I had a recent experience in LAX that was at best surreal. Security lines at LAX are longer than I am used to and I was tired so I forgot about the WBI roulette. I get to almost the front of the screening line, behind a confused non-English speaking family, and am beckoned to a clearance line by TSO, I am then informed I had been "randomly selected" for WBI screening.

I declined and requested the pat down. TSO tells me that it will be much more invasive and I explain my preference. While waiting to insert my bags in the xray TSO supervisor (suit, tin badge, no gloves) asks what I am doing waiting. TSO explains that I am waiting for a pat down having declined the WBI. Supervisor then asks the TSO "They can decline that?" The supervisor then turns to me and asks why I did that and I give a brief explanation as I assume it will be lost on this guy. He then replies to me "if I were in charge you would all be sedated, stripped, and locked down before the flight and wake up two minutes before arrival." A this point my jaw was dropped more than I thought it could.

I and them taken through the WTMD, pass and await my male assist. The gut that does the pat down is actually quite personable and tells me he does not care for some of the policies either. My bag gets a detailed search and swab, I get a cursory pat down missing most of my torso and crotch. My boarding pass then gets a second stamp and I am told to hang on to it so I don't get another search at the gate.

I really could not beleive that TSA employed and promoted someone with those views toward security and that they would be allowed to share them with the passengers.