Frustration with the TSA has reached the boiling point..

[GoVegan]

And that same year almost 17,000 died on the roads due to alcohol alone. Again, who cares? Life comes, life goes, that's the way it is. Seizing power, and subjugating people over irrational fear isn't the way to proceed. On the freedom crap... You're free to do what you're told, when you're told to do it. Everybody likes bringing up the USA freedom crap. That's been debatable all along, and getting less relevant every year. It's pretty telling when the lists of best places in the world to live come up, and the USA isn't even a contender. We're so far from being first, it isn't even in sight....

Its two separate issues and why should we tolerate either of them? I do admit that the USA is getting slightly repressive politically but we have so much potential in other areas. Just look at all of the immigrants who are risking their lives just to come here.

[lxskllr]

Its two separate issues and why should we tolerate either of them? I do admit that the USA is getting slightly repressive politically but we have so much potential in other areas. Just look at all of the immigrants who are risking their lives just to come here.

"USA, it's better than a mud hut" is hardly confidence inspiring ;^)

[GoVegan]

"USA, it's better than a mud hut" is hardly confidence inspiring ;^)

I think your wrong on that one. As a nation we do have our issues but we also live in a country that is still somewhat free and provides people with opportunities. Within reason, you can be or do just about anything you want here as long as you are willing to work for it. I am also glad that we still have the right to free speech, the right to bear arms and the right to vote for our leaders. Our country is only screwed up right now because people tend to elect idiots and worship corporations but that is their right to do as well. I am also thankful to live in a country where we have the right to a jury trial and not some kangaroo court like a lot of other countries have. We are not a castle but we are not a mud hut either. I think we are a nice 3 bedroom house that could use some TLC to make it shine.

[lxskllr]

Our legal system is atrocious. It may be better than DPRK's, but then we're back to that whole mud hut thing again. We have more people incarcerated than anywhere else in the world, We're either a nation of criminals, or something's gone wrong somewhere. We have half assed socialism, and half assed capitalism, combining the worst aspects of each. How many Germans are beating down our door trying to get in? The Swedes are trying to get our money(I got my eye on you Fredrik), but they don't want to live here. Brits? They don't want to come here either. We get plenty of Indians, Mexicans, and Haitians though....

[CoderGuy]

I think your wrong on that one. As a nation we do have our issues but we also live in a country that is still somewhat free and provides people with opportunities. Within reason, you can be or do just about anything you want here as long as you are willing to work for it. I am also glad that we still have the right to free speech, the right to bear arms and the right to vote for our leaders. Our country is only screwed up right now because people tend to elect idiots and worship corporations but that is their right to do as well. I am also thankful to live in a country where we have the right to a jury trial and not some kangaroo court like a lot of other countries have. We are not a castle but we are not a mud hut either. I think we are a nice 3 bedroom house that could use some TLC to make it shine.

+1 - and people that don't like it here have the freedom to leave, and we won't even hold it against them

[lxskllr]

+1 - and people that don't like it here have the freedom to leave, and we won't even hold it against them

That's incorrect, they don't have the freedom to leave. I'm not getting into the details, but there's a lot of shit that pisses me off about this place that's never been mentioned in any thread here.

[GoVegan]

+1 - and people that don't like it here have the freedom to leave, and we won't even hold it against them

Or they have the freedom to change it and make it better!

[Bigblue1]

Just as I am following sgreger's meme of not security but "Security Theater" I am now referring to freedom as "Freedom Theater".

[tom502]

The only people I see beating their way into the US, is dirt poor uneducated 3rd worlders, because we have free welfare and underhanded employers, and asian skilled people because they know how to work our economy. I do see the US being less for Americans than it is for others.

[Roo]

Lxskllr -- I wish I could meet you in person. You are a mysterious character despite being top poster on this board.

CoderGuy: I'm not going to launch into a "go see the world" pep-talk, because many, like yourself, don't give a shit. And that's fine. But I can't refrain from speaking up if anyone compares the sights, smells, tastes, person-to-person contact, life-changing experiences, *actual* experiences, the vividness, the adventure, the understanding of other cultures, and the wonder and delight of travel to watching the Discovery Channel or looking at pictures on the internet. Someday, if you change your mind, you'll know what I mean. And I'm not sure what you mean by "risking life and limb". Since you fly back east every two weeks, I assume you don't mean flying itself. If you're worried about hostility toward Americans, **** that. Be an ambassador, a representative of American humility and courteous, righteous, respectful, curious, understanding behavior. The only way to do anything about our flawed reputation is to show the world first-hand what you're all about. People who recommend to Americans that thet tell foreigners they are Canadian make me sick. The best compliment I ever received was after an all-nighter in Guilin, China. A 60 year old man that I became fast friends with, at the end of the night, said to me: "when I was growing up my mother instilled in me absolute hatred for the Japanese and Americans. Tonight you have made me realize that both she and I were misinformed, all along". My Chinese wasn't quite that good at the time for that to be a literal translation, but I understood exactly what he was saying to me. Exchanges like that are priceless.

