Since I pay for them, TSA works for me and the rest of the American Taxpayers.

I expect them to work like any other employee of mine:

1. With Competence. All employees should be knowledgeable about their job. Posts on FT show that in this area TSA fails.

2. With Consistencey. Since this is a national unified agency, Rules should be applied uniformly in all locations. Posts on FT show that in this area TSA fails badly.

3. With Fairness to the customers i.e. the public. If a customer knows the rules better than the Public Employee and refuses to be pushed around, the customer must not be subject to personal revenge by the TSA employee via a Retaliatory Secondary. Posts on FT show that in this area TSA fails.


They tell us they are there to make us safer. Am I safer? They would say no one has hijacked a plane with a boxcutter in the 4 years since 9/11. I do not recall anyone hijacking a plane with a boxcutter in the 4 years prior to 9/11, when security rules were less strict.

Three days ago on a commercial aircraft I mused that I am far less in danger from a passenger with a boxcutter than from the unscreened cargo one foot below my feet. Which makes the Dog and Pony Show of "Look Public, TSA is Doing Something" at security checkpoints more of a Public Relations gimmick than real security. Don't misunderstand, I am not advocating getting rid of screening, just getting rid of the TSA Mindset way of doing it.

Safe? 100% of passengers over screened, 100% of cargo NOT screened. Pass the "motion discomfort" bag, I gotta barf.

With the Patriot Act, the Presidents illegal wiretapping, the Real National ID program, etc, etc, ole Joe Stalin is clapping in his grave that he won--the US is slowly but surely turning itself into a better police state than ole Joe could have imagined.

What can we do? First, not go willingly as Sheeple. When our government is headed in a bad direction, it is up to us to work to change the course. Submitting willing as the Bill of Rights is chipped away is Un-American. Sticking up for your rights is All American. Why do so many forget this? Has the Bush "If you're not with us you're against us" got everyone hoodwinked with blinders on?

It is not about being "defiant that anyone could have any authority (except oneself,) all over again." Think more along the lines of a little 1960's style non violent civil disobedience. Working within the system, using the system, to change the system when it need changing. It will involve pushing the envelope, but until enough people do it things will not change.

If you love TSA as it is, if you cannot wait to show your National ID to cross from Alabama to Georgia, then congratulations on being a Sheeple. The far right wing in Washington is ready to give you all the Big Brother you can hope for.

I'll follow this philosophy as I keep my shoes on whenever possible:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me

Martin Niemoeller
Dachau Guest 1937-1945