According to the CNN news article at the link below, travelers, INCLUDING American citizens who travel internationally are being 'scored' according to their risk of being either a terrorist or criminal, and blacklisted from flying, or entering or leaving the country. The real issue is, as far as I can see, that there is NO appeals process or recourse to change this rating. additionally the article states that not only will this data be shared with local and state government officials but also with private contractors, and will be kept for FORTY years.
here is the link
Homeland Security tracks Travelers Meals
As the article states, People can be denied the right to board airplanes and trains simply on the basis of this score. You as the traveler as not even allowed to know what your score is. There is no clear appeals process, and you have no way of knowing in advance of showing up at the airport if there are going to be problems and issues. It does state that individual agents can make judgments based on further questioning, but does not give any kind of process for the event that someone is erroneously labeled a dangerous traveler.
Is it just me or is this the one of the most unconstitutional laws ever established by our government? It appears to me that it violates the right of free assembly (who I can associate with, by preventing people from traveling internationally),as well as amendment 5, the last half that states:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Finally the tenth amendment states:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Where does the constitution state that the government can deny people the right to travel without due process of law??
This program is yet another assault by the fascist Bush government designed NOT to protect us from terrorists, but rather to limit the freedoms of American citizens at home and abroad. This is doing NOTHING, that I can see to actually prevent another terrorist incident: A real terrorist is going to figure out how to avoid these red flags quickly. On the other hand, honest people have been, can, and will be denied the right to travel based on what they ate?? On the window seat they chose??? I'm sorry but this sounds insane.
Comments? thoughts???
I give everyone who comments a recommend for participating, so please speak up.
UPDATE:
here is the link to James Moore's experience with this this is a MUST read:
BRANDED
Please read and WRITE your congressmen today to protest this Republican-Fascist attack on our freedoms !!!!!