Making the government smaller? How Republican! (Not having a criteria, how governmental.)

http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/026137.html

January 02, 2011

U.S. Airports Increasing Looking at Private Airport Security Screening Options

WaPo: As outrage over screenings rises, sites consider replacing TSA - "For airports, the change isn't about money. At issue, airport managers and security experts say, is the unwieldy size and bureaucracy of the federal aviation security system. Private firms may be able to do the job more efficiently and with a personal touch, they say. [Isn't it the “personal touch” we object to? Bob] Airports that choose private screeners must submit the request to the TSA. There are no specific criteria for approval, but federal officials can decide whether to grant the request "based on the airport's record of compliance on security regulations and requirements." The TSA pays for the cost of the screening and has the final say on which company gets the contract. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), the incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has written to 200 of the nation's largest airports, urging them to consider switching to private companies. The TSA was "never intended to be an army of 67,000 employees," he said."

• Related postings on government implementation of whole body scanning technology at airports

What would be the result of a “not secret” collection of information? How many US judges are on Facebook?

http://www.pogowasright.org/?p=18867

Turkish judges cannot have privacy, says minister

January 2, 2011 by Dissent

The Justice Ministry is secretly collecting information about the personal habits of candidate judges and prosecutors, a top official has admitted in response to a question by a parliamentary deputy from the main opposition.

Keeping such records is in line with Turkish law, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said, according to a Sunday report in daily Milliyet. His comments were received with mixed opinions from legal experts.

The minister made his statement in response to a question from Selçuk Ayhan, an İzmir deputy from the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, on “whether secret records were being kept on the lifestyle of candidates for becoming judges” or prosecutors.

Read more on Hurriyet Daily News.