Subway police will be searching passengers’ bags before they can take the subway. See here. At least some resistance to this police state tactic is emerging, see here. The logic of the State is that it owns everything and everybody in its domain. I confess that as I witness this logic being played out, I am losing my cool and my patience.
The libertarian theory tells us that the private owner determines property use. An owner could have any rules he likes before admitting you to his property. Where does this leave airports, bus and train terminals, and subway stations? Even with private ownership, the government could apply various tax and other pressures to force a subway company to search. There is nothing for it except to get rid of government, as far as I can see. If not, that leaves us with the 4th amendment (which extends to one’s “effects.”) There should not be a search without a warrant and probable cause. Searching people’s belongings on any basis other than that is unconstitutional. This includes airport searches. One thing is now leading to another as the police state extends. You should not have to prove your innocence before transporting yourself on this earth from one place to another.
12:17 pm on November 3, 2008