Originally Posted by
USMCSS
I also must add that I feel the TSA implements a lot of ridiculous procedures. The whole organization in my opinion needs to be revamped. It is really sad to see some people being overly screened when they don’t need to be. And sometimes it’s the TSO with a chip on his shoulder; but probably most of the time it’s the TSA’S protocol that the TSO has to follow or he will be FIRED.
Semper Fi,
Bob
Hi, Bob, and welcome to FT. Also, thank you for your service -- sincerely!
It's this post of yours that, for most of us, gets to the core of the issue. TSA is not there to provide security. It's there to provide a dog-and-pony show so that casual fliers will have enough confidence in the airlines to continue buying their once-a-year tickets to visit grandmaw. When you couple their virtual uselessness with an officious attitude, you're not going to win friends.
As for how they wear their uniforms, it doesn't make the slightest difference to me. If I see a Marine, I don't care if he or she is wearing torn and tattered camos or the best dress uniform. It's the person inside the uniform that I respect because they've earned the right to wear it. There are good TSOs and bad TSOs, but it doesn't matter to me whether their shoes are spit-shined or the tails of their shirt are hanging out. As far as I'm concerned, they are not, and will never be, in the same category as military service personnel, law enforcement officers, fire fighters or paramedics. THESE are the people who put their lives on the line to protect us, and have my abiding respect and deep gratitude. TSOs are just actors in a pointless bureaucratic show.
When I was a professional actor, I once played a policeman on Cagney & Lacey. I did not, at any time, confuse the fact that I was wearing a policeman costume with the thought that I was the same as one.