Onewomanink, WELCOME TO FT!!

I wish I could say that your post is in any way surprising but quite frankly, it's not even raising an eyebrow here. The TSA is an out of control, totally unaccountable, 6 billion dollar a year workfare program that has absolutely nothing to do with security. We have some TSA iniders lurking here and they see the problem the same as we do but are largely powerless to stop it. I have been questioned as to why I am carrying a piece of test equipment, I have seen a Roman Catholic nun in full regalia body searched, I have seen grown adults reduced to tears by abusive screeners. I have seen people carrying prohibited knives through and reported it only to be told "Oh, it's probably a test"--and that also was at DEN. I have seen children's stuffed animals molested causing young children to become very upset, I have had TSA employees speak to me in urban vernacular that is almost unintelliglble to speakers of the English language ("I not dem. Dey nah me.") I have been barked at through a bullhorn, threatened with not flying today, and despite my best efforts, I cannot seem to get a female screener to administer the complimentary grope and rubdown. They are all guys who look like, well, quite frankly, like ME.

I wish I could tell you that writing elected officials will help, but it won't. For whatever reason, the congress weasels are silent on this matter.

I wish I could tell you that contacting the media will help, but it won't. They will trot out the suburban soccer moms in their minivans who will appear on camera with a very concerned look in their faces and say "Oh, ANYTHING for security."

I wish I could tell you that writing the TSA will help. I personally am waiting for a PROMISED call back from a TSA supervisor at the national "customer service" number that I called back three times trying to get in AUGUST of 2006.

The TSA is a national joke, a national shame and a national cancer. The party in power that put them there isn't going to do anything. The party that won control of congress is clearly not interested in changing anyhing, because their leadership doesn't fly commercial, they fly in private military jets. I personally think that if congressweasels had to endure the TSA humiliation that things would change, so it makes sese that they exempt themselves from such abuse.

While we complain about it here, the only thing we can really to is sibject ourselves to it or drive. Eventualy, I beleive, the TSA will shut down forums like these are being violations of the patriot act that "interfere with their mission" and dissenters sent off to Guantanamo Bay as "enemy combatants".

After, of course, we take our shoes off.

If you get too belligerent you will be hauled off to jail. If you challenge them they will detain you and record your personal data. Push much more and you will find yourself on a no-fly list. No one there is accountable to anyone anywhere. The TSA operates above the law and cites the patriot act as their authorization to do so.

Welcome to America.

--PP