Comments on: CLEARed in Denver

By: foXnoMad » CLEARed In Denver

foXnoMad » CLEARed In Denver — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:57:38 +0000

[...] and your background and biometric data. The pending implementation of CLEAR in Denver sparked some interesting comments between ::future gringo:: and I. I think it’s amazing how willing people (especially in America) [...]

By: Claire Walter

Claire Walter — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:08:20 +0000

A friend and travel-writing colleague, for reasons that made sense to her but not to me, did register for DIA/DEN’s Registered Traveler Program. She said the registration went smoothly but I don’t believe has actually gone through the speedier screening process yet.

I’m with Foxnomad and James in not wanting to 1) spend $128 on this process, 2) give irrelevant personal information to some private company entrusted, by the same government that hired the likes of Blackwater as an adjunct to our Iraqi adventure, 3) help create another layer of bureaucracy to smooth out the bumpy path the TSA has created for air travelers.

Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.som

By: James

James — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:04:48 +0000

Fox that quote fits our current situation perfectly. Furthermore the Registered Traveler Program serves as a distraction to the absurd screening process as it currently exists. As concerned citizens we should collectively focus on THAT - rather than sucking it up and paying our way around it. Salon's Patrick Smith does a far better job analyzing this mess than I ever could. I don't think the concept of recognizing a "regular traveler" is a bad thing - if implemented logically. After all types like me point out the ridiculousness of patting down grannies and five year olds in the name of "equal treatment." So perhaps one could submit their travel itineraries based on airline records? United Airlines already knows everywhere I've flown in the past six years and my scheduled future trips. Isn't THAT database proof enough that I, James, am a frequent, regular, and REGISTERED traveler? Why can't I volunteer THAT info if I choose, along with my ID and passport, rather than an IRIS SCAN for god's sakes? I just don't believe that a Registed Traveler Program 1) Should need my iris scan to process me, especially when a passport suffices for traveling anywhere in the world. And 2) that we should have to PAY for the privilege. Or, better yet, have screeners that make independent assessments rather than blanket decisions based on what sharp pointy objects are currently acceptable or not. An update: I received an e-mail back from Cindy Rosenthal at Flyclear.com regarding the DEN vs DIA error. She is correcting on the website. Maybe she would be kind enough to offer her insider's view...

By: foxnomad

foxnomad — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:36:42 +0000

I think it’s amazing how willing people (especially in America) are to give up their personal freedoms, privacy, and rights to the government.

Nobody trusts the government with their tax dollars, but gives in to every asinine security screening; phone taps, and massive databases that contain records of anything imaginable.

This information is sold and used as the owner (read: not you) sees fit.

And for what?

Enhanced security or better quality of life? I don’t think so. Airplane/port security is terrible wasting millions of dollars on things like thermal neutron analyzers, confiscating bottles of water…it’s all a joke and goes against the principals on which this nation was founded.

There are few laws guaranteeing the protection of citizens’ personal information…all in the name of security.

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Ben Franklin