I never intended this blog to become a forum for my opinions, grievances, “Fiskings” and other mental flossing that goes on in most other person’s blogs. This blog was supposed to be, and will mostly be, about my sustainable building project; but we’ve hit a bump in the road with the lawsuit and all that.

Not wanting the blog to die, but not wanting to turn it into some soapbox, I have stuck with updates on the cabin restoration, bits a pieces about the lawsuit, and the occasional post on green building. The previous post, however, about the maltreatment of my wife’s distant family member at the hands of our Lords and Masters gave me a much needed boost.

I have no intention of becoming a full time social critic -- and at my wife’s request I have put my tin foil hat up in the cupboard for the time being – but sometimes I think I might let the muse sing to me.

Today she sings about the previous post and the following question: “How is it that the government can dole out the punishment of the “no fly list” and have no clear means of redress or compensation for those wrongly named?”

Let that sink in for a moment. We have hundreds and hundreds of citizens whose names are the same as, or similar to, possible bad guys. Set aside for a moment that these named “bad guys” have not been convicted of doing anything and are only on the list because of either thought crimes (hating the US) or affiliations (including only possible affiliations) with other bad guys. Even if the other Paul Dickson is a notorious anarchist why should that mean that every time I fly I have to go through a separate screening process, possibly get the third degree, and maybe denied the right to fly. (That example was entirely made up)

The 5^th amendment to the US Constitution guarantees that we are secure in our persons and may not have liberty denied us aside from due process of law. Where is the due process for people who routinely get pulled out of line, grilled, possibly denied the right of travel, etc? What about being unable to check in electronically? There is no way I would have survived in my former career if I could not have done that. From what I have heard there are hundreds who cannot figure out how to get their name off the list. Senator Ted Kennedy was on the list (as was Nobel Prize Winner Nelson Mandela) and even he had trouble clearing his name.

I am sympathetic to the reasoning behind the no-fly list but the current process is ridiculous. I am sure the government claims that they can’t remove individuals from the list without removing the name altogether. That seems a stretch, but I see no other reason for people being stuck on the list for years.

I have a solution: If a person is inconvenienced by the no-fly list, and is able to demonstrate that they are not the “bad guy” in question, the government should be tasked with providing that person a “secure id” (meaning one that has biometric data, or some other high tech proof of validity) that allows them, henceforth, to board aircraft regardless of presence on the “no-fly list”. I would add that they should also be exempt from removing shoes and be able to carry as large a bottle of shampoo as they would like. One can dream, no?

That ID would have to be waiting for them for their return trip.

Of course there would be confusion for a while (such as contact lens solution exemption which even now some TSA employees have trouble with.) but eventually such a thing would become routine.

What I want to know is why something like this was not put in place the first week of the list?

Before I sign off I will leave you with two other things:

Regarding the cabin project, the new front door is in and I repainted the interior wall around it this morning.

The Georgia/Russia situation. Every American should read this opinion piece.
It mirrors closely many of my own thoughts on the subject but is better organized.

Last time I closed with “And may peace be upon you”. Today I’ll change it up.

Live Long and Prosper.