Comments on: This is absolutely insane http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/ The Unpredictable Union of Pragmatism, Idealism, and Cynicism Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:59:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: NOTR http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33979 NOTR Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:53:04 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33979 So much for any protection against unreasonable search and seizures. Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves. So much for any protection against unreasonable search and seizures. Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves.

]]> By: walt moffett http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33782 walt moffett Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:52:41 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33782 Political Junkie, the courts don't see it as a problem. A cure for boredom would be to look up the cases <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_search_exception#References" rel="nofollow">wikipedia</a> cites at altlaw.org. Political Junkie, the courts don’t see it as a problem.

A cure for boredom would be to look up the cases wikipedia cites at altlaw.org.

]]> By: Political Junkie http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33777 Political Junkie Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:38:50 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33777 In the same vein as Walt, the most troubling aspect of that article to me was that it "was already standard policy" but was just now being announced. How does that not violate the "unreasonable search and seizure" clause? In the same vein as Walt, the most troubling aspect of that article to me was that it “was already standard policy” but was just now being announced. How does that not violate the “unreasonable search and seizure” clause?

]]> By: walt moffett http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33754 walt moffett Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:01:43 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33754 Yep, subversive literature, (anarchists in 1890's to 1940's), pornography (for various definitions thereof), to now a days, trademark/copyright infringing books, DVD's etc. You may have to prove your Sony laptop, Nokia cell phone, etc were bought in the US before you left or either pay duty or have it confiscated. Look over <a href="http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/publications/travel/knowbeforeyougo.ctt/knowbeforeyougo.pdf" rel="nofollow">this pdf</a> from Customs for a quick overview. Yep, subversive literature, (anarchists in 1890’s to 1940’s), pornography (for various definitions thereof), to now a days, trademark/copyright infringing books, DVD’s etc. You may have to prove your Sony laptop, Nokia cell phone, etc were bought in the US before you left or either pay duty or have it confiscated.

Look over this pdf from Customs for a quick overview.

]]> By: Brian http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33711 Brian Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:58:52 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33711 I'm not up to speed on my Customs regulations and procedures, but has the "review and confiscation" also historically included citizens coming back into the US? I’m not up to speed on my Customs regulations and procedures, but has the “review and confiscation” also historically included citizens coming back into the US?

]]> By: walt moffett http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33642 walt moffett Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:16:23 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33642 Ah, but you see this is all for the sake of the children, oppressed minorities, defend America, oil speculators, fill in the blank. Don't expect either of the parties to reverse it after the elections. In the fwiw category, Customs and Postal folks around the world have always claimed the ability to review and confiscate written documents, books, papers, magazines, etc. So this is nothing really new. Ah, but you see this is all for the sake of the children, oppressed minorities, defend America, oil speculators, fill in the blank. Don’t expect either of the parties to reverse it after the elections.

In the fwiw category, Customs and Postal folks around the world have always claimed the ability to review and confiscate written documents, books, papers, magazines, etc. So this is nothing really new.

]]> By: Therm http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33638 Therm Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:56:51 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33638 Let the two minutes hate begin! I hope they install my telescreen soon...I want a bright blue one! Let the two minutes hate begin! I hope they install my telescreen soon…I want a bright blue one!

]]> By: Loretta Nall http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33624 Loretta Nall Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:08:27 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33624 My laptop was seized by US Customs on a return trip from Canada in 2005. They had no reason to seize it as I told them who I was, where I had been, that I was a candidate for Governor of Alabama, my passport was in order and so forth. But, they took it anyway, copied the hard drive I'm sure and returned it to me an hour after I had missed my flight. Now when I travel to Canada I no longer take my laptop and I buy a cheap 'pay-as-you-go' cell phone to take with me as well. My laptop was seized by US Customs on a return trip from Canada in 2005. They had no reason to seize it as I told them who I was, where I had been, that I was a candidate for Governor of Alabama, my passport was in order and so forth. But, they took it anyway, copied the hard drive I’m sure and returned it to me an hour after I had missed my flight. Now when I travel to Canada I no longer take my laptop and I buy a cheap ‘pay-as-you-go’ cell phone to take with me as well.

]]> By: Don http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/08/02/this-is-absolutely-insane/#comment-33597 Don Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:03:21 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/?p=1725#comment-33597 Eric Arthur Blair, as wrong as he may have been on many counts, foresaw a day like this over a half century ago. Eric Arthur Blair, as wrong as he may have been on many counts, foresaw a day like this over a half century ago.

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