Not the America I grew up in. PATCO (commuter train) riders undergo search

[Kipper717]

LINDENWOLD, NJ — A swarm of DRPA police officers, uniformed screeners from the federal Transportation Security Administration and an explosives-sniffing K-9 greeted commuters at the Lindenwold PATCO station Tuesday morning, the first of what will be routine random searches of riders, their bags and vehicles.
This line runs from suburban South Jersey into Philadelphia.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/9080330/PATCO-riders-undergo-search

No cause random police searches? When I grew up in the 60's, this was the kind of thing you would see depicted overseas in a war or spy movie. I always felt blessed to live in a country where that sort thing could never happen. Or so I thought. My favorite line in the article was...
"We can conduct any kind of search we want," said Delaware River Port Authority Police Chief David McClintock. "We could ask TSA to bring wands or X-ray machines like they have in airports, though we don't think that's appropriate for PATCO riders at this time."


I know this quote from Ben Franklin is someone's sig. but it rings so true in this case and many others.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

There are other stations on this commuter line just a few miles down the road where there was no searches. Anyone with ill intent could be at another staion and on a train within minutes. So, how did this "swarm of DRPA police officers, uniformed screeners" protect anyone?

 

[MotF Bane]

The inevitable conclusion of an expanding government - more control, more intrusion. Constitution be damned.

 

[Linflas]

LINDENWOLD, NJ — A swarm of DRPA police officers, uniformed screeners from the federal Transportation Security Administration and an explosives-sniffing K-9 greeted commuters at the Lindenwold PATCO station Tuesday morning, the first of what will be routine random searches of riders, their bags and vehicles.
This line runs from suburban South Jersey into Philadelphia.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/9080330/PATCO-riders-undergo-search

No cause random police searches? When I grew up in the 60's, this was the kind of thing you would see depicted overseas in a war or spy movie. I always felt blessed to live in a country where that sort thing could never happen. Or so I thought. My favorite line in the article was...
"We can conduct any kind of search we want," said Delaware River Port Authority Police Chief David McClintock. "We could ask TSA to bring wands or X-ray machines like they have in airports, though we don't think that's appropriate for PATCO riders at this time."


I know this quote from Ben Franklin is someone's sig. but it rings so true in this case and many others.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

There are other stations on this commuter line just a few miles down the road where there was no searches. Anyone with ill intent could be at another staion and on a train within minutes. So, how did this "swarm of DRPA police officers, uniformed screeners" protect anyone?

It hasn't been the America I grew up in for a very long time. The America I grew up in living in Northern Virginia was a place where you could skip school and spend the day exploring nooks and crannies in the Capitol, climb or descend the steps in the Washington Monument, drive visitors past the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, and drive between the White House and the Old Executive office building on West Executive Avenue just to list a few of the many things no longer possible. Funny I don't feel any safer now than I did then but I certainly feel a distinct loss of liberty.

 

[Jaskalas]

The inevitable conclusion of an expanding government - more control, more intrusion. Constitution be damned.

Grown large enough to become self aware, self protecting, self serving.

 

[OutHouse]

It hasn't been the America I grew up in for a very long time. The America I grew up in living in Northern Virginia was a place where you could skip school and spend the day exploring nooks and crannies in the Capitol, climb or descend the steps in the Washington Monument, drive visitors past the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, and drive between the White House and the Old Executive office building on West Executive Avenue just to list a few of the many things no longer possible. Funny I don't feel any safer now than I did then but I certainly feel a distinct loss of liberty.

well said.

 

[her209]

The inevitable conclusion of an expanding government - more control, more intrusion. Constitution be damned.

I thought polls indicated that the majority of Americans were for this...

:hmm:

 

[Linflas]

I thought polls indicated that the majority of Americans were for this...

:hmm:

Funny, the America I grew up in also understood the distinction between a Constitutional Republic and governing based on the latest polling data.

 

[her209]

Funny, the America I grew up in also understood the distinction between a Constitutional Republic and governing based on the latest polling data.

Funny considering that's what Republicans always point to...

 

[Zebo]

Every time I read one of these expanding police and hyper security state stories I think of line from Blade Runner. "You're either a Cop or Little people"

 

[Linflas]

Funny considering that's what Republicans always point to...

Sure it is always the Republicans, never the Democrats that, that ignore the Constitution in pursuit of their goals.

 

[xj0hnx]

Funny considering that's what Republicans always point to...

Democrats never use polling data? :hmm:

 

[Fern]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

 

[xj0hnx]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

What's you definition of accept "Deal with" is more accurate I would think. I personally think the security at airports has gone WAY overboard, bordering on ludicrous.

 

[HumblePie]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

That and no one is forcing you to use those modes of transport.

 

[Vette73]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

404 Secure airports not found

Do you really think the BS they do at airports, or this little stunt, is actually making things better?

There are stories that pop up all the time where guns have made it onboard and people sneak other things in all the time. Let aloen the energy in a large laptop battery is enough to blow a hole in the side of a plane.

 

[IGBT]

thanks to political correctness public transportation is a prime target for islamofascism terrorists. Happy trails to ya.

 

[classy]

I ride patco, I don't have a problem with this at all. LOL I am glad they are doing this. There is some seriously shady looking charcters that get on that train, trust me.

 

[classy]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

Fern you are 100% spot on with this.

 

[Zebo]

Honest question: How is it people accept this type of security in our airports, but freak out when it is applied to trains stations etc? I don't see any difference between the two.

Airports, train stations and subway have all been targets of attack around the world. If we secure our airports doesn't it seem obvious the terrorists will just shift to another softer target, like a train station or subway?

Fern

Who said airports illegal searching was okay? Certainly goes against 4th.

 

[Kipper717]

If you're getting on an airplane, you have to pass through security no matter where you board. On this commuter line, there is another station just minutes down the road, so unless they are going to do checks at every station at the same time, the comparison fails.

 

[xj0hnx]

I ride patco, I don't have a problem with this at all. LOL I am glad they are doing this. There is some seriously shady looking charcters that get on that train, trust me.

So, because you're scared we should continue moving more towards a police state?

 

[Triumph]

It's all bullshit, and it's only going to get worse, not only because of those in government, but also because security is becoming big business. once companies realize how much money there is to be made in making us "safe", you'll never be able to separate that leech from the host.

 

[Fern]

Who said airports illegal searching was okay? Certainly goes against 4th.

Plenty of posters here.

When I've I brought it up I've been told you have to give up some of your rights if you choose to take a plane.

Fern

 

[classy]

So, because you're scared we should continue moving more towards a police state?

Dude people have been killed at Ferry Ave. That little constitution stuff is nice, in a classroom somewhere, lol. But in the real world, I want real world solutions. Spot checks like this may delay your ride 5 minutes, but worth it for safety.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Plenty of posters here.

When I've I brought it up I've been told you have to give up some of your rights if you choose to take a plane.

Fern

A plane can be steered to a target and dropped on it. Try that with a train.

While were at it, you know that you choose to drive. There are people who drive cars to places and blow them up. Well let's outfit them with ID systems or they won't start.

Now it's also true that there are people who use false identities. Perhaps a bar code or an implant on the inside of the skull at birth.

That's not quite good enough. People can do all sorts of things. GPS implants would help that broadcast IDs. That way if a crime happens everyone can be linked to it. After all we choose to live in America, and America stands for freedom.

Hyperbole? Today perhaps, just like what we see now was not many years ago.

Cowards need safety above all.