I can think of no reason one would be required to travel accross the country, to Hawaii or to Sydney.

My only point is that flying is a choice, not a necessity or a requirement. If people feel so strongly that reasonable screening procedures are a viloation of their rights, annoying, stupid, etc. etc. etc. then they are absolutely 100% free to choose not to fly.

This isn't to say that one should be subjected to "whatever the TSA wants to do" when one chooses to fly. But, if the screening procedures are reasonable, as judged by society, then just deal with it! Obviously, the vast majority of the American flying public have no issue with the TSA screening procedures. If a person does have deep-seeded anymosity toward the TSA procedures, then perhaps they need to re-evalute themselves and determine why they are so at odds with the vast majority of the American flying public.

Of course, people are perfectly free to try to effect change in TSA procedures if they disagree with the policies. However, many of the anit-TSA types here seem to complain just for the sake of complaining.

If you have to take your shoes off, so what? What's the big deal? If a TSA agent wants to fudge their time stamps on moving folks through the line, so what? What's the big deal? If you have to remove your laptop from your bag before going through screening, so what? What's the big deal?

I guess it just must be nice to have such wonderful lives that the biggest concern you have to deal with is whether or not some person who's just trying to do their job, earn a living, and possibly help to keep air travel safe wants you to take your shoes off!