Originally Posted by exbayern (Post 16956376)

So someone identified as a potential threat just has to say that they are a child of the DDR times and came from a family shattered by the regime and have repressed memories of crossings at Marienborn and being monitored by the Stasi in childhood and then they are simply no longer a threat?:confused:

Originally Posted by 14940674 (Post 16956408)

No. My point was that they do not come across as threatening villains, so they do not increase the nervousness of the innocent.

Originally Posted by Fisher1949 (Post 16956395)

Expect to see yet another string of abuse stories in the news, a few lawsuits and more double speak from TSA trying to explain their way out of criticism from the public, press and lawmakers.

Originally Posted by exbayern (Post 16956455)

We have at least two regular posters on TS&S who are hearing impaired. Many on TS&S are ESL posters, and several seem to struggle with English (I am not referring to myself, unless someone cares to point out my lack of English skills - there are two who come to mind here who often post with poor spelling, grammar and sentence structure, making their posts quite unitelligible at times)

I am curious to see how those types of travellers will be treated.

Originally Posted by 14940674 (Post 16955059)

Would you support the program if the TSA hired employees of Israeli-caliber?

Originally Posted by Often1 (Post 16955222)

Fortunately, it will only take a few prosecutions of people who deliberately lie to TSA (18 USC Sec. 1001 provides a 5-year felony penalty for that) before the jokesters stop giving poor advice.

Originally Posted by N965VJ (Post 16955280)

What to do with the TSA short term-


1. Stop the use and deployment of body scanning machines. They don't see into body cavities, under folds of flesh, or detect explosives. They are an intrusion into privacy and needlessly add to cumulative lifetime radiation doses, and there are no peer-reviewed studies that back up the government's claim they are safe.

Properly procured and administrated use of Explosive Trace Detection Portals (puffers) addresses the technical shortcomings of the body scanners, while at the same time are non-intrusive and pose no health risks. It’s unfortunate that the Chertoff Group and other lobbyists that profit from the deployment of body scanners have no interest in ETP technology that is being used in venues as varied as nuclear installations and the CN Tower in Toronto.

ETP, coupled with Walk Through Metal Detectors and x-ray of bags, is real security at the checkpoint, without the need for genital gropes.

2. Full accountability of TSA employees. A Citizen Review Board should be established to investigate allegations of screener abuse. Initiate a focus on customer service training for screeners, instead of barking and asking “Do you want to fly today?”


3. End the War on Liquids. The exemptions make it pointless, and even if there was such a Magic Liquid™ that could be used to create a bomb airside without laboratory conditions if you just had enough of it, just send ten guys through the checkpoint with their Kippie Bags and combine it airside.


4. End the removal of shoes. The X-Ray machine cannot detect explosives, period.


5. Eliminate the gate screenings. The fact that this is being done in MCI, where each gate area pretty much has its own checkpoint to start with, is proof that this is nothing more than security theatre and workfare.


4. The wearing of metal “police” badges is stopped immediately, and replaced with the screener’s name and identification number that is plainly visible. Phase out the “police” uniform and replace it with something that reflects the fact that screeners have no law enforcement powers. Eliminate the TSA Honor Guard as there is no need for screeners to dress up in costumes and parade around. Stop trying to cash in on the respect that people that serve in the military have earned.


5. Get rid of the No Fly List. There’s no effective means of redress or oversight how the list is managed. If the people on these lists are so dangerous, arrest them.


6. Stop trying to encroach on privately owned aircraft and kill LASP dead in its tracks. The Inspector General has determined that private aircraft are not a threat. Personal Liberties — For the first time, the TSA’s regulatory activities would be extended to personal GA aircraft, historic and vintage aircraft, and operators, passengers, and pilots flying for personal and business use. As such, the LASP is a radical departure from anything the TSA has enacted to date. It would, in effect, require governmental review and authority before you could operate your own personal vehicle.


