AstoriaDave
New member
Why would you care if the rabbit were in heat? Oh, wait, I guess that would be a hot bunny ... which would be in the Playboy mansion, right?
Homeland Security Interceptor
- Thread starter DaveS
- Start date
- Status
El and Bill
New member
Well - if the insulation wasn't too good on your house, we could detect if you were in bed - AND - if you were alone! I could tell more, but it's probably still classified and if I told you we'd have to ... Well, you know the gizz.
Levitation
New member
Just to drag this wandering thread back to the corral..
The USCG is busily squandering generations of accumulated good will on nonproductive boardings of average folks on average boats, while exhibiting weapons and 'you are the enemy' attitudes... The HSA is relatively brand new, but is even more malevolent in it's attitude towards citizens... The only time I can find in history where the Government took such a negative, hostile, and armed, attitude towards the citizenry as a whole were the final years leading to The American Revolution... (I am open to being educated on this by the more learned amongst the group)
Given that boaters tend to be among the more affluent spectrum of tax payers, I would propose that we, individually and through our boating organizations, begin to vigorously lobby our congress critters to reduce funding for the USCG and HSA... The only way to affect change within our behemoth bureaucracies is to cause a ripple in The Force (money)... They are exquisitely sensitive to ripples in The Force...
The argument would be that given the desperate financial situation the country finds itself in, then these organizations need to immediately become more lean and efficient...
The USCG is busily squandering generations of accumulated good will on nonproductive boardings of average folks on average boats, while exhibiting weapons and 'you are the enemy' attitudes... The HSA is relatively brand new, but is even more malevolent in it's attitude towards citizens... The only time I can find in history where the Government took such a negative, hostile, and armed, attitude towards the citizenry as a whole were the final years leading to The American Revolution... (I am open to being educated on this by the more learned amongst the group)
Given that boaters tend to be among the more affluent spectrum of tax payers, I would propose that we, individually and through our boating organizations, begin to vigorously lobby our congress critters to reduce funding for the USCG and HSA... The only way to affect change within our behemoth bureaucracies is to cause a ripple in The Force (money)... They are exquisitely sensitive to ripples in The Force...
The argument would be that given the desperate financial situation the country finds itself in, then these organizations need to immediately become more lean and efficient...
Levitation
New member
Da Nag, Tybo, if you find the above post too political and kill it, I understand..
We live and boat near a commercial port. We have been boarded by the CG numerous times... a C-Dory kinda stands out in an area where most small boats are center consoles and bay-skimmers. They are armed, but we have never felt they were trying to be intimidating. They have a job to do... often a dangerous job. Being close to the border, we get a daily dose on the TV and in the newspaper of (a portion of) what goes on.
The CG "inspects", but we all know it is more than that. Unfortunately, it is necessary. I think all the "illusion of security" we go through at the airports is also a "money sump." Our world has changed. There are people out there who live their lives wanting to end ours. I don't see this as an erosion of our rights, but a reaction to the world situation.
I have said before that I have the solution when flying commercially: everybody flies naked, give each person a knife as they board the plane. This won't work for boating... just imagine the sunburn! 8)
Best wishes,
Jim B.
The CG "inspects", but we all know it is more than that. Unfortunately, it is necessary. I think all the "illusion of security" we go through at the airports is also a "money sump." Our world has changed. There are people out there who live their lives wanting to end ours. I don't see this as an erosion of our rights, but a reaction to the world situation.
I have said before that I have the solution when flying commercially: everybody flies naked, give each person a knife as they board the plane. This won't work for boating... just imagine the sunburn! 8)
Best wishes,
Jim B.
I've been boarded by the CG about once per year during the past couple of years. The focus was primarily on safety - e.g. did I have the necessary equipment on board. Never once did I feel that anyone from the CG had a "negative, hostile, and armed, attitude" towards me. In fact, it's my belief that they were doing their best to help me and others. Also, given the large number of idiots on the water who regularly go out without life vests, flares, throwables and sound making devices (not to mention radios and GPS's), I'm not sure I would define the boardings as non productive. In many cases, I have seen CG escort ill prepared boaters back to shore after informing them of what the requirements are. I consider this "boater education" and a productive use of the CG time. This kind of early season enforcement effort does a lot to get the word out on what is required to boat safely and likely prevents a lot of mid to late season emergency calls and body recovery efforts.
