Pat-Downs at Airports Prompt Complaints

Airplane travelers have been expressing complaints at the Transportation Security Administration's new, more aggressive full-body searches. Travelers complain of inappropriate contact and comments, and a feeling of powerlessness and humiliation at the new search policy. These complaints are coming in on top of the public's privacy concerns relating to the full-body scanners used at many major airports.

This issue shows the possible difficulties with using direct government as a tool to handle a situation. The TSA is a direct department of the federal government, so its policies are an extension of the executive branch. Direct government is the most effective tool to use when dealing with security issues, but the problem is that the public do not get to have any input in the policies or choose whether or not to follow them. In the case of airport security, direct government is the best option so passengers will just have to learn to adapt to the new standards.

- Stephanie Doctrow

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?ref=us

Direct Government in Airports

Recently new body imaging scanners have been added to many airports. These are used to completely scan travelers prior to flights. Even with this new technology, three national Sikh advocacy and civil rights organizations have said that turbans will still be searched and consider this "racial profiling." According to the T.S.A. (Transportation Security Administration) and the Department of Homeland Security, the scanners cannot see through the multiple layers of fabric in the turban. Thus, these organizations are using direct government to allow security officials the jurisdiction to conduct extra searches. While some may cry "racial profiling", I feel that a turban is the same as a small, unchecked bag. This is necessary and fair for everyone to be safe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07turban.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Govt: No call for Social Security increase in 2011

This up and coming election year has made Social Security an important issue on the agenda. As of now, the “direct government” has declared that more than 58 million Social Security recipients will go through another year without an increase in their monthly benefits. This would mark the second year in row without an increase in benefits since the installment of automatic adjustments for inflation, which is also known as the cost-of-living adjustments. Since Social Security is the primary source of income for many retirees, lobbyists will use this issue to sway the public to vote Democrat or Republican depending on what their goals are in order to ensure Social Security recipients receive proper benefits.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101010/ap_on_bi_ge/us_social_security_no_cola

-Rebecca Jania