Ok I guess that turned into a pep-talk lol. **** it. **** the TSA too. I love PP's idea of declining the XRay and moaning and creeping out the bastard groping you.

[CoderGuy]

Lxskllr -- I wish I could meet you in person. You are a mysterious character despite being top poster on this board.

CoderGuy: I'm not going to launch into a "go see the world" pep-talk, because many, like yourself, don't give a shit. And that's fine. But I can't refrain from speaking up if anyone compares the sights, smells, tastes, person-to-person contact, life-changing experiences, *actual* experiences, the vividness, the adventure, the understanding of other cultures, and the wonder and delight of travel to watching the Discovery Channel or looking at pictures on the internet. Someday, if you change your mind, you'll know what I mean. And I'm not sure what you mean by "risking life and limb". Since you fly back east every two weeks, I assume you don't mean flying itself. If you're worried about hostility toward Americans, **** that. Be an ambassador, a representative of American humility and courteous, righteous, respectful, curious, understanding behavior. The only way to do anything about our flawed reputation is to show the world first-hand what you're all about. People who recommend to Americans that thet tell foreigners they are Canadian make me sick. The best compliment I ever received was after an all-nighter in Guilin, China. A 60 year old man that I became fast friends with, at the end of the night, said to me: "when I was growing up my mother instilled in me absolute hatred for the Japanese and Americans. Tonight you have made me realize that both she and I were misinformed, all along". My Chinese wasn't quite that good at the time for that to be a literal translation, but I understood exactly what he was saying to me. Exchanges like that are priceless.

Ok I guess that turned into a pep-talk lol. **** it. **** the TSA too. I love PP's idea of declining the XRay and moaning and creeping out the bastard groping you.

LOL fair enough. Thanks for the non-pep-talk. I do agree with your last paragraph lol

[Roo]

Word. And extra points for the Seattle Pride in your avatar. There's three of us now. As much as I like to see the world, Pacific Northwest for life.

[Bigblue1]

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

[sgreger1]

Lxskllr -- I wish I could meet you in person. You are a mysterious character despite being top poster on this board.

CoderGuy: I'm not going to launch into a "go see the world" pep-talk, because many, like yourself, don't give a shit. And that's fine. But I can't refrain from speaking up if anyone compares the sights, smells, tastes, person-to-person contact, life-changing experiences, *actual* experiences, the vividness, the adventure, the understanding of other cultures, and the wonder and delight of travel to watching the Discovery Channel or looking at pictures on the internet. Someday, if you change your mind, you'll know what I mean. And I'm not sure what you mean by "risking life and limb". Since you fly back east every two weeks, I assume you don't mean flying itself. If you're worried about hostility toward Americans, **** that. Be an ambassador, a representative of American humility and courteous, righteous, respectful, curious, understanding behavior. The only way to do anything about our flawed reputation is to show the world first-hand what you're all about. People who recommend to Americans that thet tell foreigners they are Canadian make me sick. The best compliment I ever received was after an all-nighter in Guilin, China. A 60 year old man that I became fast friends with, at the end of the night, said to me: "when I was growing up my mother instilled in me absolute hatred for the Japanese and Americans. Tonight you have made me realize that both she and I were misinformed, all along". My Chinese wasn't quite that good at the time for that to be a literal translation, but I understood exactly what he was saying to me. Exchanges like that are priceless.

Ok I guess that turned into a pep-talk lol. **** it. **** the TSA too. I love PP's idea of declining the XRay and moaning and creeping out the bastard groping you.

I wish i had the money to travel like that. Travel is so expensive today unfortunately, and the US dollar isnt as strong abroad as it once was. Id love to travel but for me an airplane is a luxury.

I certainly see why people are bitching about this and im glad they are bitching. Maybe someone will hear them out, maybe they wont. But its nice to see a rebelion in the brewing.

[Roo]

Dude I have $400 in my bank account, and it has to last 1 week. It's not that I can afford it, I make it a priority. Then again, I don't have children, so I fully understand your concerns. Money is a bitch. I owe $800 to Money Tree right now. That's right, payday loans. I am not wealthy enough to travel, but I make it happen. Because it's the most important thing to me. As soon as a kid pops out of my girl, things will change until I can figure out how to make more money. We both live in expensive cities, you know what I'm talkin about.