Summary Justice at Point of Entry

[Captain Oates 911]

I was watching a PBS interview with Matthew Parris last night. I like this dude despite him being gay and a conservative and that just goes to show how well rounded and mature and objective I am.

Anyway, let's not talk about me for a few seconds..

He was describing an incident at Miami airport at the immigration desk. The US does not have transit lounges like everywhere else in the world so transit passengers (he was en route to south america) must officially enter the US.

A person in the line had been standing there over 45 minutes. They strayed over the red line by a foot or two and the immigration officer came round and shouted at them and didn't just order them behind the red line, they ordered them right to the back of the line of people to start the hour wait all over again !

Now Parris is pro American in much of his philosophy so perhaps this story resonates with libertarians and anti-govt tea partiers and should not be taken as a criticism of the US - we know what happens when that is perceived.

Now abuse of power isn't confined to US immigration or the TSA. It exists the world over and in every classroom and police station and wherever low paid, otherwise unsuccessful people are given massive power without adequate supervision

However, I would say that complaint procedures are so vital to us all whatever our politics and these 'little hitlers' need restraint all over the world

He also said that the conservative party should be the pro-gay party as they are supposed to be for individualism

and the govt getting out of people's personal lives and bedrooms and having the best people doing the job rather than some blanket positive discrimination policy being imposed by the State. Perhaps the tea party will embrace them once they think about it... In the US it is complicated by jesus being anti-gay (even though he was 32 and unmarried), but otherwise it is a good pitch to attract more votes so watch this space in 10 years time

Edited December 13, 2010 by Alan the Red

[TBoneTX 45,291]

I can't think of any brand of Federal agent who, when acting in official capacity, would be our friend.

[Geode 3]

I can't think of any brand of Federal agent who, when acting in official capacity, would be our friend.

Nice! If you are a USC then the US government is your enemy.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I was watching a PBS interview with Matthew Parris last night. I like this dude despite him being gay and a conservative and that just goes to show how well rounded and mature and objective I am.

Anyway, let's not talk about me for a few seconds..

He was describing an incident at Miami airport at the immigration desk. The US does not have transit lounges like everywhere else in the world so transit passengers (he was en route to south america) must officially enter the US.

A person in the line had been standing there over 45 minutes. They strayed over the red line by a foot or two and the immigration officer came round and shouted at them and didn't just order them behind the red line, they ordered them right to the back of the line of people to start the hour wait all over again !

Now Parris is pro American in much of his philosophy so perhaps this story resonates with libertarians and anti-govt tea partiers and should not be taken as a criticism of the US - we know what happens when that is perceived.

Now abuse of power isn't confined to US immigration or the TSA. It exists the world over and in every classroom and police station and wherever low paid, otherwise unsuccessful people are given massive power without adequate supervision

However, I would say that complaint procedures are so vital to us all whatever our politics and these 'little hitlers' need restraint all over the world

He also said that the conservative party should be the pro-gay party as they are supposed to be for individualism

and the govt getting out of people's personal lives and bedrooms and having the best people doing the job rather than some blanket positive discrimination policy being imposed by the State. Perhaps the tea party will embrace them once they think about it... In the US it is complicated by jesus being anti-gay (even though he was 32 and unmarried), but otherwise it is a good pitch to attract more votes so watch this space in 10 years time

Everywhere else? Not true--as Canada also lacks such facilities, and, like US, has never bothered to consider having any despite of there actually BEING transit of international flights between the two:

• Cathay Pacific flights to SFO oft have a stop at YVR
• during 1980's British Airways flights to DTW had stops at Mirabel (the atrocity of an airport supposed to service Montreal and foisted on the rest of Canada)
• many passengers in 1970's had to transit JFK due to airline choice (or in 1974 specifically for our own return from India, LACK THEREOF) to return to Canada

Plus, the same is oft-duplicated at the nine PFI's in Canada (especially for TN-1's renewing their visas--and their family-members' derivative TD's--there).

Edited December 14, 2010 by Saddle Bronc

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I can't think of any brand of Federal agent who, when acting in official capacity, would be our friend.