All of these create statistical correlations which brings us to the more serious debate of racial and now ideological profiling. Airlines are going to argue, supported by the government, that political types are more likely to be committing political crimes (not an untrue statement) so why not search them more thoroughly? Since the search is legal unto itself, no one "really" loses any rights. They are merely more likely to get the extended search that they were always subject to in the first place by voluntarily going on a plane flight (itself not an absolute right).
Especially since holding political views is a voluntary act - unlike one's race - the argument against ideological profiling is actually going to be harder to make, although the "chilling" effect will be made as an argument. But given the raised support for all kinds of profiling, this one may be hard to beat if it becomes a strong reality.
Nathan nathan at newman.org http://www.nathannewman.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Perelman" <michael at ecst.csuchico.edu> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 8:46 PM Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [Redbadbear] Green Leader's Harassment and "Detention" at Bangor Airport ...
Aren't most tickets brought online now?
On Sat, Nov 03, 2001 at 05:30:32PM -0800, Michael Pugliese wrote:
>
> "authorities said it was more likely due to the manner in which
> she purchased her ticket than for her activist past."
-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu