More Stupid Ideas

[kevin_standlee]

Among the stupid ideas of the Creeping Security State has been that Amtrak should have "no ride" lists analogous to the "no fly" lists. Progressive Railroading has put up an poll about whether you think there should be no-ride lists, but I'm not certain if it's visible to non-subscribers. I'm disappointed that anyone would vote yes on this poll, particularly as it's aimed at professionals in the rail-transportation field who, one would think, would know better.

Comments

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

visible, votable and at least the no's are winning a bit right now.

Of course, I wonder how many of these "yes" voting train people have flown lately to see what they're talking about implementing.

[galtine1.livejournal.com]

voted, will link on FB as well

[johno.livejournal.com]

So they have the manpower to put ticket sellers & security folks at every station?
To put in the security barriers.
How long till a conductor gets to the new folks for on board sales? Just how much damage could a terrorist do in that time?

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Most of the people spouting this stuff have never ridden a train in their lives and would be horrified to discover that train stations don't have the same Security Theatre as airports. Indeed, one of my fears about true high speed rail is that there will be people insisting that you must show up two hours in advance and be groped by "security" people in order to ride it; that would ruin most of the time advantage.

Anyone who has given it any thought knows that attacking the trains isn't the right approach anyway. See the City of San Francisco wreck for one example of how you actually want to do it. And you can't really secure the entire right of way, any more than you could secure every inch of highway.

[howeird]

Seattle's Amtrak station has the barriers and signs all over the place saying to be prepared to be TSA-ed, but so far I have not seen a TSA agent or anything resembling security theater there.

[travelswithkuma.livejournal.com]

Bears nots likes. Bears stays ins thes woods ands loooks fors fishes.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

I have called this to the attention of others. I hope more people vote against this idea.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, Kevin, have you seen PolitiFact on pat-downs? They disagree with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on the frequency of airport gropings. I have not done my own research, but note only one side gets paid to hold the opinion they express.

[(Anonymous)]

I would be in favor of such of list if was pretty much of people who use cell phones in the quiet car. Tongue somewhat in cheek ...

-- Michael Walsh