Senator Charlie Schumer has just proposed a No-Ride List for Amtrak, in order to keep terrorists off the trains. At first glance that seems fine. There's a No-Fly List for planes already, why not have a similar system for Amtrak and any other passenger trains, or subways?
The problem is, just the difference. No-Fly lists tend to work on a basis of international security cooperation. Trains are not international. What passenger trains still exist tend to have very limited, regional routes here in the US.
Now if we know who these people are already, and we know enough about them to deprive them of the right to ride a train or any other kind of public transportation, then what the fuck are they still doing here?
Here's an idea-how about a "Get The Fuck Out Of This Country" List?
Or, even better, how about a "Target" List, complete with "Bullet Points".
For the time being, if you ride the train or subway, you might want to take your kids off to the side and explain to them that the man in the funny looking uniform isn't trying to feel them up for sexual reasons, he's just trying to keep us all safe from the terrorists from those same Arab countries some their fellow passengers have come from. You know, the ones that are rarely if ever checked.
