I asked this some time ago and never got an answer.

The contents of my carry on are very valuable, at least to me. The replacement value is about $15,000 and would take two weeks or more to order and put together the items. That is two weeks of billable time that I lose.

It is why I insist on watching my items and why I am very proactive about doing so.

My question: Can I request a private screening for my carry on in which it would be placed in the hands of the screener and screened with my full cooperation and observation?

This page says that it can be requested for currency and jewelery and it implies that both the passenger and luggage are screened privately. I want to know if I can request it for my luggage while I screen normally.

Absolutely. If your carryon items are valuable (or potentially embarrassing as in the case of the Tasteful Treasures saleswoman), you should certainly request a private screening. There's no reason to put yourself at risk by letting other passengers see that you're carrying valuables. Like a private screening of a person, a private screening of property requires two TSOs and the passenger has the right to have a witness of his/her choosing. The difference between the two is that a private screening for a person requires two TSOs of the same gender as the passenger (passenger's witness can be anyone the passenger chooses) whereas with a property private screening the gender of the passenger as well as the two TSOs is irrelevant.

Thanks.

This may be an acceptable solution to the problem of not being able to watch my belongings at some airports.

I want to definitely agree with that. I always seem to be the only one opting out. Seems either no one cares or no one understands.

There are other possibilities. Passengers are sometimes forced into a bad choice: an intrusive dose of radiation or an intrusive personal pat-down. Just because others are choosing differently from you doesn't mean they're happy about it.

As far as I can tell, it's the "I have nothing to hide" mentality. There are precious few in this country who could recite the rights guaranteed by the first amendment, never mind the fourth.

I have always wondered why so many new or newer immigrants, usually from the Old World, are on the forefront of questioning U.S. Government policies while the "established" Americans just shrug their shoulders. I think it's because we Europeans have been exposed one way or another to oppressive and totalitarian regimes in our own backyards and want to avoid that happening on this side of the pond, or am I wrong? This country promised us all these freedoms and the good life. Where did it go?
During my GE interview yesterday the customs officer asked me when I got naturalized. I didn't remember. He got quite upset and wondered why the ( his words ) most important day in my life had been lost to me. I didn't say anything, but I keep thinking it's not so great being a U.S. citizen these days.
Why do so many Americans continue to think that this is the greatest country on earth?

I just don't know. I'll keep groping for an answer though.

You think that helps?

It may be corny. It may even be incorrect. It is certainly just my opinion.

We think it is the best country on earth because it is our home. It is where we were reared and nurtured. Our experiences and our maturing occurred on its soil. We are familiar with its advantages and its faults. For the most part, we are comfortable among our neighbors and fellow citizens.

We recognize its great promise while at the same time seeing that we have failed in its fulfillment in many ways.

We are saddened by the mistakes of the past while maintaining hope for the future.

It is a familiar friend while for many of us the "rest of the world" remains an unknown stranger. That unknown may indeed be virtuous, peaceful and ideal, yet because it is unknown we huddle in the embrace of our known comfort, imperfections and all.

I have traveled a bit of the rest of the world, and without exception I have found its people to be wonderful, the visual beauty remarkable and inspiring, and the experiences are good memories, not ones of fear or disgust.

Yet, I still return to the comfort of home happy that I am home. I am happy in my surroundings because of their intimate familiarity. I am part of it and it is part of me.

Is this irrational? Probably, yes. Still I suspect that no matter where one goes, if we talk to the people that live there, if we become friends with them, as we will talk and learn of each other we will find that they too believe that the place they live is the best on earth as well. Not because of any great government, or particular beauty, or specific thing of interest. It will be the best place for them because it is home.

Because, most people (Americans) are dumb and or confused. Its the whole American dream myth, all you got to do is work hard and you too can be the president some day. Who needs maternity leave or a decent amount of vacation days? Not americans. Also, the majority of americans do not have a passport, have not been outside their home state, have not been to another country (except canada or mexico, which don't really count in my opinion, if you live within an hour or so drive).

Americans are told this is the best place on earth starting in elementary school, and we believe it, until we experience life in other countries and cultures.

When I emigrated to the U.S., the first thing that tripped me was the need of a middle initial. I had none, I have a first name and a last name. The deal was, no middle initial, no SS card. My idol in the early sixties was Sinatra, so I said Albert. Funny. And my SS card was printed. Then I began to wonder, why football ( which really is only played here in seriousness ) and baseball ( maybe a couple of more countries like Japan and Korea ) warrants the title "world champion", when there is no competition for it. But it's the American way. Like Hollywood, all facade, nothing behind it. The bad thing is that Europe is not far behind. All smoke no mirrors.

Nothing human ever stays the same. it either gets better or worse. Our country was a great country at one time. It may be a great country again some day. Right now, not its greatest moment. In times past, nobody would have dared touch you the way they did for the reason they did it. This is a sick country now, and those over us, esp TSA at the airport, are the sickest of the sick. They should be ashamed of themselves for treating a 70 year old like this. They are jackals. Instead of normal shame, they send their reps onto this site and laugh at you and promise more of the same.

It makes me sad that I agree with you.

I don't get it then. If someone asks me if I've had control of my bags at all times, how can I earnestly answer "yes"? It seems like a Catch 22. :confused: