6 ms·

Arbitrary search and seizure at the border has been a steady feature in western countries for, like, the solid part of the past two decade. I have travelled to

Arbitrary search and seizure at the border has been a steady feature in western countries for, like, the solid part of the past two decade. I have travelled to the USA three times during this period and during every single visit I had been pulled aside by the TSA for extra screening (SSSS). In the last 5 years or so when I return to my home country of New Zealand, I have been repeatedly searched by customs which has never happened before. I would not be surprised at all if my name is on a list somewhere, despite me being very much inactive on social media and does not subscribe to any remotely radical ideology. Perhaps as a unmarried millennial male I just had that Unabomber vibe and must be stopped before I turn. I do sympathize with Mr Murray , however there is really no need to act like it was a brand new development when similar stuff has been going on for pretty much my entire adult life and his recent career.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
lilsoso 3y ago
While scanning your comment history looking for unusual interests, I found an intriguing comment that's unrelated to this topic: "Cash is already heavily monitored and most petty criminals have already moved on to Amazon gift cards." Can you describe what you mean when you say cash is heavily monitored?
- Laforet 3y ago
  Before computerization of the finance industry, banks used to keep stashes of "ransom money" with all serial numbers already recorded so they could be tracked to some extent. This is no longer necessary as modern money handling equipment makes it trivial to keep a detailed log of every single bill they receive or give out. And what if you forgo banks entirely? Well, governments have also been legislating to slowly stigmatize cash use. Google "civil forfeiture" and you will find countless examples of the police taking people's money away without due process, as if carrying large amounts of cash itself is a crime.
csomar 3y ago
The reason for this is the expansion of the TSA (or airport security body). When you have a very small number of people/devices, you just let people in. When you have a large apparatus, you make use of it. And the large apparatus will try to find work for itself by stopping as many people as humanly possible. They'll also stop the most normal people out-there because they tend to make less of a fuss about it. Recently, I flew SFO and they seemed to have a shortage of TSA officers or something (all security booths were empty). There were a couple old guys, they just randomly selected people for screening but everyone else were just let go without baggage screening.
- pacoWebConsult 3y ago
  That's because TSA doesn't do the security at SFO [1] SF has had issues with drug trafficking through the airport due to this [2]. [1]: https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/answering-holiday-travel-tsa-questions-17595879.php https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/answering-holiday-trav... [2]: https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/sfo-armed-robbery-uncovered-drug-smuggling-ring-18161928.php https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/sfo-armed-robbery-un...

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

lilsoso 3y ago

While scanning your comment history looking for unusual interests, I found an intriguing comment that's unrelated to this topic: "Cash is already heavily monitored and most petty criminals have already moved on to Amazon gift cards." Can you describe what you mean when you say cash is heavily monitored?

Laforet 3y ago
Before computerization of the finance industry, banks used to keep stashes of "ransom money" with all serial numbers already recorded so they could be tracked to some extent. This is no longer necessary as modern money handling equipment makes it trivial to keep a detailed log of every single bill they receive or give out. And what if you forgo banks entirely? Well, governments have also been legislating to slowly stigmatize cash use. Google "civil forfeiture" and you will find countless examples of the police taking people's money away without due process, as if carrying large amounts of cash itself is a crime.

csomar 3y ago

The reason for this is the expansion of the TSA (or airport security body). When you have a very small number of people/devices, you just let people in. When you have a large apparatus, you make use of it. And the large apparatus will try to find work for itself by stopping as many people as humanly possible. They'll also stop the most normal people out-there because they tend to make less of a fuss about it. Recently, I flew SFO and they seemed to have a shortage of TSA officers or something (all security booths were empty). There were a couple old guys, they just randomly selected people for screening but everyone else were just let go without baggage screening.

pacoWebConsult 3y ago
That's because TSA doesn't do the security at SFO [1] SF has had issues with drug trafficking through the airport due to this [2]. [1]: https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/answering-holiday-travel-tsa-questions-17595879.php https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/answering-holiday-trav... [2]: https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/sfo-armed-robbery-uncovered-drug-smuggling-ring-18161928.php https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/sfo-armed-robbery-un...