TSA has met the enemy _ and they are us

Their way or the highway. Literally.

The line has been crossed, for sure. We must find a way to revolt against such invasion of privacy, and even worse, violation of our 4th amendment right that prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. If this is not a violation of that right, I don't know what is!

Wendell, that is pretty much true at this point.

Last time I flew a TSA robot-like woman was shouting for everyone to remove their belts. I watched a bunch of college-age girls way back in the line run a single strand of yarn through their belt loops of their jeans. One just tied a single strand around her waist. Sure enough, when they got to the head of the line, the TSA woman made the girls take the yarn out of their belt loops ("It's a belt. It's got to come off,") and let the girl with the yarn around her waist go through without removing it. It's that kind of brainless cattle prodding that has we travelers fed up.

So what? It's what we wanted. We let it happen. Love it or Leave it.

You know to make the health care more fesible they'll combine physical examines with the body searches and get a two fer...watch. I bet it was part of the plan.

There is a trend developing folks, it is a rise in the number of passengers using bus services and likely the same could be said for rail passenger service as well. Travel by bus is up by 20% on some routes and areas in the U.S.A. Downtown to downtown pick up and drop out. Comfortable reclining seats, plug in ports for laptops, WIFI on board, movies on board, etc. No long line ups for security clearance and washroom equipped highway coaches of today have a lot to offer, even on some of the longer travel routes. Convenience, affordable and in some corridors likely almost as quick as going to the airport, clearing security, checking and retrieivng luggage, etc. There are options, at least in some areas. Go ahead ... take the bus (or train).

I watched a news story where a male & female passenger recounted that the TSA agents were allowed to put their hands inside their waistbands and feel around. I am aware that the TSA folks wear gloves, but does anyone know how often they change them? Is it possible that something undesirable could be transferred from one passenger to another, on the outside of the glove used to protect the TSA screener?

The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working...and it can and will only worsen over time. How can this be managed? It is a lose-lose situation for everyone. We at least need to have more options for all parties. Bottom-line and if it doesnt change here soon, then everyone else will start following suit. Safety is not the issue; its fear. Fear makes you begin to make stupid decisions that is risk, and that risk affects everyone.

So, now what?

LEADERSHIP...we need to convince them to change their way of thinking. They are obviously directing us down the wrong path(s) both now and for our future.

All the horror stories we are hearing, are all because we don't want to be accused
of "profiling" so we have no one to blame, but the Civil Liberties Union, and those
bleeding hearts that whine about "profiling" but if it looks like a Duck, Quacks like
a duck, and acts ike a Duck, IT'S A DUCK, so with all the Homeland Security Money that
has been thrown at the Shipping Ports (Port Authorities) Airports, you would think that
they would already have THE most sophisticated software in their computers, that would
be linked to the FBI, CIA, etc. with "facial recognition" of those who would do us harm?
It tells me, that the Intelligence Agencies who are paid to protect us, are not.
IF U.S.Customs were doing a more thorough job, of screening those who enter our Country,
and they were linked with the FBI,CIA,and everyone else responsible for maintaining our
safety, when we fly, there would be absolutely NO NEED for anything but the good old fashioned
"wand" to elminiate the possibility of anyone bringing a gun or any other explosive device
on board an airplane. It is going to get SO rabid out there, that people will have to ship
their cellphones, and laptops inside their suitcases, so they can be xrayed, and if your luggage
is lost, they will have to pay you for a new PC, cell phone and any other valuables you packed
because you were not allowed to carry them on. BRING BACK PROFILING and ELIMINATE THE TSA all
together. How do we do that? It would certainly save us what we are paying in salaries, training,
and delays in flights.

Its amazing. They (TSA) want to go "there", but we (the citizens of America) want to stay "here." There has to be a 3rd option soon. Barbera, I think they would have to eliminate the TSA overall and if that is the case, then they would most likely bring in a "private" contractor. We definitely have bigger issues then the current one with the TSA. They being the Homeland Security, but lets not hold our breath on this one.

sfjaero.I agree with you, but getting rid of TSA and not hiring a private contractor, who might be even worse, is the way to go on all this nonsense. There has to be a way to encrypt something inside legitimate passports, that would alert scanners, to allow certain individuals (pilots, flight attendants, and frequent flyers who have all had thorough background checks, or those who
fly for corporate business, who have also been thoroughly checked) to avoid the TSA lines at all,
and when tickets are sold, and paid for, a small fee, for a BCI Background check, for domestic violence or any other violent characteristics, mental problems etc. has been determined, prior to
their boarding their flight. Once all these things have been checked, by the airline, then a special "pass" issued, and the TSA goes away. We are not a pro-active Country...we are a reactive people. Hopefully, someone will demonstrate some real brain power, and implement more sophisticated measures, than those we have, today. As someone in law enforcement told me, after 9-11 "We are flying by the seat of our pants, on this one, and we have no clue, how to protect the general public from terrorism". Therefore, we must all be vigilant (not paranoid) and be aware of
our surroundings at all times. I say a little "profiling" might do a lot more toward preventing another attack on us.

