me dizzy. I had better take the rest of the day off work and go home and rest.

The Miracle of Flight

The Miracle of Flight

I know we've all read plenty of flight horror stories. We've all heard the bitching and moaning about what a pain it is to take off our shoes and separate our liquids in order to clear security. Even as I write this, I can almost hear the groans of irritation at my belated rant about flying in today's society, and yet I feel compelled to share my experience of what would typically be considered a problem free flight.

I arrived at the airport the standard hour early to check in for my flight. Due to the fact that I was returning with gifts from a bridal shower I had just attended, I was forced to check a bag. $25 dollars later I headed towards the security check in. Following typical procedure (taking off shoes, taking out liquids, computer, and upon request, electric mixer from my luggage) I approached the metal detectors only to find that they had been replaced with millimeter wave scanners. I informed the TSA employee nearest to me that I would like to opt out and, with a hint of exasperation, he directed me through the machine to a female TSA employee. She politely told me that they would be doing a full body pat-down. she proceeded to pat down my arms, sides, back, butt, legs, and then moved to my front. Again she took a moment to explain to me that they would have to feel between my breasts. In high school, when a guy told me that feeling in between my boobs wouldn't count as groping me I scoffed at his abysmal attempted to feel me up. Eight years later, I stand corrected, well played Matt, well played. I reluctantly accepted the mild groping and proceeded to my gate.

The rest of the day was as you would expect. Packed planes, packed terminals, and at the end of the flight, an hour wait for my checked bag. But what really got me was the newly intensified violation of our rights. Yes, our government's been treading on toes inching their way forward for years but at some point we have to draw the line! According to the TSA employee who I spoke with, all the airports in the country will soon (within a couple of months) be using millimeter wave machines in place of metal detectors. This leaves passengers with two options: 1. Have you body scanned with a machine which we do not know the long term health effects of, and have a graphic image of your naked body sent to a stranger OR 2. Be physically violated in the name of security.

But it's all worth it if it will save lives right? Let us remember that the last two publicized terrorist attempts were not foiled by government security measures, but by the attempted terrorist's own incompetence. There are numerous studies showing that the TSA security screenings have been largely ineffective. In fact, the new system eliminates metal detection altogether meaning that if someone chooses to opt out of the millimeter wave detection system they could easily hide metallic objects in their bodily orifice's or between their butt cheeks and there is no screening to detect them.

James Madison is quoted as saying, "If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." Are we are so blindly arrogant as to think we are not vulnerable to the corruption that has hampered every other nation throughout history?