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20 Comments
- chupavacas, on 04/02/2009, -2/+14I found the behavior of the TSA in this audio at the St. Louis Airport to be deplorable. They're using foul language and threatening to escalate punishment as this citizen is exercising his Miranda rights and choosing not to answer their questions. Hopefully those in power in the TSA will get wind of this and fire those responsible (I'm not holding my breath). Also having cash on hand is not illegal and they have no right to question him about it. Detaining someone because they seem "suspicious" should be condemned unless they've got evidence that implicates a security threat. What's he gonna do, bribe the pilot to fly into a building?
- Charun, on 04/02/2009, -2/+13Ron Paul is hiding under your bed. He's waiting to get you.
Don't turn off the lights. - chupavacas, on 04/02/2009, -3/+14You're ridiculous. A) the campaign is over. B) getting paid in exchange for printed material is not illegal (yet).
- voicce, on 04/02/2009, -3/+13So sad to see government bullies making it up as they go, no limits on their power, just grab people, snoop into their personal effects, assume guilt if they have anything the agents can twist with their paranoid little minds into a questionable possession. It's beyond their scope to imagine somebody just sold a bunch of literature for cash; in their bully club only criminals would have cash. The rest of us are supposed to buy on credit with all transactions recorded and monitored by Big Bro.
- heavystarch, on 04/02/2009, -1/+10Ron Paul is out to get you RussetShadows! Watch out for him he might give back your civil liberties or reduce your taxes or allow you to travel freely. Be careful he's a dangerous freedom loving, constitution abiding, honest man!!! Watch out!
- heavystarch, on 04/02/2009, -0/+9huh?
- inactive, on 04/02/2009, -3/+12http://www.educatorsofliberty.com
- Waiting2awake, on 04/02/2009, -0/+7Great, now he's going to have nightmares. Way to go heavystarch...
- inactive, on 04/02/2009, -3/+10@Lawofnations
You told the story very well. Nicely written. - ashcrest, on 04/02/2009, -2/+9 TheDepressingTruth on 04.02.09 at 12:30 am
In the end…there is some Good News about the TSA…The X-ray machines that used at the airports are NOT well shielded… exposing the TSA employees to levels of radiation that will render them “Unable to Reproduce”
Think of it as “Natural Selection at Work” or as I like to call it, “Skimming the Skum off the Top of the Gene Pool” - Lawofnations, on 04/02/2009, -5/+10My return trip at the MSP airport from the Rally for the Republic on September 3rd was interesting.
I whipped out my expired passport, waited, ...waited.
"Do you have an extension?"
I turned over my Affidavit of Citizenship. The lady sighed and handed her latest "Selectee" over to another gentleman. After she left he shrugged and said "Whatever." After a sloppy pat search and I put my shoes on. As I stood and put on my belt the first lady came back with her supervisor and three other TSA agents and started asking what my affidavit was all about. As none of them carried any sidearms (and therefore no genuine authority to detain/arrest anyone) I was confident at this point that I would be allowed to board without further ado. Knowing you get more bees with honey I answered her question politely rather than take the Fifth. I knew I shouldn't be too detailed in my response, let my language level be overly complex or involve any legalese. If I did she would find me contrite and I wanted her to be receptive should another American present a similar instrument. I opened the passport and indicated that there are two types of citizenship.
"Why don't you want to be a U.S. citizen?"
"Because you are compromised with that type of character. I chose to make this particular distinction to establish that I am not compromised." (It is important to induce your interogator to ask a segueing question that you can parry easily as you assess their eyes and body language. Diplomacy is the art of letting the other person have things YOUR way.)
"How would being a U.S. citizen compromise anyone?"
"Well, right after the civil war the slaves, who were considered property during that time period, were basically denizens, that is, people without a country. They were allowed to go to Liberia and form their own country or stay here, have their "title" transferred over to the federal government, and become U.S. citizens. Up to that time there was no such thing as a U.S. citizen. Either you were a California citizen, New York citizen and so on. The term U.S. citizen technically doesn't make sense."
She seemed a little flustered. "How so?"
"Well, suppose someone tells you they are a South American citizen. There's no such thing. Either you are from Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, whatever. You can only be from one country. Here, we have fifty countries, or Republics, united together and appropriately and collectively called: the United States."
"And the law supports this?"
"Sure, look at page one of the affidavit. It also shows the court rulings also."
Three other TSA agents who had arrived looked through the document very intently while another was on the phone too far for me to hear.
Another asked "Is this in the constitution?"
"Article II, Section 4 describes state Citizens while Section IV, line one, of the Fourteenth Amendment discusses the compromises U.S. citizens have to face."
"Why would the government do that?"
"Well, actually the government didn't write the Fourteenth Amendment. Frederick Engels did. The same guy who wrote the Communist Manifesto and let Marx, a better public speaker, take the credit. Also the Fourteenth Amendment was never passed and there are subsequent court rulings that support that. Again, what I'm saying is documented on page one of that paper."
