You’re Guilty Until I Tell You You’re Not
Have you considered that we’re constantly eroding a fundamental aspect of freedom, namely, that we’re innocent until proved guilty? I’ll admit that we haven’t been totally in compliance with that tenet, often allowing bias and racism of all kinds to condemn people who are otherwise going about this lives doing no harm. There is also often a “rush to judgment,” and some of you will remember the unjustly accused Duke lacrosse players who were actually framed by an unethical district attorney (since disbarred). And some people feel the rest of us are “guilty” for merely existing.
I have nearly four million air miles, originating when you’d simply waltz into an airline terminal and walk to your gate to board a plane.
While I understand necessary protective measures against potential terrorism, I don’t understand why everyone boarding a plane is guilty until proved innocent. The delays and indecencies of being searched, frisked, and having baggage contents removed are ridiculously paranoid. We have systems—for example, Global Entry—where a retinal scan and fingerprints whisk you past immigration in a minute. Why can’t people qualify (as they do for Global Entry in background checks and interviews to qualify) for the same status to board planes?
We’ve created a multi-billion dollar industry focused on people having to prove their innocence.
Now, I’m all for safety on planes. But the most difficulties and threats in flying today (2,500 cases in 2022 with $8.5 million in fines recommended) was with “unruly” passengers. Maybe they’re unruly because they’re tired of constantly have to prove their innocence, often twice a day or more.
