Comments on: Photographer Images Satellites That Do Not Exist http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:15:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Neophyte http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-3/#comment-60842 Neophyte Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:31:49 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-60842 What? No one is to look up at the sky? Who say's this so-called secret space trash is ours any way? What, they are color coded or something? Geeze first you want to ban guns, now what; Telescopes? Honestly, like the Chinese couldn't figure this out by themselves? Who cares? What? No one is to look up at the sky?
Who say's this so-called secret space trash is ours any way? What, they are color coded or something? Geeze first you want to ban guns, now what; Telescopes?
Honestly, like the Chinese couldn't figure this
out by themselves? Who cares?

]]> By: Vitor http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-3/#comment-52310 Vitor Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:54:28 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-52310 can't you just appreciate it as a work of art??? can't you just appreciate it as a work of art???

]]> By: tankman42 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-3/#comment-39258 tankman42 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:06:44 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-39258 im suprised this guy hasn't been shot! its a matter of time before the u.s. government cottons on to his spying im suprised this guy hasn't been shot! its a matter of time before the u.s. government cottons on to his spying

]]> By: Thucydides http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-25859 Thucydides Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:44:02 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-25859 What most posters seem to have overlooked is this man's obsession with "American" classified satellites and sites. I notice he seems to have no interest in Russian, Chinese, European or Indian or Israeli classified satellites or ground installations (although realisticly his chances of using sophisticated optics to view a classified installation outside the US is very slim, and the result of doing so outside the US would be either a long period in prison or the death penalty). So his interest seems to be motivated by anti-American politics, and the supreme irony is he can only carry out his "hobby" and publish his results in the United States under the protection of American laws and customs! What most posters seem to have overlooked is this man's obsession with "American" classified satellites and sites.

I notice he seems to have no interest in Russian, Chinese, European or Indian or Israeli classified satellites or ground installations (although realisticly his chances of using sophisticated optics to view a classified installation outside the US is very slim, and the result of doing so outside the US would be either a long period in prison or the death penalty).

So his interest seems to be motivated by anti-American politics, and the supreme irony is he can only carry out his "hobby" and publish his results in the United States under the protection of American laws and customs!

]]> By: Georges http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-25084 Georges Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:01:05 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-25084 Spy satellites are actually very valuable. They have shown us that there are at least 4 countries that we haven't bombed yet. They've shown us that Antarctica is using materials intended for penguin research in amassing weapons of mass destruction. They have revealed that 86-year old Mitsy "Jennifer" Brown of Boston is a terrorist, or at least that she might have spoken with a terrorist who helped her cross North Burns Street 17 years ago. Also spy satellites have photographed some remarkable down-blouse cleavage which of course remains classified. Anyway, when you have an annual budget of 1.3 trillion dollars, which by the way is 10 times as much as EVERYBODY else's killem budgets put together, then you've got to spend it SOMEwhere. Heck, it's not like there's anybody STARVING, for Pete's sake. (This just in: Actually we now have reason to believe there may actually be some 5 countries we haven't bombed yet.) Spy satellites are actually very valuable. They have shown us that there are at least 4 countries that we haven't bombed yet. They've shown us that Antarctica is using materials intended for penguin research in amassing weapons of mass destruction. They have revealed that 86-year old Mitsy "Jennifer" Brown of Boston is a terrorist, or at least that she might have spoken with a terrorist who helped her cross North Burns Street 17 years ago. Also spy satellites have photographed some remarkable down-blouse cleavage which of course remains classified. Anyway, when you have an annual budget of 1.3 trillion dollars, which by the way is 10 times as much as EVERYBODY else's killem budgets put together, then you've got to spend it SOMEwhere. Heck, it's not like there's anybody STARVING, for Pete's sake. (This just in: Actually we now have reason to believe there may actually be some 5 countries we haven't bombed yet.)

]]> By: VINNY http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24369 VINNY Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:41:25 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24369 To me the really stupid thing is this. If you wanted to photgraph spy satellites and uncover a government conspiracy..... why would you use your real name? To me the really stupid thing is this. If you wanted to photgraph spy satellites and uncover a government conspiracy….. why would you use your real name?