Now there were six people passing my paper back and fourth while another guy was flipping through a pocket constitution.
I asked "Where'd you get that?"
He smiled and said "Some guy gave it to me earlier."
I gave him a sideways grin and asked "Was it a Ron Paulian?" and everyone laughed.
One guy asked "Were you one of the protesters?"
I wasn't sure what he meant at first and then said "Oh,no thank you. Sitting behind razor wire isn't my idea of a good time. I did go to the Rally for the Republic though."
Three people at once enthusiastically asked "How was that?"
"Probably one of the best times I've ever had in my life."
The supervisor's supervisor showed up, glanced at the affidavit, looked annoyed that she had been summoned and said "This is fine" and quickly turned and left.
One guy showed me his Sam's Club I.D. card and said "You should think about gettin' one of these!" I successfully resisted the urge to punch him right square in the ovaries.
Another guy with his arms folded looked at me hard and asked "Do you pay taxes?
(Remember, read the body language and extend a courteous response.)
"I pay all lawful taxes. That is my duty as a citizen. It is also my responsibility to defend my country from a foreign foe if attacked." I think the irony was lost on him as he didn't have an oath of office to uphold the constitution and therefore, at this point, was kidnapping me.
Someone asked "How do you buy things?"
"With money." I then showed them some gold and silver dollars which made their eyes pop out of their heads.
"How do you get a job?"
"Right now it is easier for an illegal alien, with a criminal record, a fake I.D., a false social security number, who doesn't speak a word of english, to get a job in this country than for me, an American, who was born and raised here."
"So would you say your life is more difficult?"
"It is right now" and I gestured to the ten TSA agents that had formed a semi-circle around me.
At this point they seemed genuinely embarrassed and slowly dispersed. Two of the female supervisors remained behind.
"Where can we learn more about this?"
"Google the term 'state Citizen', there's a ton of information on it. Some of it is a bit antiquated though, in my opinion."
"Do you fly much?"
"I would like to but you have to understand this is very embarrassing. Honestly, how does removing one's shoes guarantee anyone's safety? Look through my passport. You can see I've been all over the world unmolested"
"You have to understand our position. All we want to do is establish that you are who you say you are."
"Understood. But that is all you are going to be able to do. That, in no way, will guarantee peoples safety from someone with criminal intent. You are simply tracking people. It is just a precedent and a conditioning for the National I.D. card your boss is trying to push through. Next is biometrics soon to be followed by mandatory RFID implants for 'security purposes'."
At this point they just deflated and looked down at their shoes.
"I'll tell you what" I said as I shook each of their hands, "We've all learned a lot from each other today. As a favor to everyone I'll log on to TSAgov.org and see about contacting Chertoff's office. I'll try to work with him to get a uniform state Citizen I.D. implemented to make your jobs easier and to expedite passengers efficiently. The second best outcome will be a letter of release from some Homeland plenipotentiary authorizing safe passage. I'll even ask for a "tracking" number to keep the bureaucrats happy."
"That would be helpful."
"Actually the Apostille number fulfills that obligation but we can go into that another day. You'd have to constantly be on the horn to legal for clearance. Perhaps, since it's such a small database, someone on your end could easily input it."
"How many other people have done this?"
They gaped when I said "I believe there are about 40,000 state Citizens in New Hamphire alone. It's called the "Free State Project" (check it out on www.freestateproject.org). Would you like me to contact you personally and give you a status report?"
"No, that's okay. Have a good flight." - docliberty, on 04/02/2009, -2/+6horrid.
- inactive, on 04/02/2009, -3/+6I agree with you, nbl. You prove it about yourself very short and to the point.
- Robjayne, on 04/02/2009, -0/+3You guys cracked me up, I can't stop laughing!
- Acrinimiril, on 04/03/2009, -2/+4"Article II, Section 4 describes state Citizens while Section IV, line one, of the Fourteenth Amendment discusses the compromises U.S. citizens have to face."
You mean Article IV, Section 2. - inactive, on 04/07/2009, -0/+1I'm tempted NOT to bury you, not just so that people can see your stupidity, but because by burying you I make it less likely that they also see all this excellent mockery by the Paul fans. But I think I'll ***** your comment anyway, and hope that the high number of buries makes those passing by curious.
- Lawofnations, on 04/03/2009, -2/+2Oops. It's been about six months and my memory ain't purfekt. Thanks for reading though.
- inactive, on 04/02/2009, -13/+3That's an awful long-winded way of saying you're an *****.
- COINTELPROAgent, on 04/02/2009, -23/+7All the more reason to audit Ron Paul for probable campaign donation fraud.
- inactive, on 04/02/2009, -23/+6I don't trust the TSA...but I don't trust Ron Paul either.
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