First, a quick account:
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- A Keene Libertarian who tried to board a flight carrying nothing but a Bible and a copy of the Declaration of Independence was arrested Saturday at Manchester Airport.
Russell Kanning, 35, was arrested after refusing to comply with security screening procedures and refusing to leave the screening area....
Kanning's demonstration was part of a larger effort by Libertarians to promote their belief in individual freedom and limited government. Others planned to start a private mail service, to call attention to the federal government's monopoly on first-class mail delivery, and sell bottles of liquor, in defiance of state liquor laws.
Now, I'm all in favor of acts of civil disobedience or demonstrations to bring attention to political or moral concerns. I've participated in my share of those, although not in the recent past. I'm especially in favor of the actions in the last quoted paragraph. But demonstrating against the security procedures in an airport, as risible and ineffective as they may be, does not seem like a way for a political movement to gain traction after 9/11. Sign me up for carrying a letter across town, but not for getting on a plane without some sort of scrutiny.
But it is nice to see Libertarians in the news. First time that's happened in a long time.
Peace,
Tor
Categories: libertarianism, disobedience
