Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 11:49:53 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
From: Liza Kessler <LKessler at lharris.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: going to Worldcon
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

>The scary thing about an ID requirement for air travel is that implies
>that the government has, or plans to have, a list of undesirables.
>Otherwise, what use would there be in demanding ID?  The 9-11 hijackers
>had ID.  A few years ago, a Libertarian I know took a vacation and
>visited Russia.  While there he was summoned to the U.S. embassy, and
>asked there 'you're a Libertarian, aren't you?'.  Apparently the intent
>was to warn him about activities which might get him into trouble in
>Russia, so the intent was apparently benign, but the clear implication is
>that the federal government has a computerized list of Americans which
>includes political affiliations.

I don't know. I can ALMOST always spot a libertarian within about 2 minutes
of conversation, and I don't have a list of Americans including political
affiliation. And I think most politically savvy folks can usually infer a
rough-but-accurate sense of my political viewpoints within a few minutes of
conversation, unless I am deliberately obscuring my opinions. Conspiracy
theories can make for good movies, but I just don't believe in them in
government in the real world. There are too many checks and balances, and
even if there weren't, there aren't enough people who are that organized.

That said, I agree with the underlying point that our civil rights are
being seriously eroded by the various anti-terrorism law enforcement
policies. Interestingly enough, at the Bruce Springsteen concert on
Saturday, that point was made quite powerfully. Springsteen announced, just
before the concert finale, that he had two public service announcements he
wanted to make. The first was to ask people to donate to the Capital Area
Food Bank volunteers who would be outside when we left, and the second was
telling the audience that governmental reaction to the events of September
11 has left our civil rights under attack, and reminding the audience
standing up for civil rights is one of the responsibilities given to us
when we are born in the USA. Wherepon he launched into "Born in the USA." I
was at the show under protest as my girlfriend has much more interest in
large crowded concerts than I have, but it was her birthday, so I went. I'm
glad I did. I have a new respect for Springsteen after those remarks, and I
cried during two of the songs about September 11.

Liza Kessler