Some of them do. Just as in every profession, there are some law enforcement officials and some TSA folks that wake up every morning and thank God that they can go on another power trip. The biggest problem with this isn't necessarily that they can go on power trips (we all do from time to time), but that they are in a position when they do and can cause harm to others when they do.

This case is a textbook example of that. The TSA agent abused his/her power and overreacted. The TSA supervisor abused his/her power, probably with the thought of being hailed as the next "hero of the skies". And the LEO certainly abused his/her power in this whole thing. I certainly hope that all 3 people have sufficient negative marks placed on their records over this to severely stunt their career growth with their respective agencies. That is a start to a fitting punishment.

Ahhh, so I see... Just following orders, then? Whatever happened to thinking for one's self-- you know, exercising one or two brain cells every once in a while? If all these people do is act like robots, then perhaps we should come up with ways to replace them with robots. They would certainly be more efficient and less error prone than the average TSA screener.

I'm sure that as a LEO, part of your training has included ways to assess situations and use logic and reasoning when dealing with people and problems. The people involved in this situation ignored any such training and chose to act like fools instead of like people who were focused on providing true security to those flying that day. Shame on them.

There may be a world of difference, but there are also some commonalities:
- Both groups have secret directives and procedures that are kept from the public for "security" reasons
- Both groups are more concerned about appearance than substance
- Both groups have done a lousy job of public relations
- Both groups appear to believe that women are objects, and that it's OK to grope them

I could probably come up with a few more too, if I wanted to take the time. In case you haven't guessed, I'm one person who thinks that the TSA is a joke and total waste of money. The TSA is no better at stopping terrorism than the pre-9/11 private security screeners that the airlines used. The main difference is that now the flying public has its pockets picked a little more because of the TSA.

I am not necessarily an anti-police, anti-security person. I do, however, believe that limits-- strong limits-- need to be placed on what these types of agencies can and cannot do. I support catching terrorists and stopping killing, but not at the expense of liberty and privacy.

In short: I may have nothing to hide, but that does not mean that I don't mind the government overstepping its limits. I may not be smuggling anything on board a plane, but that does not mean that I wouldn't hesitate to take appropriate action to stop a TSA agent from groping me during a secondary "search".