The Cheap Thrill-Airport Security Measures run Wild

M Paquette said:
Hoo boy. I can't wait to see what the TSA rolls out to cover this one.

Al-Qaeda
Click to expand...

If I was a suicide bomber and wanted to blow up a plane, I would swallow the explosives. I suspect you could get quite a bit more down than up, if you take my meaning. I'm not an explosives expert, but I think you need a detonator with the explosives, and I can't imagine anything short of a full body x-ray that would detect it inside your stomach.

I thought the whole purpose of the increased air travel security was to stop a plane from being taken over and used as a weapon, not to keep it from getting blown up. Isn't that why they take your nail clippers, so you can't threaten to clip the pilot's nails if he doesn't crash into a building? That option isn't even available anymore with the hardened hatches. It seems they (gov't) have lost track of the mission, sort of like when MADD stopped fighting drunk driving and started fighting drinking in general.
 
"Hey Peter get the cuffs! This man appears to be carrying a small baton."
 
"Sir, your customs form does not contain a declaration for this apparent large salami and these two meatballs you are concealing. Smuggling unauthorized meat products is a federal offense".
 
I don't want to go through either the machine or the opt out experience (scope or grope). I regard both to be an invasion of my personal privacy, whether warranted or not.

Luckily I don't have to go through airport security, since we don't have any air travel planned in the near future. I would be very upset otherwise. THANK HEAVENS that I am not still working because I had to do so much traveling for work. :(

I do anticipate that in time, these requirements will be relaxed or that somehow the situation will be resolved.
 
My paper had this to say about the issue today:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/nov/19/editorial-discomfort-a-small-price-for-security/
-------------------------------------
Too which I responded in a letter to the editor:

I congratulate your editorial staff on their missive of 11/19/10 regarding "modest traveler inconveniences." It is rare indeed to see a highly educated group so thoroughly ignore the inherent debate between national security and our Constitutional rights.

The editorial staff does remember the U.S. Constitution?

Written by Thomas Jefferson, it includes a number of high minded ideals that our citizenry supposedly believes in. Like this chestnut: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

When our Constitutional rights are potentially violated it is important to foster healthy public debate about the issue. Yet your editorial completely ignores the pertinent questions: Does purchase of an airplane ticket give probable cause? Are a thorough patting down and revealing photos unreasonable searches? Etc.

The editorial staff would do well to stand up for the 4th amendment; it is as worthy of defense as the 1st, guaranteeing freedom of the press.
 
W2R said:
I don't want to go through either the machine or the opt out experience (scope or grope). I regard both to be an invasion of my personal privacy, whether warranted or not.

Luckily I don't have to go through airport security, since we don't have any air travel planned in the near future. I would be very upset otherwise. THANK HEAVENS that I am not still working because I had to do so much traveling for work. :(

I do anticipate that in time, these requirements will be relaxed or that somehow the situation will be resolved.
Click to expand...
I hope you're right, but my more cynical self thinks not. It seems, however, we are not alone in our concern about this or our ability to see in a humorous light. From someecards
 

Attachments

  • Ecard patdown.jpg
    Ecard patdown.jpg
    59.9 KB · Views: 1
I just finished listening to 'Science Friday' and comments about TSAs assurance of the safety of those machines. Most of you are probably to young to remember the 'safe' shoe fitting machines that used to be in shoe stores in the 40s. Safe? Not!

Rad exposure risk is cumulative. I don't think they are safe for anyone who in the course of their employment or health care have exposure.

The opinion of safety comes from those with a vested interest in the equipment use. Do I have confidence in their opinion? No.

Lead aprons aren't an opition. I guess it is go for the grope or use land & water transport.
 
REWahoo said:
Maybe they should just run everyone through a large microwave - if you spark, you don't fly.
Click to expand...

Or have everyone step into a secure bomb-detonating chamber before flying. When you hear a muffled boom, you'll know there is a seat opening up on the flight to Tel Aviv..:whistle:
 
Did you hear than that in lieu of the new scanning requirements, they changed the name of TSA to "T and A"?
 
