TSA going too far?

[HondaB18]

Sick and tired of people like you who think they deserve "special" treatment .. or better yet,
just expect to walk onto any ole jet-air-liner and read the latest issue of The New Yourk Times,
while they listen to they're i-Tunes on a head-set, with they're other hand on a bloody-mary!
Who the fuck are you anyway? And who left you King of the fuckin hill?

(Some) Americans .. ha! So spoiled ..

Besides crying babies on a plane, another thing that pisses me off are divas in an airport.

I like your you make these quotes about me and make me sound like im some ignorant kid that can't speak correct english or write it??

I am appreciative of your citations in which my opinions were asserted. I also fancy the fact that your turn of phrase portrays me as a youthful unconversant with inhibited familiarity of the English articulation. In both verbal and composition.

Shame on the English language!!!

[PakaloloHonda]

I like your you make these quotes about me and make me sound like im some ignorant kid that can't speak correct english or write it?? But hey if a cops wants to be an ass and search my car with no probable cause for NO REASON better believe i will tell him to get a warrant its my right so why not?!When he go gets his "bag of weed" and plants it on my car as evidence yea good fighting that in court.. Of course it happens but hopefully a cop isn't that crooked to even try it..But then again that just shows who enforces our laws right? Anywho you go have fun doing what you do..sorry for pissing you off and standing up for myself?

I am appreciative of your citations in which my opinions were asserted. I also fancy the fact that your turn of phrase portrays me as a youthful unconversant with inhibited familiarity of the English articulation. In both verbal and composition.

I like this version ^ alot better to be honest .. I apologize if you took what I said, and how I said it,
as if I was directing it AT you. It was more a general, formulation and colloquialism .. if you will ..

And no, it doesn't show us "who enforces our laws" if indeed any cop would "plant" something in your car.
What it does show, is how fallacious and unethical, along with un-professional some CAN be!
Is that a risk you wanna take? Is that a risk your employer is willing to let you have a day for court?
Is it all really worth it? I myself don't have that kind of time, I'm glad that you do.

Principal is one thing, but being just plain stubborn is another. With age comes widom, and patience!

[CB7H22Los]

Apology accepted!

[Gemini]

Ive been thru the new xray scanner and i could careless. Ive probably taken more planes this year compared to the average American and prefer when security is STRICT

[19dabeast85]

It's a proven fact that x-ray's harm the immune system, decrease fertility, and increase the risk of cancer among other things. That and the lack of privacy is my issue with them.

My other issue with airport security is they tend to pull aside the people who have opposite characteristics of any known terrorists.....since when has an old white woman, old black woman, 20 year old white male, 20 year old black male, etc ever committed a terrorist act on an airplane? The politically correct crap is ridiculous. I will step on toes when I say this but known terrorists are 98% ONE race, ONE ethnicity, ONE age range, ONE sex. No, I am not racist, but the FACT remains that almost all of the terrorists are of middle eastern descent, so why are we pulling aside grandma from Kansas and letting the dark skinned guy with a beard go by without a search?

And don't start profiling arguments on me, I get profiled as a young white male just as much as anybody else does. Get over it, profiling is normal human nature, we put things in boxes and categorize them. This enables children to know that anybody in uniform automatically means safety and help. Do we punish the children for profiling people in uniform, HOW DARE THEY THINK I MEAN SAFETY JUST BECAUSE I'M IN A UNIFORM, I THINK I WILL SUE THIS 6-YEAR-OLD!!!!!! Billions in marketing research is spent so that profiling can be efficient for advertising......is this politically incorrect also?


"Liberty has never come from government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it." - Woodrow Wilson


“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” - Benjamin Franklin


"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties." - James Madison


Why is everyone so blind about what is really going on? We have been losing our freedom little by little for the last 40 years, and Bush's "Patriot Act" exponentially increased the rate of freedom lost.

[PakaloloHonda]

“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” - Benjamin Franklin


Why is everyone so blind about what is really going on? We have been losing our freedom little by little for the last 40 years, and Bush's "Patriot Act" exponentially increased the rate of freedom lost.

I won't go into why I didn't include the rest of your post in quoting you.
Suffice it to say, I didn't agree all that much with it, cept for this last entry.
Which IMHO, is all you had to say, to make your point.

