<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
Then please explain why there are tons of selectees now and almost none prior to 9/11. Answer: the TSA is forcing the airlines into selecting passengers. Hardly something that can be blamed on the airlines, though I often wish they would get together and tell the TSA: NO!
Also please explain why if there aren't enough selectees to keep the wand wizards happy at the gate, the wand wizards will pick their own selectees.
It's a stupid, flawed process that does nothing for security except make the so-called "security" folks look busy without having to work in the food court. The people at the TSA who forced the airlines to participate in this disgraceful, un-American process should be shot. Or sent to a country that "randomly" checks up on its comrades, er citizens.</font>
Spiff, before you go off on one of your rants again, the TSA has no, zero, nada control over how many "selectees" the airlines pick. It is fully up to them. I have seen ticket agents make someone a "selectee" even though the computer did not make them so. The selectee program is the airlines baby and they set the criteria for it. I have seen airline personnel deny boarding to ticketed passengers who were not selectees and IMO did nothing to justify it. Does the TSA have ANY authority to overrule the airlines in these matters? Nope. Screeners cannot make someone a non-selectee if the airlines have so annointed them. Nor can they override the airlines in the event they deny boarding to anyone.
As for the "wand wizards" working the gates, thats up to the local FSD and is his decision. Ours wanted us to do the same thing, but we seldom had the extra people to have a gate team, so he was SOL.
Un-American? Should be shot? Deported? hmmmm Strong words coming from a "Libertarian." Is this the "party" line or just your personal feelings? I see so much vilification coming from our "Libertarian" friends that I fear that if they ever do win election that the ovens will glow red at night as they burn off those who are not of the "party." What is your party number Spiff? I think you will find it on your "papers."
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Don't take life too seriously, afterall, you won't get out alive.