In general, I've found that if one exhibits a decent attitude towards CG and other law enforcement personal, one gets a decent attitude back (not always, there's the occasional jerk out there and some good guys having a bad day). So you and I have very different overall perceptions and the USCG. I'm not saying one is wrong and one is right, just different.
In general, I've found that if one exhibits a decent attitude towards CG and other law enforcement personal, one gets a decent attitude back (not always, there's the occasional jerk out there and some good guys having a bad day). So you and I have very different overall perceptions and the USCG. I'm not saying one is wrong and one is right, just different.
Levitation
New member
Roger, I respect your perception that they are 'just doing' their job... But many will argue that it has gone way beyond that... Go over to The Hull Truth and read the archives.. And numerous other boat groups on the net will also argue that the CG and HSA are run amok... The TSA, as any general aviation pilot will tell you, is a pain that injures our way of life without any benefits...
I have been sailing the waters of the Great Lakes as boy and man... I have been between boats since 9/11 (no cause and effect implied)... I have been boarded before 9/11 - always just loosely tied up against and they would stand on their rail and ask to see my PFD, etc.. Always friendly, not just hostile polite... Handed a sticker to put in the cabin window for the remainder of the year, real smiles and a hand wave as they leave...
Now, I am again 'with boat' and the first three trips out onto the Saginaw River and Lake Huron in the past 10 days I have been passed by the CG cruiser each time... Machine gun on the bow... Two or three obviously armed coasties on the rail and at least one with binoculars staring me down...
Then there is the aborted attempt by the CG to unilaterally take over hundreds of square miles on the lakes for firing the 50 caliber machine guns out across the water.. That did (finally) cause the citizenry, even non boaters, to get their back up and say, hell no! The powers that be retreated in confusion over that one...
The CG is rapidly erasing generations of built up good will - in my opinion... I wish it were not so...
I have been sailing the waters of the Great Lakes as boy and man... I have been between boats since 9/11 (no cause and effect implied)... I have been boarded before 9/11 - always just loosely tied up against and they would stand on their rail and ask to see my PFD, etc.. Always friendly, not just hostile polite... Handed a sticker to put in the cabin window for the remainder of the year, real smiles and a hand wave as they leave...
Now, I am again 'with boat' and the first three trips out onto the Saginaw River and Lake Huron in the past 10 days I have been passed by the CG cruiser each time... Machine gun on the bow... Two or three obviously armed coasties on the rail and at least one with binoculars staring me down...
Then there is the aborted attempt by the CG to unilaterally take over hundreds of square miles on the lakes for firing the 50 caliber machine guns out across the water.. That did (finally) cause the citizenry, even non boaters, to get their back up and say, hell no! The powers that be retreated in confusion over that one...
The CG is rapidly erasing generations of built up good will - in my opinion... I wish it were not so...
Levitation
New member
And, that is my last diatribe on the subject.. Thanks for your patience...
I spent last weekend listening to a Search and Rescue effort for 2 men, "overdue", who went out into Juan de Fuca Strait in a 70's 16ft open runabout. Winds in the 15 - 25 and waves 2-4, and also CG requests for local assistance for a missing swimmer in Lake Washington. Neither of the SAR's produced survivors. I am quite sure that the CG guys would rather be stopping me or others for a "Safety" check then telling there families that there is no chance they will be coming home.
Personally, I'm glad they are out there doing their job, and (that we can provide such nice vessels for that purpose). I'd rather be stopped by them for the "Safety" check than have my boat, trailer or both, absconded and used by some felonous pirate, drug smuggler, or ............
As to their being armed, should not be an issue, unless you are planning on taking over their craft or overpowering them and taking them captive.