I'd suggest that the American public, or, atleast those that vote, take a good long look
at who they vote for .. why they vote for them, and just what they expect from those elected in.

Not many people who voted for Bush Sr. and GW, know that Bin Laden and the Bush family
have been in bed together along with the CIA, for almost 50 years!
"Further details of the business and financial relationships between the Bush and bin Laden family
are found in Peter Brewton's 1992 book The Mafia, CIA and George Bush."

Yet, we vote people like Obama in, because? Maybe we believed in the word "change"?
Perhaps more African American voters showed up at the polls then Caucasians?
I dunno .. and don't throw "racist" at me. I'll throw the wrath of many friends and prove to you
that I'm anything but!

Nevertheless, we continue to vote people into office to run this country like Obama
who never even held a position for any elective office to begin with!
So .. with all of that being said, who's to blame again? Seems to me, the American public is.
We haven't got a clue, we forget too fast, vote with our agenda(s), and or, we just don't care to educate ourselves.

We haven't "lost" our rights .. we've given them away!!!

[wed3k]

im not too politically involved here but i think obama is doing an awesome job. i have two jobs, thats two more than a lot of other people. I think we should just stop unemployment, people just need to fucking figure it out or just quit life.

[PakaloloHonda]

im not too politically involved here but i think obama is doing an awesome job. i have two jobs, thats two more than a lot of other people. I think we should just stop unemployment, people just need to fucking figure it out or just quit life.

Thing is, it's not just about unemployment vs the employed.
That issue hasn't changed since Johnson was President!

It's about tax laws, it's about health care for the elderly, it's about education and small business.
It's about so many other issues other then being employed or not, it isn't even funny!
We're still pouring oil into our cars fer cryin out-loud! We're still allowing illegals into the country!
Shall I go on? Thanks .. I did'nt think so .... ok wait ..
Perhaps one last thought to leave you with on, Other Issues ..

Money Sent Back To Mexico Set To Surpass Oil Revenue This Year
This is a link from 2005 lol .. newwws frrom twooo thoouuusand annnd fiiive!
Could you imagine what that number is up to now .. in .......... 2010????
16.6 MILLION dollars, in UN-taxable income, sent back to .. Mexico ALONE.
We're not talking about ... other countries here .. just one! Link? Oh sure .. here ya goes!
http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/000911.html
Other issues? lol .. I could fill this site up with other issues!

Stop unemployment? LOL! No.
Bring back the draft? Ohh yeah! Now there's a thought! Can't find a job?
Let the good ole armed services pay for your education! What .. it's worked for millions!
Matter a fact, it payed for 2 degrees for your's truly!
Wanna be a citizen of this country? And you're between the ages of 18 and 25?
Step right up .. when you finish your tour and return home to AmaRica .. you'll be a bonifide citizen!
Oohh wait errr, you don't want this uniform and weapon and to represent this wonnnderful country
that you say you love so much, but won't die for? Seeee yaa .. get on that bus, we'll drive your ass home!

I'm glad that you prefer to work two jobs as opposed to just one.
I'd assume that they're part-time jobs that amount to one full-time job in terms of hours.
If not, then me thinks you might be putting in too many hours and missing out on some of life's own perks.
If I'm mistaken, I aplogize, afterall, you never mentioned anything about hours vs salary.
Then again, I assure you, none of that is any of my business. So I'll just stop while I presume to be ahead.

[JDM_CB7_TX]

What if someone sneaks some "Muther fucking snakes on a Muther fuckin' plane!


Nothing to hide then walk through it.

Deuce!

[owequitit]

The only people that the TSA is really going too far for are the ones who are hiding something or want to bitch.

1) Proper privacy precautions are taken.

This was initially a concern for me as well, but when you actually take the time to research it, instead of just flying off the handle and assuming things, you begin to see that it isn't that big of a deal.

The machine snaps an image, which is then sent to a central processing center AWAY FROM THE CHECKPOINT, where it shows a 3D color image with parts blocked out, or distorted. It stays on the screen long enough for them to check it, and then it is discarded. Permanently. Ultimately, it less than 10 seconds of exposure to some person in a distant room, of the same sex as the person being screened, and it doesn't show the "good stuff."