]]> By: Aodhhan http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24346 Aodhhan Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:04:41 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24346 What he is doing isn't anything the US Military is going to go knocking on his door about. He isn't threatening national security. In fact, other nations routinely track US satellites using RADAR. A much more accurate means of tracking and determining what type of satellite it may be. What he is doing isn't anything the US Military is going to go knocking on his door about. He isn't threatening national security. In fact, other nations routinely track US satellites using RADAR. A much more accurate means of tracking and determining what type of satellite it may be.

]]> By: Patrick A. Ward http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24341 Patrick A. Ward Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:43:49 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24341 Well said Mike (Earl)! By the way... to the conspiracy theorists/politicians/warlords/berkley residents/etc...: the rest of the world is not interested... Lighten up! This is an astronomy science website! Patrick Well said Mike (Earl)!

By the way… to the conspiracy theorists/politicians/warlords/berkley residents/etc…: the rest of the world is not interested…

Lighten up! This is an astronomy science website!

Patrick

]]> By: Ravens_Cry http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24339 Ravens_Cry Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:44:54 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24339 Hmmm, taking picture of things that don't exist, sounds like something paranormalist would do. Hmmm, taking picture of things that don't exist, sounds like something paranormalist would do.

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24328 Al Hall Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:15:00 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24328 :-) Astrofiend- I know.. I have read enough of your posts.. You have a head on your shoulders... I respect what you write. Ian - Bring it on!!............. Well....... Okay... I suppose I respect what you write too, sometimes... :-) .. Don't get me wrong, if you don't give me facts on some of 'your' certain beliefs then I will continue to be skeptical.. :-) :-) Astrofiend-
I know.. I have read enough of your posts.. You have a head on your shoulders… I respect what you write.

Ian – Bring it on!!…………. Well……. Okay… I suppose I respect what you write too, sometimes… :-) .. Don't get me wrong, if you don't give me facts on some of 'your' certain beliefs then I will continue to be skeptical.. :-)

]]> By: Astrofiend http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24326 Astrofiend Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:55:34 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24326 "Al Hall Says: June 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm " I was just joking around with the 'republican' cheap shot; I wasn't having a go at you or anyone. Anyhow, I agree! - politics aside. I think the imaging is cool. It would be better however, if they could actually get resolved and detailed images of these classified sats - but then they really might get a knock on the door from the NRO or somebody. Mike Earl Says: June 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm "This story is sensationalistic and very 1960's, treating satellties as James Bond top secret. This is garbage. Anyone with a small telescope and a CCD camera can detect these objects. There is no shock value here anymore." To a certain extent, I beg to differ. There are a large number of satellites up there that are 'James Bond' top secret. As evidenced by the fact that they are top secret. Just because it is possible to hunt them down and photograph them doesn't mean that the technology isn't highly advanced or classified - and therein lies the fascination for many. I agree with you though - as a political statement and/or technical achievement, just snapping some pics of these objects is not Earth-shattering. But for me the fascination lies in directly imaging objects that contain classified technology developed on almost limitless budgets, so it is fun to speculate about their possible capabilities and what their purpose may be... and I don't think that that is treating satellites as anything less than serious business. "Al Hall Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm "

I was just joking around with the 'republican' cheap shot; I wasn't having a go at you or anyone. Anyhow, I agree! – politics aside.

I think the imaging is cool. It would be better however, if they could actually get resolved and detailed images of these classified sats – but then they really might get a knock on the door from the NRO or somebody.

Mike Earl Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm

"This story is sensationalistic and very 1960's, treating satellties as James Bond top secret. This is garbage. Anyone with a small telescope and a CCD camera can detect these objects. There is no shock value here anymore."

To a certain extent, I beg to differ. There are a large number of satellites up there that are 'James Bond' top secret. As evidenced by the fact that they are top secret. Just because it is possible to hunt them down and photograph them doesn't mean that the technology isn't highly advanced or classified – and therein lies the fascination for many.

I agree with you though – as a political statement and/or technical achievement, just snapping some pics of these objects is not Earth-shattering. But for me the fascination lies in directly imaging objects that contain classified technology developed on almost limitless budgets, so it is fun to speculate about their possible capabilities and what their purpose may be… and I don't think that that is treating satellites as anything less than serious business.

