Here's the article from the New York Times. Go on, give it a read.

Now…you've probably found the flaw in this already, haven't you? I mean, beyond kicking the Fourth Amendment in the balls.

Let's say you're a T-word and you've got a B-word you want to bring on a subway train. You go to Station #1. You get selected for a random bag search. This is unlikely, because as the article points out, 4.5 million passengers go through the system on an average weekday. But let's say you do. All you have to say is "No thanks" and turn and leave the station. You're permitted to do so, according to the article.

Then you simply go to Station #2. And repeat as necessary.

This is yet another example of "Something must be done. This is something. Therefore, it must be done." And it gives the government the opportunity to search your stuff, because all subway riders are now suspects.

And incidentally, that sound you hear is the terrorists laughing at us.

Update: After being a bit shocked that Jeff Jarvis thinks this is a good idea…maybe he hasn't his coffee yet…I'd just like to underline one thing. I'm not putting this forward to be a dick. If asked to have my bag opened up, hell, I'll probably do it. Because I'm just trying to get from Point A to Point B. But if it took the guy with the English degree ninety seconds to break your lovely process and poke a giant hole in it, then the guy who does terror for a living is going to have even less of a problem. And if the process doesn't make us safer, then what's the bloody point?

Update: Shirts are now available here that straight up say you don't want to be searched. Tip of the hat to the NYC Metroblog and Jeff Jarvis. Of course, earlier today my libertarian ass came up with the perfect solution to all of this–privatize the NYC subway system. Then getting searched is just part of the TOS. Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm laughing on the inside.