Originally Posted by
Boggie Dog
What threat did the traveler present to aviation?
That is the only question that matters as far as TSA should be concerned.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
If wishes made it true.
Boggie Dog is right in this instance. TSA's job is limited to making sure that passengers and property do not present a threat to airplanes or aviation infrastructure. Yes, we are required to follow TSA work rules, but even those are ostensibly linked to the safety of aviation.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
TSA has the authority to ask anything they like, without restriction. They DO NOT have the authority to compel an answer.
Actually, we have the authority to ask anything we like as it pertains to potential threats to aviation. We ought to be very careful with anything outside of that purview, so as to avoid unnecessary and inappropriate constraint of liberty.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
Really? Just which right was that? To ask a question? I’d agree with that, he sure did have that right, just as the TSA did (warning, I’m baiting you here). To refuse to answer? Yep, he has that one as well. Hell, he could have just stood there and not said a word, he had that right as well, or sing songs, or dance in place, or any one of a multitude of other things.
Which rights did Mr. Bierfeldt have? How about the right to be treated with respect? The right to an honest answer to his questions? The right to know if he was, in fact, legally required to answer the questions posed to him? (He wasn't) The right to know if he was being detained? The right to contact a representative if he was, in fact, in legal jeopardy?
Originally Posted by
TSORon
TSA had the right to ask the questions. As for the confrontation, both sides had the opportunity to avoid it. Neither did. Both are to blame.
Please refer to my earlier post re: "both are to blame"
Originally Posted by
TSORon
Sadly enough there are to many posters here who with limited experience with the TSA
Actually, many of the people here have extensive experience with TSA. They can actually provide some insightful discussion and feedback if you give them a chance.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
You can only see them as jack-booted thugs, intent on ruining your day, taking your personal property, and delaying your transit to the sterile area. You fail to see the humans behind the uniform. The men and women who get up at 1:30am to be on the checkpoint by 3am, who endure the continuous changes of policy and procedure, who were courageous enough to accept jobs on the front line of America’s Anti-Terrorism efforts, dangerous though it may be. They endure low pay, long and unusual hours, less than perfect working conditions, unidentified hazardous materials, the diseases and infections of those passengers they come into contact with, undeserved attitude and the occasional cussing out, and a whole host of other things that make the job less than pleasant at times.
This is a description of any public security work. It may be frustrating, but that is the job you signed up for. It's also largely a safe job (well, except for the OJI issues) and comes with a decent pay/benefit package for the level of work and expertise required.
Oh, and I tend to do well with the passengers who see us a jack-booted thugs, ect. I had one passenger call me gestapo, and shake my hand by the end of the screening. It's all in how you treat people.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
So much of the posting here is complaints. Sure, I didn’t start here in the best of ways, but then again this conversation has been going on a very long time, and I have been here only a few weeks. You people have been screaming your complaints for a few years now, and yet you continue to do so to this day. I get the feeling its no longer about improving the situation, but about the complaining. Some of you just don’t realize that, your having to much fun complaining.
As you say, you have only been here a few weeks. There have been a significant number of potentially productive discussions on this forum. Yes, there are people who just want to complain, and there are people who just come here to bash/make fun of TSA. That's part of what you sign on for when you choose to represent TSA to the traveling public.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
And he still had the option to chose a different way to deal with the issue that would not have forced a confrontation. BTW, if you are going to try and use the “rights” thing, you might want to add in 5th amendment as well. Gives it flavor.
.........
And in the furtherance of the duties I am sworn to perform, I can ask those questions. As a citizen, you can refuse to answer the. More power to you. Have a good time. Can we prevent you from boarding an aircraft because you refuse to answer a question? Depends on the question, and what its about. Ya rolls the dice and ya takes your chances.
Can you at least stop denigrating constitutional and other civil rights and liberties on public forums? Some of us took that "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States..." thing seriously.
Originally Posted by
TSORon
Just how many of those passengers would go and review all those rules and policies prior to approaching a checkpoint? We cant even get them to read the signs we place in their way, or listen to the announcements the PA system is shouting at them every 30 seconds.
Actually, the point is that passengers should be able to easily access said rules and policies should they choose to educate themselves before approaching the checkpoint.