Perhaps they could just offer a "no scanner or pat-down" flight or two per day to various destinations. If they could find flight crews willing to staff these, folks desperate for a scanner and/or pat-down free boarding environment would have their wish. They could sign a release indicating they accept all risk, etc.

I guess they'd also have to route these flights over unpopulated areas to be fair to those on the ground.......

Edit to add: Thinking about it, perhaps flight crews wouldn't be a problem. Airlines could recruit and train folks similar to those who were at the controls in NYC on 9/11. Of course that exacerbates the issue of safety for folks on the ground......

I tell ya, if it's not one thing, it's another.......
 
My friend and I were making jokes about this pat-down last night. You know, harder, over to the center, faster, etc. Just two dirty old women having fun...:LOL:

Personally, I'm not big on the pat-down, but who cares if they scan me. Eh...I'll go for total security everytime, and, if this what it entails, so be it. I'm ez.
 
Brat said:
Most of you are probably to young to remember the 'safe' shoe fitting machines that used to be in shoe stores in the 40s. Safe? Not!
Click to expand...

They were still using them in the Buster Brown shoe stores when I was a kid, in the early 50's. My father wouldn't permit us to be measured for shoes that way. Eventually, I think they were outlawed.
 
I am flying Tuesday and if I get patted down is it proper etiquette to ask for their phone number if you enjoyed it ? :)
 
Orchidflower said:
My friend and I were making jokes about this pat-down last night. You know, harder, over to the center, faster, etc. Just two dirty old women having fun...:LOL:

Personally, I'm not big on the pat-down, but who cares if they scan me. Eh...I'll go for total security everytime, and, if this what it entails, so be it. I'm ez.
Click to expand...


If there was even the slightest chance that what the TSA is doing actually enhanced security, I might agree with you. Well, no, I still wouldn't agree, but at least I'd understand. But they are just playing at security. There are reasons why TSA stands for Theatrical Security Agents, Taking Scissors Away, Too Stupid for Arby's, and so on.

Personally, I think this is the way it's going to go in the long run. Sanford Airport to opt out of TSA screening - WDBO Local News on wdbo.com

I wasn't aware of airports having the option to opt out of letting TSA handle the passenger screening. But as more and more people refuse to fly due to invasive and ineffective screening methods, I think the airports will choose to hire their own security firms and implement better screening methods that don't drive the customers out onto the interstates.
 
harley said:
.............. as more and more people refuse to fly due to invasive and ineffective screening methods, I think the airports will choose to hire their own security firms and implement better screening methods that don't drive the customers out onto the interstates.
Click to expand...

I think we should subcontract the whole business to Israel and send the TSA clowns back to McDonald's before the next tragedy happens.
 
W2R said:
I do anticipate that in time, these requirements will be relaxed or that somehow the situation will be resolved.
Click to expand...
Could this be the first step? TSA: Pilots to be exempt from some airport checks - Yahoo! News
The Transportation Security Administration has agreed to let airline pilots skip the security scanning and pat-downs that passengers face at the nation's airports, pilot groups said Friday. Beginning Friday, pilots traveling in uniform or on airline business will be allowed to pass security by presenting two photo IDs, one from their company and one from the government, to be checked against a secure flight crew database, the TSA said.
Click to expand...
After this, flight attendants will follow, then frequent travelers. Once pre-screening is established, there is hope for the rest of us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
TSA Pat Down
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Koolau
Koolau
E
Five Years Retired: Lessons Learned
2
Replies
49
Views
7K
eyenitnoy
E
M
  • Locked
Retail Theft Prevention
Replies
21
Views
1K
MichaelB
MichaelB
M
Nursing - in the end, is humanity
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
Koolau
Koolau
jollystomper
Built a NAS server after NAS-ty installation experiences
2
Replies
28
Views
809
The Cosmic Avenger
The Cosmic Avenger

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom