The Homeland Security nutballs have gone totally insane. Stopped in

[karlschneider]

the local post office a while ago to mail a package. The double doors between the "lobby" where the mailboxes and the counter were closed. One of them was locked. I finally figured how to open up the unlocked one and went in...there was a woman right behind me with a big box to mail, I held the door open so she could (barely) fit through. I spoke to her saying "I never saw these doors closed before, it's odd". One of the postal guys overheard me and said "new policy. We have to keep them closed."

I looked at him and said, "Why, is it to keep terrorists out", he said "yes." Well, I said, "that sounds like something a stupid moron from
the Bush gang would come up with...no terrorist would dare push that goddamn door open, would they?"

The poor guy (I know he's just "following orderz") just rolled his eyes.

Yet I pushed it a little more...set my package down on the counter and before he asked the obligatory questions, I said "There aren't any explosives, anthrax, poisons or weapons of mass destruction in it."

He didn't say anything except "That's $4.95."

I have red marks on my arms from pinching myself trying to wake up from this idiotic nightmare.
:grr:

[ixion]

1. wow... it's been awhile since I mailed a package...

sounds as though the Bush cabal has made that a very unpleasant experience, even moreso than it already was.

*sigh*

[Armstead]

2. Had a similar experience recently

My motehr recently asked me to mail a package with a birthday present for my neice. I picked it up without asking what it was and went to the Post Office.

The woman at the counter asked if tghere were any explosives, etc,. in it. (Like I'd tell her if therewere.) I said no. She asked me what was in it and I said "I'm not sure. It's a birthday present my mother is sending."

She refused to take the package, no matter how hard I explained that my motehr would not be mailing a bomb to my 13 year old neice. The woman was very nice and understanding but said "I'm sorry. Under the new rules I can;t mail it until you tell me what's in it."

So I had to drive all the way back to my motehr's to ask what was in it and go back to the post office to inform the clerk that it contained a book on teenage etiquette.

[karlschneider]

3. You're probably lucky it wasn't Al Franken's latest book, you might be on

the way to Gitmo.

:grr:

[w13rd0]

4. Should have responded...

..."5kg of weapons grade plutonium, to be shipped to Niger."

[lostnfound]

15. Or 'one of the BinLadin brothers'; roll out the red carpet n/t

[FreedomSpirit]

5. The Post Office has been asking questions for quite some time

I have to mail lots of priority packages in the course of my job -- all paper which is sent to my home office. Have been doing that for a couple of years now. I'd say for the past year or so, they always ask if there is anything "liquid or dangerous" in the packages. Thought it was odd the first several times, but they do insist on having you state what is in the package. Wonder what they would do if you jokingly said "Anthrax"? (not that I would ... would not want the potential hassle).

[newyawker99]

16. Hi FreedomSpirit!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Zan_of_Texas]

9. okay

So, I got it.

If we are just folks, we have to tell what's in a package we mail that contains a book on teen etiquette for a birthday present.

However, if you're Diebold or Sequoia or ES&S, and you make voting machines, you don't have to tell what's in THAT box!

Makes sense to me.

NOT!

[Laughing Mirror]

6. here in New York City

you have to show ID to mail a package

and a couple of weeks ago I took the Greyhound back to New York City from Philadelphia (about 100 miles away), paid for my ticket in cash (21 dollars) and had to show my driver's license, the information from which was printed on my ticket

then I got on the line to get on the bus, and everybody getting on the bus (including little children) was frisked with the explosive-detector wand, and all bags were opened and thoroughly searched ... just like at the airport

i couldn't believe it -- GREYHOUND!

[Zorra]

13. I have a question about this

Did they write down your name when they checked your Drivers License? I have not lived in the US for awhile, since before 9/11. Are people in the US required to always carry ID now? Thanks.

[notadmblnd]

14. I was required to have two peices of ID trying to get back in the US from

Canada last time I was there. I've been across the border hundreds of times previously. He took my license and entered my name in a computer. when I asked him if he was entering my name in a database, he told me he could not tell me that information.

[nostamj]

18. been to the Statue of Liberty lately ???

I took my brother and his family a few months back.

Could not BELIEVE the security. I had to take off my belt (?!?) and the guard took the cigarette pack out of my pocket and checked it before he let me through... How did they know the bottled water was not biotoxin??? or a molotav cocktail???

[TruthIsAll]

7. Mr. pResident, did you take Cipro right before 9/11?

I don't have anthrax.

Mr. pResident, did you take Cipro?
I don't have anthrax.

Mr. pResident, did you take Cipro?
I don't have anthrax.

Next question...

[maha]

8. Visit New York City sometime.

Walk past fully armed National Guard every day on your daily commute!

[karlschneider]

10. I haven't been to NYC in several years, but I get your point...I used to

travel extensively thru central & S. America in the early 80s and seeing soldiers with automatic weapons standing on every corner is ...disconcerting to say the least. :eyes:

[maha]

11. It gets your attention.

People in NYC are pretty security concious.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Yup it makes perfect sense...

Terrorist deposits a bomb and sets the timer for 30 seconds, by suddenly realizing that the doors are locked and is not able to get out in time. OH WAIT he wanted to be a martyr anyway and he's like "WOOHOO thank-you homeland security". You have to realize that we've had homeland security nuts way before the department was created. Duck and cover is one of the main things that come to mind.

[maha]

17. Sniffer dogs.

Instead of spending gawdawful amounts of money on the "war on terra" in Iraq, the Gubmint should be training and deploying lots and lots of bomb-sniffing dogs. I would think you could get one HELL of a lot of sniffer dogs on the streets for $87 billion!