Whether or not another populace would allow it is entirely irrelevant, but just so that there's at least a native data point... yes, allowing our government to extend "reasonable search" provisions en masse to the fondling of our genitals makes us, in my opinion at least, a bunch of pussies.
It is relevant because the parent poster implied that in other/his/her countries, they wouldn't put up with it:
"It's amazing the kind of shit people put up with in the US."
My problem is whenever we have any issues with our government here in the states, you see all of these comments from other countries about how we are such pussies and that it would never fly in their countries. Yet whenever those same countries follow in the USs steps or the US totally shits on another countries rights (grounding planes, imposing their own laws, etc...) all they can do is bitch and moan about it on the internet.
It doesn't make any of us pussies, the people wanted security, and they got security. We let these NSA/TSA beasts grow to such ridiculous sizes. Now if we don't like it, we have to start taking steps to defund/remove all of these privacy invading programs. And from what I have seen in the last couple years, it really seems like we are slowly starting to get somewhere. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe this is the beginning of the Brave New World.
The reason I consider it irrelevant is that generally, the United States is so vastly different from any other country. I don't know of any other country in which I could be a citizen, oppose national health care, and consider myself right for doing so. In this unique land we hold though, that is exactly how I feel.
Aside from that, it should be second nature for us as Americans to forego being offended at insults levied out of others' national pride, and instead move straight away into doing exactly what you've suggested.
The reason I consider us pussies isn't because we let the government fondle our privates, but because depending on the poll, more than half the population considers that to be just fine. While each of us as individuals might not be pussies, collectively, we tend to be.
And yes, obviously, I do sincerely hope that we are making progress, and I don't disagree that we are at least getting more people to give a damn. And yes, that is a good thing. But that we've had such draconian policies in place for so long, and been so content to let it be that way? There's the problem, exactly.
