The Cheap Thrill-Airport Security Measures run Wild

[M Paquette]

Good news, everyone!

Quote:

Airport security workers will now be told to make repeated attempts to screen young children without resorting to invasive pat-downs, the head of the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday. The agency is working to put that change in place around the country, and it should reduce, but not eliminate, pat-downs for children, an agency spokesman said.

Change Made To Airport Screenings For Young Kids : NPR

Meanwhile, for those of us who've given up on flying...

Quote:

As travelers and state governments across America fight back against invasive screening by the Transportation Security Administration at airports, the TSA is actually expanding its operations covering busses, trains, ships, ferries, subways, and even highways.

TSA Searches Expand as Opposition Mounts

No, really!
TSA to oversee searches at Santa Fe prom | KOB.com

[clifp]

I love having TSA at the prom. I wonder does the Prom committee get to audition the TSA agents like they do the bands, and make sure that only cute TSA agents get a chance to grope .

On the other hand I am not pleased that they are loosening up the security requirements for young children. As everyone know nothing cause more terror than seeing that you will be stuck on a 6 hour flight surrounded by babies and toddlers. I'd much rather be surrounded by a bunch of young Arab men in traditional garb.

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifp On the other hand I am not pleased that they are loosening up the security requirements for young children. As everyone know nothing cause more terror than seeing that you will be stuck on a 6 hour flight surrounded by babies and toddlers. I'd much rather be surrounded by a bunch of young Arab men in traditional garb.

"I've got a loaded diaper, and I'm not afraid to use it!"

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Paquette "I've got a loaded diaper, and I'm not afraid to use it!"

As long as it's not more than three ounces in a clear plastic baggie...

[Brat]

Hey, my grandbabies could drop a load twice that size while waiting in the TSA line. Woe is the screener who is determined to do a through pat down of a toddler with stinky diaper.

[harley]

Speaking of diapers, this is moving out of the range of absurd and into the range of obscene.

Elderly woman asked to remove adult diaper during TSA search | mother, search, adult - Northwest Florida Daily News

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley Speaking of diapers, this is moving out of the range of absurd and into the range of obscene. Elderly woman asked to remove adult diaper during TSA search | mother, search, adult - Northwest Florida Daily News

A troublemaker, eh? I bet she winds up on the TSC selectee list.

[clifp]

Quote:

Koshetz said the procedures are the same for everyone to ensure national security. “TSA cannot exempt any group from screening because we know from intelligence that there are terrorists out there that would then exploit that vulnerability,” she said.

Hell Al Qaeda hasn't been able to recruit many young Muslim man, with room temperature IQs, to blow up planes recently. What makes TSA think they have any chance to recruit 95 year old grandmother, and US citizen I bet, as a terrorist? Give me an F*ing break.

If the debt ceiling doesn't get raised, I hope the TSA is the first agency that doesn't get funded.

[travelover]

Bin Laden has to be laughing from his watery grave at the stupidity rained down on us daily in the name of security.

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover Bin Laden has to be laughing from his watery grave at the stupidity rained down on us daily in the name of security.

I agree.... the old security seemed to work just fine... we had ONE messed up shoe bomber and ONE messed up underwear bomber in the last 110 MILLION flights....

And to tell the truth, this is wrong because the 110 million flights are domestic and the bombers were international....

I think I like my odds of not being blown out of the sky with a little bit less security....

[Brat]

Anyone using a diaper when traveling should have a couple fresh ones in a carry on, that said this search is crazy.

[rescueme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley I feel so much safer knowing these fine federal employees are making sure that everyone (else) obey the rules, written or unwritten.

I'm skipping my annual physical. I guess my next "full body scan" at the airport will tell me if I have any physical problems ...

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley Speaking of diapers, this is moving out of the range of absurd and into the range of obscene. Elderly woman asked to remove adult diaper during TSA search | mother, search, adult - Northwest Florida Daily News

And a 95 yo granny to boot, I guess she fit the profile. But wait a minute, isn't profiling illegal

[haha]

There is so much to detest in modern America, this is only par for the course. People in charge of others are not only morons, they are cruel morons.

Ha

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha There is so much to detest in modern America, this is only par for the course. People in charge of others are not only morons, they are cruel morons.

I think we should look on the bright side. Everyone should be able to find a career that they find enjoyable and fulfilling. For a cruel moron, actually being paid to wear a shiny badge and uniform, and being in a position where they can order other people around, humiliate them, and satisfy their own needs is a wonderful thing. They're saving a fortune over what they used to spend over at the Sadist Fantasy Club.

Plus, it's civil service. How outrageous would they have to be to get fired?

TSA torments child wearing leg braces - National Airlines/Airport | Examiner.com
TSA forces cancer survivor to show prosthesis - Travel - News - msnbc.com
"I am God, I'm in charge." - NBC Los Angeles

[GregLee]

There is always going to be tension between respecting individual rights and ensuring airline security. You just can't do both. Maybe you think that if you were writing TSA guidelines you could somehow ensure that there was no chance of a bomb getting aboard without being obnoxious to 95 year old leukemia patients? Not so easy, I think. Just how exactly do you write the policies?

While I sympathize with the individuals who fall into the clutches of the TSA, I'll reserve my enmity for my fellow citizens who were willing to vote for reactionary legislators prepared to subordinate individual liberties to expedience.

[kumquat]

Can't help but ask Greg, which side are you on?

[GregLee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumquat Can't help but ask Greg, which side are you on?

It's hard for me to guess what you think the sides are. I'm against searches without warrant or probable cause. But, more specifically, I'm against anyone who would vote for a jerk who would help enact legislation making such searches possible.

[kumquat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregLee There is always going to be tension between respecting individual rights and ensuring airline security. You just can't do both. Quote: Originally Posted by kumquat Can't help but ask Greg, which side are you on? Quote: Originally Posted by GregLee It's hard for me to guess what you think the sides are.

Pretty simple Greg. Are you in favor of individual rights or "insuring airline security"? Pick one.

[Brat]

I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I do not believe that the excesses we are hearing about are necessary for airline security.