Paradise Driver: I AM ABOUT TO BE...

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I AM ABOUT TO BE...

HELD PRISONER BY THE U.S. GOV'T!

New DHS / TSA rules were supposed to go into effect this year but have been delayed because quite a few States are balking at the cost and the necessity.

All I have for ID is my Driver's License and Social Security Card (which just happens to boldly state that it is "FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND TAX PURPOSES - NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION"). Now, I am going to be forced to either get a passport (for travel within the USA!) or move to a State whose DL is accepted by the US Nazi's. If I lived on the mainland, I (currently) would be able to continue travel to most parts of all the lower 48 States. When this new regulation (NOT law) takes effect I will not only be unable to leave Hawai'i but I will be restricted to the island of Mau'i. Held prisoner for committing no crime, and not being a threat to others. Held prisoner because this is just the first step in controlling the movement of citizens within the USA. Sounds like the USSR, when permits were required to travel during the cold war. Or WWII Europe, under Nazi control.

I used to do "meet & greets" at the airport, until a year ago. Each year I would go to the "hired gun" office at OGG and get my pic taken for a "Greeter's Badge". Name was submitted by the cab company and I just had to show my DL, or the prior year's badge. Last year that changed to requiring 2 forms of ID and they wouldn't accept my SS card or the prior years badge. No, not because it said "Not For Identification" but because it was laminated. It's the original card I received when I was 16 years old, for christ's sake. The only reason it still is in existence is because it is laminated, which there are no laws against. Unless I get a replacement card (which is missing that "Not For Identication" line) I can't even get a passport. They won't even accept my 'Taxi Operator's Permit".

This year the "hired guns" have instituted a background check on all applicants for a "greeters badge." You might conclude that having such a document allows me access to secured or restricted areas. It doesn't. I must park my cab in the same public lot as everyone else. I can only go to those same general public access areas that "John Q" may attend. So Osama Ben Terrorist can go everywhere I can on the airport grounds and "greet" people because he would be acting as a regular citizen, whereas I would be doing the same thing in a commercial capacity.

BTW - Did you know that if you buy your ticket with cash rather than a credit card, you are automatically "flagged" for further scrutiny?

These new rules also will preclude me from boarding a boat, or the SuperFerry.

Looks like I might just have to move back to the mainland before these abominations go into effect.

I am not alone. Residents of Alaska and Point Roberts, Washington will not be able to "go home" either.

Long live the Bill Of Rights and the Constitution. May they rest in peace.

***

Tina, an associate of mine, does a lot of traveling. She also takes one hell of a lot of great pics. Here are some from one of her recent island sojourns:

Mahalo, Tina.

***

An old farmer named Clyde had a car accident. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning Clyde. "Didn't you say at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine,'?" asked the lawyer.

Clyde responded, "Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule, Bessie, into the......"

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted.

"Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine!'?"

Clyde said, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and was driving down the road...."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question"

By this time, the Judge was fairly interested in Clyde's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule, Bessie."

Clyde thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well...as I was sayin', I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was drivin' her down the highway when this huge semi ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie
was thrown into the other. I was hurtin' real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moanin' and groanin'. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.

Real soon a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moanin' and groanin', too. So, he went over to her.

After he looked at her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road, gun in hand, looked at me, and said, 'How are YOU feeling?' Now what the heck would YOU say?"

***

Have a great day. I'll be back after work tomorrow morning.

Mahalo

Aloha

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