You end up far more exposed by an X-ray or medical examination than you do by a body scan. They even keep those records permanently. This is a person looking at an image for a couple of seconds and then losing it. Not to mention that most major airports process well in excess of 100,000 people a day. They see them all day, every day. They don't care.

2) These machines aren't any more dangerous for long term health than the sun, TV, or any of the other crap humans are exposed to. In fact, I don't believe most of them even use X-rays. If they do, it is such a low dose it doesn't matter, even if you are a flight crew member and fly everyday. Now I will have to go back and see what they are actually using.

3) When the TSA scans you, they probably have the authority to arrest or confiscate you based on drugs, or they may not. I would have to go back and look at their jurisdiction. Most people just assume that government employees can do anything they want, and that is patently false. They have laws that SPECIFICALLY outline what they are allowed, and not allowed, to do, as well as when they have that authority. The primary purpose of TSA is to keep security threats off of airplanes. Now, you can argue the effectiveness of those efforts quite a bit, but ultimately, that is what they do. Now, a good example of this is the airplane. TSA's jurisdiction ends at the aircraft as soon as the door closes.

4) When you buy a plane ticket, you agree to be screened. I am pretty sure it is in your ticket details, and if it isn't, it is in a statute. Flying is optional, and thus they can't TAKE your right to privacy away from you. You VOLUNTARILY waive it when you agree to fly.

Also, any sort of real exposure to the potential downsides to a screening or security failure would tend to put your mind in clear perspective. Trust me, you don't want to experience an explosive decompression, a 35,000 foot fall at terminal velocity, or the sudden impact that results from a terror attack. You sure as fuck don't want to be involved in cleaning it up.

5) To say that all terrorists are of one group is ignorant of reality. The REALITY is that in the US, most of our acts of terrorism have not been perpetuated by Muslims. Yes, there is an ideological war going on between Muslim extremists, and us, but frankly, to NOT screen every other group just because they aren't muslim is bullshit too. As far as I am concerned, Timothy McVeigh is no less a threat that Mohammed the Bomber, since the end result is the same. Being PC and touchy feely on such matters is bullshit, but so is over-reacting in the opposite direction.

The only way to ensure total security is to screen every person, every bag and every person who has contact with that airplane 100%. Obviously, that isn't feasible, so we have to find a happy medium. However, having a technology that allows us to screen every passenger with minimal delay, minimal intrusion etc is not bad. You certainly don't gain time or convenience by driving in lieu of stepping through the machine, but hey, if you want to drive all over the country (or world) for business, good luck.

The other effective component that nobody likes is profiling. Unfortunately, when you say "profiling," groups like the ACLU and other major liberal fucktard organizations, automatically try to turn it into "racial profiling." They aren't the same thing. If the profiler is monitoring behavior, and looking for behavioral signs of potential threat, then the race isn't an issue. Not only is it highly effective, since you can't hide your bodies involuntary reactions and responses, but it is desireable because it can catch a lot of stuff that a machine can't.

If it includes little old ladies, then so be it.

6) If you hate that imaging machine, you would all be pissed of if you knew what was going on behind the scenes, or at the airport when you don't know you are being watched...

7) While it is easy to sit here and play semantics and imagination ("someone could be standing around with a sniper rifle or a rocket launcher"), that is true. But then again, a meteor could hit the planet...

The REALITY is that airplanes are prime targets for several reasons:

A) They are high profile. Nothing attracts a major media (and thus public) response quite like a plane crash. Even a train wreck doesn't get the same level of attention.

Because of their effectiveness in terms of attention, that makes them an automatic political platform, and also serves to strike a large degree of fear into the average person's psyche. Since the purpose of psychological warfare (aka TERRORism), is to strike fear into the masses, aircraft are highly effective. Of all the terrorist attacks we have had, which ones stand out the most indelibly in our collective memory? The ones with airplanes...

Airplanes are also relatively vulnerable targets, because they often have direct contact with hostile groups in hostile countries. It is a lot harder to get a bomb on a train from Libya that it is to get it on a plane.

Planes are also easier to bring down. They aren't frail, but since they are made of aluminum and are inflated like a balloon at altitude, if you rupture the pressure vessel enough at 35,000 feet, then you are almost certain to catastrophically fail the airframe and kill everyone on board. They also carry a large % of their total weight in fuel, which makes for big, fancy, media happy fires and explosions. The fuel coupled with MASSIVE momentum also serves to make them more visible.