]]> By: Ian O'Neill http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24325 Ian O'Neill Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:54:32 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24325 (Hey, guys, I just found a nice article on Wired and thought "that's pretty cool, this guy spies on the spy satellites!" - where did the political intrigue come from?!) Great discussion though, and thanks Al for blaming it all on me ;-) - I'll get on with my next global warming article (yes, we did it!), this 2012 stuff is getting depressing! And thanks Mike, I'll check your site now. Sounds pretty cool! I'm off into my back garden to find myself a spy satellite... not where's my binoculars... Cheers, Ian :D (Hey, guys, I just found a nice article on Wired and thought "that's pretty cool, this guy spies on the spy satellites!" – where did the political intrigue come from?!)

Great discussion though, and thanks Al for blaming it all on me ;-) – I'll get on with my next global warming article (yes, we did it!), this 2012 stuff is getting depressing!

And thanks Mike, I'll check your site now. Sounds pretty cool!

I'm off into my back garden to find myself a spy satellite… not where's my binoculars…

Cheers, Ian :D

]]> By: Mike Earl http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24323 Mike Earl Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:20:56 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24323 Hello, Sorry to say this, but 189 satellites is not very impressive, even if they are classified. I myself, alone, detected and tracked 2,050 satellite (classified and non) with a single telescope and digital camera. An image of a satellite by itself is a meaningless streak. What information you get out of the "streak" (time, position, brightness, tumbling, etc.) is the real fascination. Taking images of satellites is quite easy these days. Just go to a number of websites and look up their orbit elements. Plug them into astronomy software that can accept them and tell the computer to go there. Take an image. Do it again and again, etc. Go to www.io.com/~mmccants/tles/. There you will find orbit elements for the satellites that "do not exist". This story is sensationalistic and very 1960's, treating satellties as James Bond top secret. This is garbage. Anyone with a small telescope and a CCD camera can detect these objects. There is no shock value here anymore. The "three satellites in formation" one member spoke of earlier were the NOSS classified satellites. They are no longer in threes, just twos, but they still seem to fly in formation. They are American and they are naked eye. Go to the first website above for their orbit elements. It's as simple as that. I have been doing satellite tracking for over 10 years and no one has knocked on my door donning black suits and sunglasses. Go to my wesbite www.castor2.ca and see the real story. There you will find the images of all 2,050 satellites I tracked last year for Sputnik's 50th Anniversary, plus research papers about satellite tracking. The majority of satellites are helping us every day with communications, navigation, weather forcasting, you name it. We depend on them every single day, yet we still insist on treating them as if they were "top secret espionnage". We should start treating satellites as a serious business and not as an issue of "Amateur Spy and Politics Today". Hello,

Sorry to say this, but 189 satellites is not very impressive, even if they are classified. I myself, alone, detected and tracked 2,050 satellite (classified and non) with a single telescope and digital camera.

An image of a satellite by itself is a meaningless streak. What information you get out of the "streak" (time, position, brightness, tumbling, etc.) is the real fascination. Taking images of satellites is quite easy these days. Just go to a number of websites and look up their orbit elements. Plug them into astronomy software that can accept them and tell the computer to go there. Take an image. Do it again and again, etc.

Go to http://www.io.com/~mmccants/tles/. There you will find orbit elements for the satellites that "do not exist".

This story is sensationalistic and very 1960's, treating satellties as James Bond top secret. This is garbage. Anyone with a small telescope and a CCD camera can detect these objects. There is no shock value here anymore.

The "three satellites in formation" one member spoke of earlier were the NOSS classified satellites. They are no longer in threes, just twos, but they still seem to fly in formation. They are American and they are naked eye. Go to the first website above for their orbit elements. It's as simple as that.

I have been doing satellite tracking for over 10 years and no one has knocked on my door donning black suits and sunglasses. Go to my wesbite http://www.castor2.ca and see the real story. There you will find the images of all 2,050 satellites I tracked last year for Sputnik's 50th Anniversary, plus research papers about satellite tracking.

The majority of satellites are helping us every day with communications, navigation, weather forcasting, you name it. We depend on them every single day, yet we still insist on treating them as if they were "top secret espionnage".

We should start treating satellites as a serious business and not as an issue of "Amateur Spy and Politics Today".

