Searching for rationality

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "irrational" as "lacking usual or normal mental clarity or coherence." Emotion causes me to be irrational from time to time, and Facebook gives me the unfettered ability to share these lapses in judgment with my entire circle of friends. I took advantage of that ability just the other day over what, even in retrospect, is a legitimate issue. However, as someone pointed out in my comments section, my substance (concern for individual rights) was lost in my presentation (suggesting terrorists to, if they MUST target Americans, please prioritize a certain cabinet member.)

Luckily, I have a column to remediate said presentation.

My livid state arose from an experience at Spokane Airport, not an uncommon source of ire for many inland northwest residents. I was introduced for the first time to Department of Homeland Security Director, Janet Napolitano's, pet project: the body scanners. I was appalled. I had seen pictures and read stories, but nothing prepared me for this government overreach that, even if courts someday determine to be legal (not likely), is not right.

I watched in dismay as Transportation Security Administration agents, excited over their new toy, ushered those before me in line confusedly into the monstrous contraption and told them to extend their arms above their heads. I watched as a group of agents smirked at the view screen as it displayed body after body, including my girlfriend's. Bile rose in my throat as I was ushered in and then, without asking to be touched, grabbed and frisked because of a "bad image" of my bare arms.

We all consent to be searched when we choose to fly. But even that consensual search has to be limited in scope in order to be Constitutional. Scanner searches are equated to blood draws, to which anyone driving on an Idaho road consents. What could possibly be more invasive than a police officer in uniform who suspects you of driving drunk forcing you to be poked with a needle Standing in a line while a bunch of over-eager government agents look at an image of your naked body, or the body of your loved one, is far worse. With the blood draw authority, the state is allowed, in certain circumstances, to obtain limited knowledge of your blood content intoxicating substances... the relevant scope of the search. With a body scanner, every inch of your body, or your wife's or children's bodies, is revealed to roaming eyes with no discretion based on the relevant scope of what a search should be. With human failure being the underlying factor of nearly every airline security breach thus far, we would be nave to believe that the... distractions... of this overly invasive search will provide different results. Already, there have been firings over abuses - the ones that have been caught.

I am not a fan of the TSA, but I understand the need to keep America safe from terror. However, if we allow Napolitano to run amok under the guise of keeping us safe, unchecked by Constitutional limits, then we have allowed her to lower us to the level of the zealots and despots we despise and fear.

I personally will be "opting out" of her searches in the future. The result will be an invasive pat search. However, from that position, I can make my searcher feel his invasion. Perhaps the cumulative effect of such small objections will cause the system to feel its failure to the American people.

Our job is to rationally demand that failures in the system due to incompetent government be answered with accountability, not more authority over us.

Luke Malek is a home-grown Kootenai County boy currently in a voluntary exile in pursuit of a law degree that he hopes will empower him to battle objectionable compliance with the status quo.