And finally, people thrive on drama and the thought of things falling from the sky and crushing you, or burning you alive is about as good as it gets. Nevermind the realities of air travel and how safe it actually is when compared to everything else (especially driving).

8) There is always the option of chartering airplanes to take you where you want to go. The TSA has proposed restrictions on some of the larger biz jets too, but I don't expect that will go all that far, since those passenger manifests are all pretty well controlled already. It isn't like some random dude will just step on a big corporate airplane... Although with charters, or fractional stuff, I suppose it could be a valid concern.

9) As for the guy who brought up customer service, that is a completely seperate issue. There are companies out there who in fact take very good care of you, but everyone seems to have this expectation of first class, luxury liner service for the absolute cheapest fair ever. Just like quality everywhere else suffers when you go cheap, so does air travel.

My recommendation is to not fly those companies. Since they are private companies, they will then go out of business, which will leave more room for companies that DO take care of their customers.

I have a LONG list of airlines I just won't touch, and others that I look forward to flying.

[PakaloloHonda]

4) When you buy a plane ticket, you agree to be screened. I am pretty sure it is in your ticket details, and if it isn't, it is in a statute. Flying is optional, and thus they can't TAKE your right to privacy away from you. You VOLUNTARILY waive it when you agree to fly.

Thank you .. I've been wondering when you were gonna show up.

[evil_demon_01]

Man's biggest threat is himself.
Man seems to want to kill other Men for some reason.


That is why security measures have to be taken to the levels they are at.
If something slips past security they will no doubt see it as a personal stuff up.
By missing one thing on one single person, they allow hundreds of people to be in danger.

But don't worry the future will bring tighter controls.

[HondaB18]

Planes are also easier to bring down. They aren't frail, but since they are made of aluminum and are inflated like a balloon at altitude, if you rupture the pressure vessel enough at 35,000 feet, then you are almost certain to catastrophically fail the airframe and kill everyone on board. They also carry a large % of their total weight in fuel, which makes for big, fancy, media happy fires and explosions.

Since we are talking about going down, I had a happy liquid explosion last night. I didn't blow but my girl did.

[19dabeast85]

I wanted to clarify that I'm not saying EVERY muslim-decent person should be screened and nobody else should, that'd be arrogant to think and there have definitely been non-muslim terrorists. What I was saying though is EVERY airplane terrorist act I can remember in the last 10 years actually has been acted out be muslim extremists and no other ethnicity. So for airplane security, it would make sense to pay alot more attention to that ethnicity since it's where the past activities have come from.

That's not to say in the future some other ethnicity won't bomb a plane but like I said before, I don't think any grandma is gonna be a terrorist, seems security resources should be used more efficiently to focus on the groups that a terrorist normally comes from. This would lower costs and lower time and disruptions going through while still being an adequate measure of threats. Frankly, it sucks to be a non-extremists middle eastern person and it sucks to have to go through airline security. At least one of those can be helped and we aren't forced to fly like has been said before.

[owequitit]

I wanted to clarify that I'm not saying EVERY muslim-decent person should be screened and nobody else should, that'd be arrogant to think and there have definitely been non-muslim terrorists. What I was saying though is EVERY airplane terrorist act I can remember in the last 10 years actually has been acted out be muslim extremists and no other ethnicity. So for airplane security, it would make sense to pay alot more attention to that ethnicity since it's where the past activities have come from.

That's not to say in the future some other ethnicity won't bomb a plane but like I said before, I don't think any grandma is gonna be a terrorist, seems security resources should be used more efficiently to focus on the groups that a terrorist normally comes from. This would lower costs and lower time and disruptions going through while still being an adequate measure of threats. Frankly, it sucks to be a non-extremists middle eastern person and it sucks to have to go through airline security. At least one of those can be helped and we aren't forced to fly like has been said before.

But that is the problem. Your assertions about little old ladies are fundamentally flawed. A terrorist can be anyone, anywhere, anytime. The only way to ensure a reasonable level of safety is to scan everyone. With the modern technology, it is not an issue to thoroughly scan every person, so it isn't the huge waste of resources you portray it to be. Besides, politically, whether it is most efficient or not, the pressure is to do it.