Barbera and panel, It isnt just non-sense its msdness. It is what I read in another article of what Homeland Security's options could be, but this could again be all speculative because the media tends to blow things way out of porportion to make life more interesting. Living in fear and paranois is not healthy, and in what we are teaching our "next" generation is even worse. I do not want to come across like "Debbie Downer" from SNL, but hope we can come up with better ideas in the near future and this TSA thing does seem to have some hidden agendas. What this industry currently needs is more innovation, and to make a stronger influence within the surrounding industries and other industries in the near future. Thats how it was done in the past, and think its been forgotten how much of influence we can really make in this industry for everyones sake. I guess I will find out how things are really once I touch back on American soil.

Apart from constitutional issues pertaining to profiling, it could materially increase risk as terrorists could recruit and use mules who don't fit the profile with screening attention on them being lax. More importantly, present efforts are like steel plating, double locking and barring the front door and having a screen door on the back entrance. Millions of tons of un-screened cargo, thousands of bridges, tunnels and commercial garages vulnerable to unscreened cars, unscreened trains. We need better intelligence rather than hundreds of billions of dollars on oppressive and false airport security. Just because the last attack was aviation based doesn't mean the next one will be.

The last time I flew, I had the"old fashioned" wanding. The male TSA guy touched my breast TWICE
while he smirked at me. I was 70 years old & there was no reason for extra scrutiny. This
is starting to look like the frog in boiling water analogy --What's next?

Looks as if they have usurped the FAA slogan... "we're not happy till You're not happy!"

Terrorists 3 - TSA 0

Elliott Meisel You make an excellent point, with the "screen door, on the rear entrance".
Were we to lock down our borders, as other Countries do, we would be making greater strides, toward
knowing who is attempting to get into this Country, as well as doing our own intelligence, on those
foreigners who are already here. Hit it from both sides, and see how little it costs, to do it
right, the FIRST time, instead of creating an atmosphere in every airport, and with every single legal American, of fear and apprehension. Reminds me of the old game that used to be played...called "Divide and Conquer",and to put innocent, law abiding citizens through all this madness, should be a violation of THEIR Constitutional Rights! If Americans are going to be treated no differently than Foreigners, why bother to have American Embassies in Foreign Countries?
Close them all up, and use that money to protect the Homeland, and then withdraw all the troops from every corner of the World, and bring them all back here, to protect US. Since we already
pay for their services, it should be decided that their services are better used here, than in
Afghanistan, where we are not appreicated anyway! N. Korea, would be another area, that they could
be used,again, in order to protect those who ARE our Allies, and the rest of the World can go ----
up a rope! They take us for granted, and they murder our troops who are trying to help them fight
opression? Then let them live under tyranny, and when they are totally fed up with it, let them revolt and rebuild their own Government. I, for one, am tired of paying for Wars that are an excuse
for the Haliburtons, Kellog Brown & Root, to rebuild countries and make zillions of dollars off Wars.

Sorry, I meant South Korea, against N Korea...just wanted to make sure I clarified that we should help S. Korea defend themselves against the North.

Read a little history and you will discover that power is a narcotic drug. Certain personality types should never be trusted with it. We are burdened with a federal government that is drunk with power. One manifestation of this is "Mission Creep", the ever growing taking on of new more powerful jobs, all in the name of national security or some form of protecting us from ourselves. The TSA is a symptom, it is not the problem. The TSA is political theater and was from the beginning.

If your district re-elected the incumbent congressman this last election, then quit belly aching.

FYI...My District and my State, threw everyone out, replaced ALL the encumbents, and I don't recall "bellyaching" about anything. Could you possibly be a Haliburton, or KBR employee? Guess the truth stings?

TSA Slogans and Bumper Stickers. Coming to an airport near you.

http://www.redrocksphotography.com/images/TSA.jpeg

That link is scary.
Wonder when these little message boards will get the CENSOR treatment?
After all we who post here may be security threats. To some Gov't Jerk's JOB

The TSA is a joke. How many times have they missed guns, knives and other weapons that have been easly seen and used on fateful flights? Pretty soon you won't be able to take a train or bus because the same idiots who are running the TSA are pout of control.

Good bye sweet America

The article did not mention the ongoing problem of property theft by TSA personnel, something that is not well-controlled internally.

http://gizmodo.com/5062913/tsa-airport-screener-steals-over-200000-in-gadgets-almost-gets-away-with-it

Scott, Good point. There hasn't been a word said concerning this confiscation of private property. No one in the government is talking about this either. They now own you.

Yes we citizens are the enemy of the goverrnment that promotes the New World Order. George Bush warned us: " You are with us or you are with the terrorists"
that means no dissent or they will put us in the "reception centers " the ones with the gas chambers the homeland Security has prepared for US citizens.

You guys are looking at the nust and bolts and you fail to see the big picture.
While you were watching the sports channels america was taken over by the big corporations and the jewish lobby.
Read up and stop being ignorant.

Homeland Security :http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CDgQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.realzionistnews.com%2F%3Fp%3D395&ei=S5nxTM7YM4P6lweD_9X6DA&usg=AFQjCNEiwMFSMUfuZpDCXs5zLIN23MjJIQ

Jewish controlled US government: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CDEQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.666blacksun.com%2FUSGovt.html&ei=S5nxTM7YM4P6lweD_9X6DA&usg=AFQjCNExnqh72v3m26H3ZmunKpPORfllsw

I can tell you guys and the gals also, have been out to lunch. Wake up

Thanks Ron Ron(n792)for enlightening us.