7. Stop the ID checks. The TSA has no need to know who I am or where I’m flying. This is nothing more than revenue protection on behalf of the airlines. The thought that I must “present my papers” to travel within the border of my own country is disgusting. Stop using the checkpoint as a dragnet. College kids with fake IDs, illegal aliens, or some common criminal wanted on a drug charge somewhere are not a threat to commercial aviation. We have other government agencies tasked for this.


8. End the mission creep. No more TSA appearances at sporting events, bus and train stations, or highways. Let the real law enforcement professionals tasked with these venues handle things without interference from the TSA. Why is the TSA showing up at thousands of non-airport venues every year when the own Red Team test score failures are "off the charts" according to Rep. Mica?


9. The junk science SPOT program gets the boot.


10. Stop any consideration of having screeners armed with firearms, or having any law enforcement powers. We hear of continuous cases where airport LEOs are the last line of defense against abuse by TSA screeners.



What to do with the TSA long term-

The TSA should become a part of the DOT. Actual screening should be done by private contractors with oversight by the FAA. Funny how we never heard the constant stories of mistreatment and harassment of PAX, organized rings of theft and general thuggery when this was being done by private sector firms.

Originally Posted by TXagogo (Post 16956553)

This should be sent to every newspaper and TV news office in the country.

Originally Posted by 14940674 (Post 16956643)

They would never publish it. The media retype and publish TSA press releases. They would never question the agency.

Originally Posted by InkUnderNails (Post 16956758)

This really makes me nervous.

I am one of those hearing impaired persons mentioned earlier. At a noisy checkpoint I have great difficulty with even basic instructions and I sometimes have to ask for clarifications two or three times. I fly about 50-60 times a year. If they start to ask me questions that I am not expecting, there will be a lot of "I did not get that would you please repeat it?" and "I am hearing impaired, and I have no idea what your are asking."

If I can hand the TDC my boarding pass and ID, get a squiggle, and proceed to the x-ray, test one has been passed. Test two is whether I get AIT or WTMD. If WTMD, no more conversation is necessary unless my bag gets a secondary. If I get the AIT, I opt out, tell them I am hearing impaired and demand to keep my luggage in sight. I explain to the person doing the frisk that I am hearing impaired and tell them that I will not be able to hear their instructions unless I am looking at them. They have been really good with my requests. I do not speak to the bag check guy. When he/she opens it the first thing they see is a notice that I am hearing impaired and can not easily answer questions.

If this becomes common, I guess I will have to pass another test to survive the airport.

My first answer will likely be, "I am hearing impaired and I can not understand your questions. Is this something I am required to answer to be able to fly? If yes, you may need to write them down or get a supervisor."

Originally Posted by InkUnderNails (Post 16956758)

This really makes me nervous.

I am one of those hearing impaired persons mentioned earlier. At a noisy checkpoint I have great difficulty with even basic instructions and I sometimes have to ask for clarifications two or three times. I fly about 50-60 times a year. If they start to ask me questions that I am not expecting, there will be a lot of "I did not get that would you please repeat it?" and "I am hearing impaired, and I have no idea what your are asking."

If I can hand the TDC my boarding pass and ID, get a squiggle, and proceed to the x-ray, test one has been passed. Test two is whether I get AIT or WTMD. If WTMD, no more conversation is necessary unless my bag gets a secondary. If I get the AIT, I opt out, tell them I am hearing impaired and demand to keep my luggage in sight. I explain to the person doing the frisk that I am hearing impaired and tell them that I will not be able to hear their instructions unless I am looking at them. They have been really good with my requests. I do not speak to the bag check guy. When he/she opens it the first thing they see is a notice that I am hearing impaired and can not easily answer questions.

If this becomes common, I guess I will have to pass another test to survive the airport.

My first answer will likely be, "I am hearing impaired and I can not understand your questions. Is this something I am required to answer to be able to fly? If yes, you may need to write them down or get a supervisor."