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24319 Al Hall Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:58:53 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24319 It's Ian's fault.. He's really good at it... I am patiently waiting for another article about 50km wide solar sails or the "proof" of us being the cause of global warming... Oh wait.. Let us not forget about 2012!!.. :-) P.s... I'm almost always right (until you can prove differently).. :-) I don't agree with all of the Republican party line, but they are a heck of a lot closer to my fundamental beliefs (morality, equality, opportunity) than others.. So...... Are we finished with politics here in this forum??? It's Ian's fault.. He's really good at it… I am patiently waiting for another article about 50km wide solar sails or the "proof" of us being the cause of global warming… Oh wait.. Let us not forget about 2012!!.. :-)
P.s… I'm almost always right (until you can prove differently).. :-) I don't agree with all of the Republican party line, but they are a heck of a lot closer to my fundamental beliefs (morality, equality, opportunity) than others.. So……
Are we finished with politics here in this forum???

]]> By: Astrofiend http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24317 Astrofiend Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:41:38 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24317 Why is it that almost any article posted in here seems to touch off a heated political debate? The guy is imaging SPY SATELLITES. I think we can all agree that that is awesome distilled to its purest form. No? Well you're wrong then (and probably vote republican, which makes you even more wrong). Why is it that almost any article posted in here seems to touch off a heated political debate?

The guy is imaging SPY SATELLITES. I think we can all agree that that is awesome distilled to its purest form. No? Well you're wrong then (and probably vote republican, which makes you even more wrong).

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24315 Al Hall Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:35:26 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24315 Sorry all... Before anyone else gets a chance to respond, I want to clarify. I should have said ""help"", not "help"... I know, it looks the same.. I know this is UT but want to make it clear that to most Americans the weak dollar means nothing. A Coke and most other things (except gasoline) costs pretty much the same. The weak dollar only discourages overseas tourism and foreign investment (from Americans). Of course the Chinese can still undercut us but that is another story.... What the weak dollar does do is promote tourism and more importantly, foreign investment (in America). There is a reason why our stock market is so high... It's the weak dollar. Say what you want about the current US administration but... Please.. No Bush bashing here.. Just stating a fact.. Just clarifying my statement, not trying to start a political debate in this forum. Nothing more.. Okay? Thanks.. Sorry all… Before anyone else gets a chance to respond, I want to clarify. I should have said ""help"", not "help"… I know, it looks the same.. I know this is UT but want to make it clear that to most Americans the weak dollar means nothing. A Coke and most other things (except gasoline) costs pretty much the same. The weak dollar only discourages overseas tourism and foreign investment (from Americans). Of course the Chinese can still undercut us but that is another story…. What the weak dollar does do is promote tourism and more importantly, foreign investment (in America). There is a reason why our stock market is so high… It's the weak dollar.
Say what you want about the current US administration but…
Please.. No Bush bashing here.. Just stating a fact.. Just clarifying my statement, not trying to start a political debate in this forum. Nothing more.. Okay? Thanks..

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24313 Al Hall Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:11:53 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24313 Ummm.. I don't think that has anything to do with the article, but.... :-) Try here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ As for the European Union. yep... It is doomed to fail... No federation in history has ever survived for too long. Too much difference. Hey! But it least it should help the dollar!! :-) Cheers!... Ummm.. I don't think that has anything to do with the article, but…. :-)
Try here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

As for the European Union. yep… It is doomed to fail… No federation in history has ever survived for too long. Too much difference.
Hey! But it least it should help the dollar!! :-)
Cheers!…

]]> By: Tyler Durden http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24311 Tyler Durden Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:58:39 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24311 Yet.. lol. Our currency is so devalued it's a joke. Anyone with any sense is switching to Euros, although I have my doubts about how long that will be viable. Europe's economy is too inextricably bound to our own. Yet.. lol. Our currency is so devalued it's a joke. Anyone with any sense is switching to Euros, although I have my doubts about how long that will be viable. Europe's economy is too inextricably bound to our own.

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24310 Al Hall Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:51:58 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24310 Point taken.. But we don't base our currency on the Yuan or the Ruble. Point taken.. But we don't base our currency on the Yuan or the Ruble.

]]> By: Tyler Durden http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24309 Tyler Durden Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:45:49 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24309 "… ridiculously oversized US military.." is your opinion.. Not mine." Not an opinion - a mathematical fact. The U.S. spends at least 10 times more on defense than the second-largest military in the world. "… ridiculously oversized US military.." is your opinion.. Not mine."

Not an opinion – a mathematical fact. The U.S. spends at least 10 times more on defense than the second-largest military in the world.