Harvey
SleepyC
Personally, I'm glad they are out there doing their job, and (that we can provide such nice vessels for that purpose). I'd rather be stopped by them for the "Safety" check than have my boat, trailer or both, absconded and used by some felonous pirate, drug smuggler, or ............
As to their being armed, should not be an issue, unless you are planning on taking over their craft or overpowering them and taking them captive.
Harvey
SleepyC
As a sworn LE officer for the past 14 yrs I must confess I'm dumfounded by some posts here.
What would you propose the CG, and HSA etc do? NOT be armed? :? :roll: Or should they just sell off everything, fire all the personnel and "open" the borders. waterways etc, all in the name of "liberty" and "freedom"? How does their being armed and doing their jobs (and risking their lives on a day to day basis I might add) or looking at you and your boat through binos infringe on your freedom? The world is full of BAD PEOPLE...not unicorns, puppy dogs and bunnies. Those bad people would do all sorts of bad things if allowed to, unchallenged by LE up to and including killing large amounts of the population if possible. Like I said, it's a different world.
I now work in the greater Seattle area, and I am constantly running into people who vehemently "dislike" LE (police/deputies & the military etc) due to their, um, political beliefs. Yet when they NEED LE, they are the quickest and loudest to scream HELP!!!!!! and demand their family/property etc be "protected". You can't have it both ways. :roll:
I'm down off my soapbox now. I'm still confused and dumfounded, but I'm down....
What would you propose the CG, and HSA etc do? NOT be armed? :? :roll: Or should they just sell off everything, fire all the personnel and "open" the borders. waterways etc, all in the name of "liberty" and "freedom"? How does their being armed and doing their jobs (and risking their lives on a day to day basis I might add) or looking at you and your boat through binos infringe on your freedom? The world is full of BAD PEOPLE...not unicorns, puppy dogs and bunnies. Those bad people would do all sorts of bad things if allowed to, unchallenged by LE up to and including killing large amounts of the population if possible. Like I said, it's a different world.
I now work in the greater Seattle area, and I am constantly running into people who vehemently "dislike" LE (police/deputies & the military etc) due to their, um, political beliefs. Yet when they NEED LE, they are the quickest and loudest to scream HELP!!!!!! and demand their family/property etc be "protected". You can't have it both ways. :roll:
I'm down off my soapbox now. I'm still confused and dumfounded, but I'm down....
starcrafttom
Active member
Sorry I’m late 
. So you are mad that the military, yes the coasties are the military, have guns on board when the drive by??/ oh and that they learn to use them by firing them?? Did I get that right?? They did not board you and did not harass you but they do have guns?? As a ex-marine and range coach ( you know the guy that teaches the military how to shoot people) I can only say that the more time the coasties have firing their weapons the less likely they are to fire their weapon when its not needed and when needed not to hit the wrong guy, we call it proficiency.
Yes the word did change and yes a lot of money is wasted but I don’t think that with a almost civil war on one boarder between the government and the drug lords and a open border, from one direction, on the other I think that stepping up enforcement is a great idea. And yes better the feds then the local cops as I myself complained about last month. The coasties and HLS do have the right to board a boat underway, most county, city, state cops do not and should not. Thank you all for coming.
. So you are mad that the military, yes the coasties are the military, have guns on board when the drive by??/ oh and that they learn to use them by firing them?? Did I get that right?? They did not board you and did not harass you but they do have guns?? As a ex-marine and range coach ( you know the guy that teaches the military how to shoot people) I can only say that the more time the coasties have firing their weapons the less likely they are to fire their weapon when its not needed and when needed not to hit the wrong guy, we call it proficiency.Yes the word did change and yes a lot of money is wasted but I don’t think that with a almost civil war on one boarder between the government and the drug lords and a open border, from one direction, on the other I think that stepping up enforcement is a great idea. And yes better the feds then the local cops as I myself complained about last month. The coasties and HLS do have the right to board a boat underway, most county, city, state cops do not and should not. Thank you all for coming.
- Status