Looks like the Indiana Government Center will be getting a little less friendly.
Public entrances to the Indiana Government Center agency buildings will soon be limited to one each, with visitors banned from bringing in weapons and required to pass through metal detectors and have bags and packages X-rayed.
Contrary to what we’re told from time to time, risk from others is not new to the world. Used to be we more or less trusted our fellow citizens and took our chances. You can’t prove nothing will happen. In fact, eventually, something probably will happen. And, when and if it does, blame will fall heavily on those who advocate for openness. The tiny bits of liberty eroding here and there hardly seem worth the effort; particularly in the face of fear of potential violence. As for the extra expense, it’s not something where you can measure units of safety per dollar spent.
Suffice it to say, I think it’s a mistake to lock down our government buildings and make citizens feel like suspects for the privilege of interacting with public servants.
Update Left in Aboite has a disturbing post about the Dept. of Homeland Security’s apparent interest in what amounts to a dog shock collar for airline passengers. Maybe everyone entering a government building could be made to where one as well.
Obviously you have never been to the Lake County Governmental Complex. I had to make numerous trips there in the last year as I was POA and executor for a woman. The worst trip was trying to find out her property tax bill two days after Christmas. Between the line and the x-ray checking, I was looking for my gate to fly somewhere fun!
Anyway the point is for at least six years-which is how long I’ve lived here-there has only been one open entrance and a metal detector to go through. They do hand search all bags, too. And it doesn’t help that we have the dumpiest, most ugly county complex in the state, either.
And I forgot that Merrillville Town Hall is the same way. I had to go there two years ago to pay a speeding ticket and had to go through the metal detector to get in.
Well said.
When the government is afraid of the people, we should all be very afraid.
This is further proof our government is afraid of the people. It’s also proof of the failed governing through crime programs where everything is illegal and is a war on something. I don’t think we are any safer despite the millions, billions and trillions of dollars spent on government “crime prevention programs” over the last 30 years.
Now everyone is presumed to be a criminal, thus the heavy security without good cause at government centers.
If a private business had run these programs, their principals would have been jailed for fraud years ago for deceiving the public. Unfortunately, government is now allowed to keep repeating the same old tired and unsuccessful programs. But I guess its for the children, so it must be OK.
But are judges using “security and safety” as an excuse to make everyone leave their cellphones outside?
I think we’ve already lost the war on terror, and now it’s just being used as an excuse for some in authority to throw their (perceived) weight around.
I always heard and rather liked the quote: “Governments should fear the people, the people should not fear the government”
I suppose the point is that the people should have the power over the government.
I have a hard time believing the bracelet on airliner thing would work as described, because they claim they would be able to track all the movements of the passenger and luggage. If you’ve had your luggage lost, it feels like the technology is lightyears away. Last month the lost luggage guy was on one of those old Jade servers trying to find the phone number to call at the other airport to leave a message for my lost luggage. Hours were passing between these guys getting messages to each other.
Although if one incident (9/11) leads to this kind of sweeping monitoring requirement, then maybe we should look at other applications. Probably Republican senators should have to have such bracelets to use public restrooms. Although they might find they enjoy that.