]]> By: Joseph http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24307 Joseph Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:05:38 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24307 I think many people clearly missed the point of this article. Perhaps it is one of those instances where if one needs 'moral' explained then there is little point in attempting an explanation to them. I think many people clearly missed the point of this article. Perhaps it is one of those instances where if one needs 'moral' explained then there is little point in attempting an explanation to them.

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24306 Al Hall Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:54:19 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24306 I see.. So we agree to disagree, as 'they' say. You don't see the potential future 'threat" as I do. Fair enough. I hope you are right. I really do..I sincerely do... I didn't come to this forum to speak of politics (there are plenty of sites for that).., I was just commenting on the article and appreciate your perspective (and counter) as well. Do you know his information wasn't (or won't be) already known? You are assuming that it wasn't (hasn't). "... ridiculously oversized US military.." is your opinion.. Not mine. "How is this information a threat to you and your family"?... Do you know it isn't? Sounds like it could be to me.. You don't see that it is possible? I see.. So we agree to disagree, as 'they' say. You don't see the potential future 'threat" as I do. Fair enough. I hope you are right. I really do..I sincerely do…
I didn't come to this forum to speak of politics (there are plenty of sites for that).., I was just commenting on the article and appreciate your perspective (and counter) as well.
Do you know his information wasn't (or won't be) already known? You are assuming that it wasn't (hasn't).
"… ridiculously oversized US military.." is your opinion.. Not mine.
"How is this information a threat to you and your family"?… Do you know it isn't? Sounds like it could be to me.. You don't see that it is possible?

]]> By: Tyler Durden http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-2/#comment-24305 Tyler Durden Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:32:49 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24305 Not really. It's not like he was giving our missle codes to a terrorist group. He's pointed out satellites in the sky that have an unknown purpose and belong to unknown nations. Do you really think any nation that could conceivably be a threat to the ridiculously oversized US military doesn't already scan the skies with far more sophisticated equipment? How is this information "a threat to you and your family?" - assuming he's even disclosed something that wasn't known already? Not really. It's not like he was giving our missle codes to a terrorist group. He's pointed out satellites in the sky that have an unknown purpose and belong to unknown nations.

Do you really think any nation that could conceivably be a threat to the ridiculously oversized US military doesn't already scan the skies with far more sophisticated equipment?

How is this information "a threat to you and your family?" – assuming he's even disclosed something that wasn't known already?

]]> By: Al Hall http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-24299 Al Hall Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:57:14 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24299 Do you live in Berkley? :-) I'm just messing with you, man.. My point was that this guy is exercising his constitutional rights but possibly putting my (and family) personal safety at risk. Can we agree to that? Do you live in Berkley? :-)
I'm just messing with you, man..
My point was that this guy is exercising his constitutional rights but possibly putting my (and family) personal safety at risk.
Can we agree to that?

]]> By: Tyler Durden http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/photographer-images-satellites-that-do-not-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-24297 Tyler Durden Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:44:49 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15234#comment-24297 Airlines are private companies and as such have the right to refuse service to anyone they wish. They can choose what you can and can not bring on board, and agree to any request the government makes concerning those prohibitions. If an airline wished to go into operation that specifically supported transportation of firearms or smoking in the cabin, I'd support it. Provided that the company fulfilled its obligation to its customers, by providing adequate security in the form of armed flight crew, and by disclosing their policies up front and requiring its passengers to sign a waiver acknowledging their consent. In any case the analogy is not worthwhile. A country is not an airplane, it's 300 million people with different needs and desires. To suggest that an agency "knows best" what we should and should not know is foolish. Trust should be earned, not expected. Airlines are private companies and as such have the right to refuse service to anyone they wish. They can choose what you can and can not bring on board, and agree to any request the government makes concerning those prohibitions.

If an airline wished to go into operation that specifically supported transportation of firearms or smoking in the cabin, I'd support it. Provided that the company fulfilled its obligation to its customers, by providing adequate security in the form of armed flight crew, and by disclosing their policies up front and requiring its passengers to sign a waiver acknowledging their consent.

In any case the analogy is not worthwhile. A country is not an airplane, it's 300 million people with different needs and desires. To suggest that an agency "knows best" what we should and should not know is foolish.

Trust should be earned, not expected.

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