OK, lemme relate it to planes, then. Airline security can be somewhat intense, time-consuming, and involved. Really, what makes trains any different in terms of the damage/death that could be caused? Perhaps, not hundreds, but I'm sure many dozens With that kind of lack of security, coupled with the who live and operate in this world, I'm seriously asking myself if I really want to ride a train again. Again, it doesn't take some middle east looking dude to bring some type of weapon of mass destruction on-board. Super yahoos come in every shape and color these days.
Would you expect that same security on greyhound? Or tri-met? Both of those are significantly higher threats in my opinion. If someone took over a train, they can only go one way (until they get to a junction obviously). On Greyhound, they could hijack the bus and take it who knows where. They could even rig it up so you had to keep driving over 50...oh wait, that's like Speed 2, but on a bus. If you're talking just about a bomb (not over taking something, just detonating), then why wouldn't they just lay something on the tracks? That'd be just as effective as smuggling something on board. I think this is the main difference between airplanes and trains/busses. The latter have other (and external) security threats, while airplanes can limit their risks by checking those coming on board.
Yeah, I hear that. Thanks for clarifying. I just had a lot to think about while tooling down the tracks.
Wow. It's different on the east coast. They check IDs, verify it a few times, and then give you a stub to stick on your seat for the conductor.
Wikipedia seems to agree with him: A police state is a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the population. A police state typically exhibits elements of totalitarianism and social control, and there is usually little or no distinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the executive. The inhabitants of a police state experience restrictions on their mobility, and on their freedom to express or communicate political or other views, which are subject to police monitoring or enforcement. Political control may be exerted by means of a secret police force which operates outside the boundaries normally imposed by a constitutional state. This seems like a fairly accurate depiction of America today.
Exactly. ABM, next time, just throw yourself off the train, instead of being mad that the Conductor was too nice. And why are grocery bags allowed in grocery stores? There might be a bomb. Speaking of not having enough to do, look up more often. The sky may be falling.
Again, for the whatevereth time, I was actually more concerned that ID wasn't checked upon boarding, and luggage scanned, than the actions of Tom Hanks the conductor.
