Can an employer do this?

I think some of you are begining to understand my “Bushtapo” remarks a few weeks ago…

Search and seizure without cause or warrant
Fingerprints and retinal scans of all inbound non-citizens
Detention of a US citizen in solitary w/o charges for 3 1/2 years

And the fact that every single person on here either tacitly or explicitly “KNOWS” that communications are monitored, that financial transactions are tracked and recorded, that purchases of certain “illicit” materials are noted in your government file, etc.

F-alk is correct when he sarcastically refers to the “home of the free”

I figure the United States will either cease to exist within the next 20 years, or we will but be totally authoritarian.  There are not enough folks who give a shit left to stop it anymore.  “Bread and Circuses”  Keep the masses fed, keep them entertained, then do as you please…

@ncscswitch:

I figure the United States will either cease to exist within the next 20 years, or we will but be totally authoritarian.Â

So what do you think can be done about this?  What do you propose should be done?  What plans have you made for these changes that will take place?

@221B:

So what do you think can be done about this?  What do you propose should be done?  What plans have you made for these changes that will take place?

What do I think can be done?  I started that a decade ago, to the best of my ability.  I am a registered Libertarian and I vote that way every time I have an L candidate on the ballot.  I annoy the daylights out of my elected officials (I no longer even get fundraising letters from them).  And on various lists, in my blog, etc., I promote a Libertarian Constitutional outlook.  And of course, I provide financial support to Libertarian and Constitutional supporting candidates.

What should be done?
EVERYONE should vote for ANY candidate other than a Republican or Democrat.  Those two parties are too entrenched in power.  Kick them BOTH out.  And I don;t care if it is a Libertarian or a Socialist that is elected to replace them.  Get rid of the existing power structure of the two parties, and some change is going to happen.  Tie the whole mess up in the courts for decades as the old power structure fights with the new… the more gridlock you have, the less damage that the government can do!

What plans have I made?
For the collapse of the US?  What can you do?  Have knowledge of how to survive, weapons and ammunition for both defense and food, and have a brain that can act and re-act to what will be an unpredicable and totally chaotic situation.

It is not like it will be total anarchy anyway.  The nation is simply going to come unglued.  We’ll probably end up with 4-7 smaller confederations in each region and a leadership of each region more akin to the Articles of Confederation.  California will probably go its own way.  Neighboring states will not join it becuase of their dominance and will instead create their own regional grouping.  The Great Plains will stick together.  Texas will go solo like California.  Florida…  Florida could be a problem.  They have no viable economy if tourism goes down and a largely dependent population (Social Security is the number one source of paychecks in Florida).  The old Rust Belt will join together, and New England and the Mid-Atlantic states will stick together.  Lastly, the old Confederacy will stick together as well, this time with a large amount of on-site military force and a diverse economy.  Alaska will happily go solo, but seek an alliance with a strong nation for protection in exchange for oil.  Hawaii will seek protection also, most likely in the far east, maybe from California but doubtful.

Regional battles will be severe, especially in the Southwest as California and Arizona find themselves lacking water once the Federal restrictions are no longer enforceable and upstream territories of the Colorado start to draw off more water for their own use.

That enough theoretical for ya?

Interesting theory…

@221B:

Interesting theory…

Just an extrapolation.

Regional division in the US is greater than at any time since 1860.  The whole “Red State, Blue State” thing is getting out of hand.  New England is Liberal, as is California, Oregon and Washington.  The plains, and south are conservative.  Mid-Atlantic and rust belt are moderate but leaning liberal.

As we go through the next decade or so, those core divisions in outlook will start to create some significant points of stress.  Abortion laws, progressive taxation, social welfare… these are the wedges.  The driving force behind those wedges are going to be things like the  simple demographics of the country, particularly as regards age and wage.

The final impetus will be when Social Security has to start paying out more than it takes in.  Forget all the crap you hear about Social Security going belly up in 2042 or something like that.  THAT date is contingent upon the alleged “trust fund” actually existing… it doesn;t.  The REAL date is about 10-12 years from now when SS has to spend more than it takes in, the difference being made up from general revenues as the Feds are forced to start paying back those “IOU’s” in the trust fund.  Taxes HAVE to be dramatically increased to cover the 32 TRILLION dollar IOU and current benefits load to pay for the system through 2042.

Ain;t gonna happen.  It would require a net FEDERAL tax rate of double what we have now.  Working people will not stand for it.

Trouble is, by 2015 or so, net tax payers will be outnumbered by net tax recipients by about 3 to 2.  That is not enough to get the government to change course (majority rule in Congress and all).  But it is FAR more than enough to have that 1/3 say “To hell with the US” and split from the Union.

Add in one more stress on people’s finances… the turn of 401(k) money from being “buy” pressure on the stock market to “sell” pressure.  That will first flatten the market, then create the longest Bear market ever…  People seeing their savings disappear while simultaneously being told to pay double or more to support everyone else…  And the 401(k) tide is already beginning it’s shift and will peak about the same time SS goes red on an annual basis…

And all it takes is ONE state to secede.  Once the crack opens, others will follow in short order as each state is faced with “last one out is left holding the tab”

No more United States.

Hmm…for your original question, I’m not entirely certain that they can do that.  My guess is they probably can, but involving the police might mean that they have to publicize what they do to the company employees, even if it’s something like “we conduct random screenings of cars.”

This is for two reasons.  First, just because you’re on someone else’s property doesn’t mean they have the right to search you.  There is no necessary contractual obligation implied by going to a place that gives them the authority to do so.  Now, if a company has a stated policy, it’s a different matter, but if they haven’t informed you of it, if it’s not readily accessible, or if you haven’t been given the prior option to decline, then that may not be allowed.  However, recent court rulings have been geared towards protecting the rights/prerogatives of the business.

The second is probable cause for search and seizure.  This has always been a dicey area of the law, as it’s difficult to really say what constitutes probable cause that doesn’t get into things like racial profiling.  Bringing in a dog is fairly clearly an investigative tool, so they can’t do that without either probable cause which is precluded by default in a random screening or prior contractual permission from both the vehicle owner and the property holder.  Which of course goes back to the first point.

So, basically, see if you company has a stated policy and if you were given the option to opt out, which, as someone mentioned, could simply mean that you can’t stay at the job.  If it does and you signed, you’re out of luck.  If not, then maybe you have a case, although it’s likely you don’t unfortunately.  Good luck, man…

Back to your original post question:

who should I contact?

If you are really offended, I would start with your manager, or with his manager.  I find it is always best to work within the system first.  It could be that your management did not know the trooper would have the dog sniff the cars in the parking lot.

In addition to your feelings about your car being searched without your consent, there are lots of other issues here you could bring up to management.  Certainly, the possibility of drug addicts among your fellow workers would be reason to be concerned about your personal safety as just one example.

the more gridlock you have, the less damage that the government can do!

Damn straight James Madison!

@Chengora:

Hmm…for your original question, I’m not entirely certain that they can do that.  My guess is they probably can, but involving the police might mean that they have to publicize what they do to the company employees, even if it’s something like “we conduct random screenings of cars.”

Actually, precedent and statute are clear here already…  as little as 1 sign posted, or one entry in an employee policy manual or employment contract is all it takes.

The usual is “All persons and vehicles entering the premises are subject to search”

Precisely, and unfortunately.  Although there might be some question as to whether a sign posted, say, inside a building, can apply to the parking lot.  And your acceptance of the procedure initially can be construed as implied consent.  But, if you think you can plausibly argue that the company didn’t have any signs or anything, then maybe you have a case.  But unfortunately, it’s doubtful.  Sorry I couldn’t be of any more assistance.