Keeping The World Safe For Democracy

Once again I have to renew my Oakland airport security badge, and once again the actual process is much less irritating or Kafkaesque than I imagine it will be beforehand. This time, the whole thing's over in less than twenty minutes (no queuing! no paperwork! validated parking!), and I walk out of Oakland's badging office with yet another shiny new badge that certifies me safe for democracy, or safe from democracy, or whatever, whenever I'm on the ramp or movement areas. And once again, the Port staff are efficient, friendly, and, above all, good-humoured. Which really helps...