"The real problem with TSA is that the employees are not security specialists, nor are they trained police. Yet they have tremendous power. Where else can you get a job that lets you take others' personal possessions away with no explanation, with no receipt or documentation that the item has been confiscated? In prison, that's where. And for anyone who travels frequently, that's what America's airports feel like now."
"The real problem with TSA is that the employees are not security specialists, nor are they trained police. Yet they have tremendous power. Where else can you get a job that lets you take others' personal possessions away with no explanation, with no receipt or documentation that the item has been confiscated? In prison, that's where. And for anyone who travels frequently, that's what America's airports feel like now."
I had posted a story addressing this issue. an 8 pack of AA batteries was confiscated from me at DEL. An entry was made in a ledger and I was assured I would get them at my destintation. No receipt was offered. The Air India crew told me later on I should have asked for a receipt. The story had a happy ending. My batteries werer delivered to me in BKK. I agree with your objections. We can sing "Land of the free......... and the brave" as much as we want, but as far as Homeland Security is concerned it's all a big lie.
GradGirl
Jul 15, 04, 12:59 pm
The author of this very good editorial forgot to mention:
Where else can uniformed agents order you to remove pieces of clothing, display parts of your body that your clothing normally covers, and feel around your breasts or other sensitive areas of your body? In prison, that's where. The TSA has made getting on an airplane an experience akin to being admitted to a medium security prison.
Dovster
Jul 15, 04, 3:45 pm
There are three types of people in America and while my estimates of the size of each group may be wrong, I think they are certainly in the ballpark:
1. 90% of the public which feels that the TSA is the greatest thing since sliced bread. They are certain that if it doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of another 9/11 it certainly makes the possibility rather remote. Of course, this 90% doesn't fly very often (once or twice a year, max) and has no idea of what a farce the security procedures really are.
2. 1% of the public which is against any security procedures whatsoever. As this 1% represents 10% of the frequent flyers it is proportionately over-represented on this board.
3. 9% of America, also consisting of frequent flyers (and thus 90% of them), which would not object to reasonable security procedures if they served a real purpose.
To satisfy that third group, you would have to hire TSA people who have the ability to become truly professional. You would have to invest time training them. This, of course, would cost quite a bit of money which would further infuriate group # 2 and start bothering group # 1.
You would also have to eliminate the most visible "successes" of the TSA -- getting rid of the "weapons" which we all know to be harmless. If you do that, you will definitely lose group # 1.
Okay, you are a professional politician (President, Senator, Congressman) whose re-election depends on how much faith people have in your decisions. Which group do you want to satisfy?
That is the sad truth. That explains not only why the TSA enjoys strong bi-partisan support but why the Patriot Act was not only backed by the administration but passed by the Senate at a vote of 99-1.
It explains why Bush will not come out against the TSA and why Kerry's website shows only one objection to it: that there are not enough screeners.
Lastly, it explains why the TSA is with us to stay, no matter how badly it functions. Even if every terrorist in the world was to turn in his gun tomorrow, the TSA will be with us.
(Shortly after America entered World War II, hundreds of thousands of people moved into New York City for war-related jobs. Housing became very scarce and to avoid war profiteering, New York enacted rent control laws for "the duration". The war ended 59 years ago, but rent control is still going strong.)
whirledtraveler
Jul 15, 04, 4:53 pm
(Shortly after America entered World War II, hundreds of thousands of people moved into New York City for war-related jobs. Housing became very scarce and to avoid war profiteering, New York enacted rent control laws for "the duration". The war ended 59 years ago, but rent control is still going strong.)
There is nothing more permanent than a temporary government program.
GradGirl
Jul 15, 04, 7:01 pm
There are three types of people in America and while my estimates of the size of each group may be wrong, I think they are certainly in the ballpark:
This "90% of the people aren't really paying attention so change is impossible" is the oldest argument in the book. Dovster, do you agree that America's airports feel like prisons?
I think that public pressure had a lot to do with the announcement this week that Capps-II was dead. The same urge to collect massive databases on law-abiding citizens will eat up the DHS until it reincarnates the program under some new name with slightly changed rules, but then we'll fight and fight and fight some more. The Privacy Act notice on CAPPS-II garnered literally thousands of written comments, and all but one (from a database company) were negative about the program. It was letters and angry phone calls to Congress that got them on the DHS's case, that subjected CAPPS-II to the GAO's approval, and that eventually got it killed.
The angry, noisy, squeaky-wheel 10% (groups 2 and 3) who know the current system is a sham can win. 10% of the country is 30 million Americans. Do you have any idea what 30 million people can do? The ACLU has reshaped the entire American political landscape, and even now at it's largest ever it is still composed of only a half million people. Every time I am inappropriately touched at a checkpoint I send another donation to the ACLU, EPIC, and the other organizations that can fight this evil effectively. Sometimes I send the "donation given in honor of" cards to the TSA head honchos!
