Freedom to Travel Event, Part 1

[FTL_Ian]

I didn't realize burning a SS card in public was illegal.  Had I know, I would have saved it for a public burning.  I burned mine in my backyard already. 

[Russell Kanning]

It is illegal?......so I guess I should inform them that I am going to do it.....too bad I missed your burning Ian.

[Michael Fisher]

A public burning of SS cards and canadian passports would be the next logical step for a civil disobedience event.

I wonder who will step forward to take part in this one given the success of the manicure event and Russell's event (which WILL succeed!).

[Michael Fisher]

A government ID burning event would be spectacular.  This is EXACTLY what Gandhi did, although his event was a protest against racist ID laws.  The effect of this event would be unbelievable, especially if we focus on burning the new passports required to travel to Canada.

[Dave Ridley]

I posted the first draft of the press release to the other big NH web forums:

http://salemnhforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=964

and

http://merrimackforum.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1990

Reaction has been negative.  Obviously we probably can't back down on any of our promises of what is going to happen, but there may be a more soothing way to word this release?   Maybe it is just worded not peacefully and respectfully enough?





Public reaction (if other web forums are any indication) has bee

[Dave Ridley]

With regard to the time...bear in mind the first release that went out ( to the union leader and the other web forums)  says russell will move forward at 12:30 PM       I'm afraid that if media come to the event with only that old press release they will miss it all, if russell actually does it at 12:00 PM

Another thing:  I do think it is important for the press release to indicate some kind of eagerness to avoid inconveniencing the public.  Just look at the public reaction on the above threads if you don't believe me when I say this is important.

My recommendation is stiill that the best time to walk forward would be 12:30...leaving open the possibility of holding off a bit if there is a long line.   of course, russell is in charge and I will defer to him on this, but that is my suggestion for minimizing hostility.

[FTL_Ian]

Man..    some of those responses are blisteringly harsh.  People seem to think that the airports are much more "private" than they actually are.  Like the airlines actually want this security.

[tracysaboe]

The few airports that have been allowed to to this government mandated security "privately" actually have figured out ways to be more accurate and less demeaning -- in spite of the fact that they're regulated to the point that they're forced to do everything the feds tell them.  I mean, these "private" companies are 99% controled by the government and in spite of it, they're leaps and bounds more efficient, more accurate, and (marginally) less intrusive. Typically a lot politer too.  I think there's only about 5 airports in the country that were allowed to do this test program.

James Bovard talks about them in his TSA chapter in his book "The Bush Betrayal"

Imagine how much better and nicer security would be at the airports if government was completely out of this business.

Tracy

[Russell Kanning]

I have noticed that people are so afraid that they resist any change......they will attack you from both sides....for fear that you might upset the applecart.
I am not doing this only because I already said I would......it is the right thing to do.

Did you read that pregnant wife article? This has to stop. The government made this situation....they decreed these changes....the enforce them.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Man..? ? some of those responses are blisteringly harsh.? People seem to think that the airports are much more "private" than they actually are.? Like the airlines actually want this security.

If the airlines were, actually, responsible for what happened to their passengers, and, by this, I mean, not being bailed out by the taxpayers, the companies that insure them would require, probably, even more severe, security precautions than exist now. They would have to comply, to stay in business.
You can protest the government's part in this, but, these security measures, are, never going to go away.

[Russell Kanning]

The charter companies don't require these kinds of measures.......who knows what it will look like after the government gets out of the airline business.

[Kat Kanning]

When you talk to reporters, how about telling them what it's like on the Israeli airline that's never been hijacked?

[Michael Fisher]

When you talk to reporters, how about telling them what it's like on the Israeli airline that's never been hijacked?

Exactly.

This event is the right thing to do.  Federalization has made a bad problem much worse, and it's time for us to stand up to it.

If not us, then who?

If not now, then when?

Who CARES what the other web forums think?  Many people criticized my event before it happened.  I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do.  I cannot allow the majority to determine my rights.

[Kat Kanning]

What's Russell's pre-event tatoo going to be?  I think he should get a nazi prison camp number tatoo'd on his arm, so he can always be ID'd.

[Russell Kanning]

Hey that is a good idea.

Mike did you work up a short letter to send to the government?

Maybe I could do my SScard burn in front of the SSA office. I could do it on the 28th maybe after the meeting at Milly's.