Subway searches

The NYPD is going to be conducting random searches of people who bring packages onto NYC subways, trains, and buses. This is certainly a controversial thing to do, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt at the outset and see how this policy is carried out. The devil, of course, is in the details.

I've got to believe that the primary motive behind these searches is one of deterrence. The odds that random searches are going to "catch" anything seem slim. The nebulous threat of a potential search, however, may help convince someone not to do something. Then again, I don't think the people we should be worried about are easily discouraged or intimidated. Nor are they stupid.

So we'll see. There's a likelihood that we'll see stories about people being unfairly singled out, claims of harassment, etc. I believe strongly in our civil rights and believe that, in general, it's better to let guilty people go free as opposed to incarcerating innocents. You can extend that analogy to terrorism as you see fit.

But I also think that there's a balance, and that as citizens, we do owe our government a certain level of trust before we shout back and protest. The police are here to protect us. I will relinquish some of my freedom to them if they really believe it's worthwhile, and I reserve the right to call "bullshit" if and when I feel like my trust has been abused.