Irony, in spades

Today's episode of "Security Theater of the Absurd":

I toured the Maryland State Capitol building today, having shamefully never done so while growing up here.

I walked past all of the many monuments and memorials dedicated to Liberty, Freedom, and other such ideals that have been blatantly tossed aside by our state and federal governments lately, and climbed the steps and entered the (supposedly public) building.

Three police officers were sitting in chairs by a metal detector, idly chatting with one another. One lady turned and asked me in a confrontational manner, "Why are you here"? (I guess I didn't pass the dress code test) "To look around", I replied. She looked at me suspiciously for about five seconds, and then said, "Well, I need to see a government ID".

I pulled out my driver's license and flashed it at her, with my thumb covering my picture. That seemed to pass whatever test she seemed to require, and she then let me pass through the metal detector and walk into the foyer. She then went back to gossiping with her co-workers, having never left her comfy chair the entire time.

The first office I notice as I start down the hallway?

"The Maryland Welcome Center"

Mission definitely not accomplished.

Thank God I have lived in free states for the past 15 years, places that don't require their peasants to go through such ridiculous, ineffective measures to enter their own buildings.