CNN published a pretty well-balanced article on some of the medical experts’ opinions about going through the radiation-spewing Backscatter machine at the airports. Her informal, unscientific survey seemed to indicate that some would, some wouldn’t, and each had their reasons based primarily over the amount of radiation released.
To me, this misses the point entirely.
Let’s put it this way. What if it wasn’t just a scan. What if it was something else? Something that would make you do almost anything to avoid having to do it. Something that makes it pretty clear that all we have to do is give up our rights for the sake of convenience and we find that they become very difficult to re-acquire.
The Deal
I’ll make you a deal. I’ll hit you in the face twice whenever you want to go somewhere. Two quick jabs.
Puh-pow!
See? It’s over now. That wasn’t so bad. See, it’s necessary to do this because you don’t actually have a right to go anywhere, and if you want to use the public streets you will have to submit to this procedure.
Very private photos, very private.
No, it has absolutely nothing to do with you getting to where you’re going. No, it doesn’t help you get their safely. No, no one has ever actually been shown to be saved or helped by doing this.
Why are you complaining? I mean, it’s only two quick jabs to your face. There’s no permanent marks, no lasting effects. We’ve tested it repeatedly. Studies have shown – independent studies – that it’s safe.
What? No, I don’t know which studies. But they’ve shown it to be safe.
Okay, look. I’m tired of all your questions. Who do you think you are? Don’t you realize that you don’t actually have any rights over your own body? When you enter anything that can be considered “public,” you belong to the public.
Trust me, I’m the government.