Richelieu
Jul 15, 04, 9:13 pm
This "90% of the people aren't really paying attention so change is impossible" is the oldest argument in the book. Dovster, do you agree that America's airports feel like prisons?
I like the numbers Dovster provided (even if out of thin air), but I find the political analysis somewhat flawed. 90% of the people do not think security is great as it is. As you pointed out, they simply don't make a fuss about it. They fly once or twice a year, when they see security guards looking means, they feel safe, but if all of a sudden, they disappeared totally, they wouldn't even remember they were there six month ago, during their last trip to the airport... The 90% are not supporters of the current policy in my opinion. They simply don't view this as a political problem worth changing the way they vote.
So politicians can safely ignore their opinion on this topic.
The angry, noisy, squeaky-wheel 10% (groups 2 and 3) who know the current system is a sham can win. 10% of the country is 30 million Americans. Do you have any idea what 30 million people can do? The ACLU has reshaped the entire American political landscape, and even now at it's largest ever it is still composed of only a half million people. Every time I am inappropriately touched at a checkpoint I send another donation to the ACLU, EPIC, and the other organizations that can fight this evil effectively. Sometimes I send the "donation given in honor of" cards to the TSA head honchos!
Well, I think the 10% figure is far from accurate. But anyways, a small determined group of people can have more effect, by expressing concern over this matter to their representative, than a silent majority. Nobody in the 90% will phone congressman to complain safety has dropped at airport because they were allowed to keep their refillable lighter with them. The "10%" can cause some changes if they spent their time writing letters, because they will feel they have something to win by advocating against badly-designed security project.
studentff
Jul 15, 04, 10:04 pm
. . . I send another donation to the ACLU, EPIC, and the other organizations that can fight this evil effectively. Sometimes I send the "donation given in honor of" cards to the TSA head honchos!
That's a cool idea!
^
Dovster
Jul 16, 04, 10:56 am
This "90% of the people aren't really paying attention so change is impossible" is the oldest argument in the book. Dovster, do you agree that America's airports feel like prisons?
No, I don't. Not unless you can point out a prison which has loads of shops, elite lounges, bars, restaurants, and internet access.
In fact, I don't see American airports as being much different than their overseas counterparts -- except that many of the latter have more police carrying automatic weapons.
My problem with American airports is that is has combined the worst features of two different types of foreign security.
It is heavily intrusive, like Israel or Germany, but almost completely ineffective, like Italy or Turkey.
My request to the TSA: Decide what direction you want to go in and then do it. If you want security, cut down on the number of screeners doing worthless job (eg: triple checking ID's and looking for nail clippers) and use the money saved to get rid of people incapable of learning real security and pay more for better qualified staff. Then train them in what they really need to know (how to look for a terrorist instead of a weapon). Additionally, buy up to date equipment -- there is no excuse for Ben Gurion Airport, in a country of 6 million people -- to have scanners which far exceed the capabilities of those in the world's richest nation.
If you don't want real security -- make a quick check to see if someone is carrying a very large pistol or bomb and leave it at that.
Please don't waste my time and tax dollars by playing at security.
Note to GradGirl: My view may be skewered by the fact that unlike you, I have never been groped by a female screener. I do, however, keep hoping.
ChicagoBound
Jul 16, 04, 12:00 pm
^
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I guess that's one way to pad one's post count without running afoul of the "you need at least ten characters" requirement. ;)
Richelieu
Jul 16, 04, 12:59 pm
No, I don't. Not unless you can point out a prison which has loads of shops, elite lounges, bars, restaurants, and internet access.
Well, I could point out that every prison has restaurants (usually only one, though) and you can get food delivered to you own room (it's like room service). In a lot of them, there are quarters for "VIP inmates". There are shops, were inmate can spend their earned money to buy some goods. There is not a lot of choice, but neither in duty free. Internet access I don't know. And of course, the whole VIP quarter could be considered an elite lounge.
In fact, I don't see American airports as being much different than their overseas counterparts -- except that many of the latter have more police carrying automatic weapons.
They are standing around, looking mean. The EU politicians are well aware of the need to make the 90% feel safe. Some chose to take measures that doesn't bother the traveling pax, and having gun-toting clowns in airport is a step in this direction. Some other politicians implemented rather harsh security measures, however, it's difficult to judge the whole EU. At some point during a terrorist alert in Paris, soldiers were posted in the subway, carrying automatic weapons. Unloaded automatic weapons: the government was afraid of an "accident". But the clowns were effective : I am sure a lot of people felt safe. I don't know if it was the result of a deliberate decision to "make people feel safe without spending too much money" or if they were convinced that they decided something useful.