Nov. 14, 2004 - 15:36 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Like A Cat Does

Hid amid the pages in the back of our stone block newspaper, much as if it is not quite news anymore, are things of interest to me that seem to indicate the course of future events -- and some not quite so future.

In the Rocky Mountain News yesterday Nov. 13th are two little items.

First item

Agency wants passenger info from airlines

"WASHINGTON -- The government ordered U.S. airlines friday to turn over personal information about passengers so it can test a system for identifying potential terrorists."

"The move was expected but nonetheless brought protests from civil libertarians worried about invasions of privacy."

"Under the system, called "Secure Flight," the Transportation Security Administration will compare passenger data with names on two government watch lists: a "no fly" list comprises known or suspected terrorists, and a "watch list" names people who should face tighter scrutiny before boarding planes."

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That's one item.

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US Airways seeks to dump union deals

US Airways asked a bankruptcy judge Friday to cancel labor contracts with three of its unions and impose much lower pay so it can move ahead with a plan to permanently cut costs, reposition itself as a low-cost carrier and avoid a possible liquidation.

The 120 page court filing also asks the judge to ELIMINATE RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS AND CANCEL ITS TWO REMAINING PENSION PLANS, which provide benefits to its machinists and flight attendants."

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Second item

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My opinions and ideas about these things.

First item

Now there is a Name hung around my neck, "Civil Libertarian," -- my, doesn't that make me dangerous ?

All along there have been articles in the papers, and different organizations have been trying to enlist help to prevent such things happening.

The well known glitches in government computers can keep anyone of us from flying anywhere -- even if it is a life or death errand for one's family.

Potential terrorist ? That can be anyone that the government poohbahs decide they want to keep from flying, whether or not it is warranted. Perhaps I won't be able to make our Christmas flight to see our daughter because of an opinion I write in my Diary.

I think it is an unconscionable action for the government to demand such a thing. And to think of it, a terrorist might be along a little bit later, but driving with a powerful bomb in his van.

What are they doing about that ? Maybe put a police or sheriff's patrol on every single road in our country and them making a thorough search of every vehicle that moves ?

A violation of our civil liberties, I say it is.

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The second article

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Opinions here too

A trend ? My patootie. More like a raging waterfall. Suddenly all the biggies are coming on with the same song, "We gotta cut costs, we gotta cut costs, it is not profitable to stay in business if we don't cut costs. Can't help it if the peons suffer -- we gotta make a profit. Our advice to said peons ? Don't get sick or pregnant. we're fling bankruptcy."

Are you working ? How long before your company or corporation will come out with that ? File bankruptcy and plead that everyone has to do without health coverage, cut wages and kill pension plans ?

This has been showing up in items in the papers for a long time. Most of the time buried in the business sections.

And who or what agency will be designated to cover up the mess Like A Cat Does ? . . . . . . . . . .

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