Mr Obama, the devil is in (telling) the details...

This is one of my pet peeves when traveling to the US, by plane.

Two ordinary "TSA approved" locks (the now familiar red diamond logo).

Mr Obama, it isn't always possible to micromanage a huge bureaucracy, and when it is left on its own, it continues on its initial direction, or do silly things like flying Air Force One at low altitude over NYC... without telling the public. A photo op with the obvious consequences, except to bureaucrats, of course.

Since 9/11, everytime one has to fly to the US, he is required to leave luggages unlocked, or put these "TSA approved" locks. Supposedly for additional screening, should something odd appears on their scanning devices.

Like anything else, when you can do something, why not abuse of your privilege by doing it... all the time?

With apparent impunity, because they aren't required to tell you that your luggages have been opened. So not knowing... why would you suspect anything?

Mhhhh...

At airports, bus and train terminals, by observing the size of luggages some people carry, it feels like they're carrying their house with them.

In a way, as a traveler, we all do. Those are our personal belongings, after all.

Would you, in the name of security, be required to give your keys to your house to the police, "just in case" they have to intervene, for your own... security?

Mhhh...

And entering your house without a court mandate or without your approval, even without your knowledge?

Yet, this is "airport security" and that's what they do with your luggage.

Funny, when I cross the border, even the US border, it happens that an officer will *ask* to open my luggage for inspection. One might say that I have little choice, but at least, everything is done in my full view, and *I* open my luggage. That's fair.

Why so much secrecy at airports? And why luggages are systematically open? I can prove it.

I got those hard to find luggage locks that rat on those TSA guys.

Look at the dot at the lower right-hand side of these two locks. Can you tell which one was used on a luggage that went to the US by plane, and the other in Canada? Yup. A red dot will show up when it is open by a TSA guy. Otherwise, there's a green dot. Nifty, yes? Yes...

What bugs me, if I didn't use these gizmos, I wouldn't know. Most people don't have these gizmos, so they don't know.

Since they forced air travelers to use those "TSA approved" locks, I don't remember a single time seeing a green dot when going to or from the US.

Mr. Obama, the devil is in the details. The devil, is in *telling* the details. To keep people honest, there's nothing like things being done in full view, in full knowledge of everyone involved.

Assuming that those additional inspections are really all that required.

Oh, and the fact that it is really for my own security, that is.

Fear is so easy to sell... Bush did that so well...

You don't have to follow his steps.

Cheers,

-E

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PS: This is a blog "simulcast" with FC and BadSumo. Not present on FC is the link to the Brookstone web site, where I bought those locks years ago.

They no longer sell those locks, but they have similar locks, still with an indicator, telling you whether someone... else opened those locks.

Human rights... over there.

A comment, said I'm sure with all good intents, that got me into this chain of thoughts...

"You know, you don't have to visit your parents so often".

Of course, I don't have to, but I do hope that you aren't telling me something... else?

Here's the scoop: After 3 years of being a caregiver, first to my dad, and later to *both* dad and mom, it's been about 2 weeks that they got relocated, to what they called here, a "ressource intermédiaire". It's more like "assisted living".

Apparently, the facility got praise for its excellence, overall.

While my parents were at home, I got plenty of help from the CLSC, the "everything under the same roof" governmental social services. They provide at home health care of all kinds.

From time to time, especially toward the end, I hired up private help, so I could take a much needed break, and enjoy vacations away of Montréal.

From people bathing my parents, doing some laundry, then the nurse, then the occupational therapist, then people doing the cooking and some of household chore. At noon, then at 6PM. Toward the end, there were 4 to 6 different people *a day* visiting my parents.

Nearly all were super cool people. To have seen them in action during all of those years, it takes people with a *BIG* heart to do these jobs.

Nearly all.

For instance, I've blogged on FC last fall about a "préposé au bain", a person giving bath to my parents who literally ruled the house as soon as she stepped in. I learn later that this person has come a few times, and everytime it coincided that I was away of Montréal.

But not this time.

She was rude with my parents, even in front of me, and even after I told her that I'm their son... and the one who has *HIRED HER* (well, her agency) to bath my parents!

"Sir, you speak too much".

Wow...

Well, in no time she was speaking all to herself outdoor too. A verbal complaint, followed by a *written* complaint made sure that she won't ever come back. To my knowledge, she didn't.

Over those years, there have been a few cases like that. That's why I'm saying that "nearly all" of the many people coming to my parents' house were super fine, but...

So, there are exceptions. A few, but that's a few... too many.

My parents were just too terrorized to protest.

Those bad apples have been thrown out... because *I* happened to be there.

So that phrase I got from an employee at the "ressource intermédiaire" that "I don't have to visit my parents so frequently"... I'm sure it was said with a good intent, and my frequent visits are at first to ease the transition, -for all of us- in fact, and of course I would ease my visits a bit afterward. So far, I have nothing but praise for the entire personnel, but in the above context, mhhh...

When you are old and ailing... you are extremely powerless to those who have powers onto you.

Nor everyone can count on a relative to speak on their behalf either.

Human rights, it's not just at the other end of the planet, it starts right here at home...

-E