Yes

by P. Brisdaine

Created on: February 12, 2008

The question seems simple enough but the outcry of people traveling stating that their personal data is private and it should be deemed under the privacy laws.

This debate will certainly show two sides of thought. Because I'm initiating this debate, I'm going to delve into what we all know deep down inside. And that is that the world is not the same place it was when our Bill of Rights was written. We have to STOP. Re-think things. No, I don't want to give up our personal rights. However, we have to stop thinking individually and start thinking as a nation. We are so individualized now that we think nothing about the big picture and only about how something affected us or our family.

My take on this debate is simple. I don't care if they get into my laptop. Fact is, I don't have anything to hide. They don't care about your financial records, your email to your girlfriend or boyfriend that you're cheating on your spouse with, they don't care about past due bills in your email, nor do they care about your 'to do list' that has to be completed on your vacation your taking.

They do, however, care about our nations' security. Again, we are not the same world we were. We must stop and re-write some laws. Or, eventually each and every law that comes to pass will be met with this same kind of resistance. And more fact to this matter is that most politicians try to stay away from these type of issues because they are 50-50. A split right down the middle of our nation. So, no matter what side our representatives take, they are disliked by 50% of their voters. So, you can see why such issues 'slide' under the radar in some cases or are attached as 'riders' on legal changes for our nation.

So, in summary, I could care less if they check my PC files. As a matter of fact, if they do it, I'd feel a heck of allot more safe knowing that the guy that was six people away from me was found to have links to a terrorist group or organization. We won't see these airport people anymore, so if you don't have anything to hide that is a security risk, why would people throw a baby tantrum that our government is taking a very FIRM stand on security. We have to embrace it people. Yes, there will be bumps in the road. Yes, there is always room for improvement. But this security thing has to be rolled out with an iron fist. Some will land under that iron fist unfortunately. But for each person that is detained or found questionable files with overseas banks, etc, we will never know how many lives have been saved in that process. Doesn't sound like much to you? What if it was you or your spouse or child that would have died had they not screened that PC? It seems that's the only way people wake up. I hear about our government taking away our rights, and on and on.... It's been said for so many years. But look at it from another angle. If our government doesn't take a hard line stand on security like this, then you have those same people yelling and screaming because the government didn't do enough to save the life of their family member or friend. So, fact is, this is likely another 50-50 issue. The government isn't looking for 'fair'. They aren't looking for your support on this effort. They are doing it for our own good. Sometimes that's a hard pill to swallow. However, we have the people way out there in left field going to say that the government is installing secret software and implanting things in their laptop, etc. Good God people. C'mon, please. I want us all to be safe and continue to be a proud nation. We are under significant pressure to step up to the plate here. And if we don't get our security under control we're going to keep taking pies in the face from terrorists that live in our own neighborhoods. No, they aren't all suicide bombers. More-so, many just contribute time, their talents and their pooling of community monies for things we think are going overseas to help starving. Yes, there are a few of these scams going on. Be cautious of where your donations go. You may be unknowingly supporting a terrorist organization.

So, on with this debate. I said what I said and those are my beliefs. We're dead in the water if we don't seal off our borders and come down VERY hard on security issues. Did you know we are considered lax compared to smaller sized countries whom already have implemented security processes that we are just now coming to use and require? My question is why has it taken so long? That's what frustrates me. We spend billions of dollars overseas and we have huge security holes that are just waiting to be violated. I applaud our government for taking this step. Yes, I'm in business. So, I do travel. As a security person who is screening PC's, I'd be more concerned at locating those little USB Jumper Drives that hold up to 8 or more gig of information. Hopefully they are looking for those also. I know I don't always travel with my laptop. Sometimes I put all my files on two of these jumper drives. One and a spare with a full backup of the first just in case of file corruption.

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