Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

With the recent announcement by Washington DC's Metro Authority and Transport that the Transit Police have the authority to conduct random searches of passenger's bags, it begs the question: am I losing my rights here?

Who, exactly, gave them the authority? Is that even legal? According to whom, and why?

The threat levels are in a constant high state around Washington, DC, and in the coming days it is likely to be pushed even higher due to the upcoming election. The threat level is the reason given for the random searches. WMATA says they will be choosing a random number, such as thirteen, and they will check every thirteenth person that is carrying a bag large enough to carry explosives. They claim they will not pick people from the crowd that are acting suspiciously and target them. Really? How do I know that I was really the thirteenth person carrying a bag, and not that I was the one that was looking suspicious? Do I just believe you?

Certainly it's not that difficult to put into place a detection system that sniffs for explosives as Washingtonians and tourists alike wander through the Metro system. Bomb dogs could be brought out en force to slink throughout the plazas. But an arbitrary screening process, based on the counting ability of the Transit Police?

The idea is not only ridiculous (a person carrying something dangerous, or illegal, could simply meander back and forth until they can enter the system without being stopped) it's also making me wonder when the government is going to start stopping random people on the street and inspecting bags for no reason other than they can!

What country do I live in, again?