TSA Petition at WhiteHouse.gov
Jan 13, 2012, 11:30 pm
#1
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TSA Petition at WhiteHouse.gov
So, I've been gone a long time, but I'm still a frequent flyer, and I still have to deal with the TSA and their "adventures."
Having recently discovered WhiteHouse.gov's We The People petition area, I have set up a petition calling for the scaling back of the TSA. In case you're not familiar with this system, it promises an official response to a petition aftern 25,000 signatures have been reached within 30 days. I figured this group would be the most likely to get on board!
Here is the link to the petition. Please consider signing it. Anyone with access to FaceBook or Twitter might consider advertising it there as well, as I don't have access to either (what a neanderrthal!).
Thanks
Having recently discovered WhiteHouse.gov's We The People petition area, I have set up a petition calling for the scaling back of the TSA. In case you're not familiar with this system, it promises an official response to a petition aftern 25,000 signatures have been reached within 30 days. I figured this group would be the most likely to get on board!
Here is the link to the petition. Please consider signing it. Anyone with access to FaceBook or Twitter might consider advertising it there as well, as I don't have access to either (what a neanderrthal!).
Thanks
Jan 13, 2012, 11:50 pm
#2
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Sorry, but your petition is worthless. What does "scale back" the TSA mean?
Are you asking the government to reduce the agency's responsibilities or the size of its work force? There is a very big difference. I don't think anyone here would want the TSA to have 50% less screeners while having them do the same things they are doing today. That would result in nothing but longer lines.
If you are asking for something, be specific.
Are you asking the government to reduce the agency's responsibilities or the size of its work force? There is a very big difference. I don't think anyone here would want the TSA to have 50% less screeners while having them do the same things they are doing today. That would result in nothing but longer lines.
If you are asking for something, be specific.
Jan 14, 2012, 12:04 am
#3
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Well, I figured it was obvious what I was after. I'm willing to bet a sizable chunk of money that no-one really thinks I'm looking to simply cut 50% of the screeners.
Did you read the petition? I thought this paragraph:
was succinct enough.
And, hey, it's more likely to be effective than continuing to write my Congressmen.
Did you read the petition? I thought this paragraph:
Between the new x-ray scanners which look under your clothing to confiscating insulin and contact lens solution, between the pat-downs that border on sexual assault to the insane fixation on checking IDs, the TSA has added immensely to the stress of air travel, and all to no end.
And, hey, it's more likely to be effective than continuing to write my Congressmen.
Jan 14, 2012, 2:11 am
#4
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No, it was far from specific enough. Say exactly what you want.
Do you want a 25% reduction in screeners? 50%? 75%?
In addition, what functions do you want ended (which would allow this reduction)?
Do you want them not to work at any areas other than airports? (No train stations, bus terminals, etc).
Do you want them to end all gate checks?
Do you want to stop all ID checks? How do you propose they clear alarms set off by the metal detectors other than pat downs? Give both your objections and solutions which will reduce the number of screeners to the degree that you want.
Don't even dream that a petition without these items will be looked at seriously even if signed by 100,000 Americans. It won't be.
Do you want a 25% reduction in screeners? 50%? 75%?
In addition, what functions do you want ended (which would allow this reduction)?
Do you want them not to work at any areas other than airports? (No train stations, bus terminals, etc).
Do you want them to end all gate checks?
Do you want to stop all ID checks? How do you propose they clear alarms set off by the metal detectors other than pat downs? Give both your objections and solutions which will reduce the number of screeners to the degree that you want.
Don't even dream that a petition without these items will be looked at seriously even if signed by 100,000 Americans. It won't be.
Jan 14, 2012, 5:31 am
#5
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It has been done and the result turned out pretty much as expected.
Our government does not seem to be interested in redress of grievances.
Our government does not seem to be interested in redress of grievances.
Jan 14, 2012, 9:14 am
#6
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Has an online petition ever done anything? (Besides get everyone who signed the whitehouse.gov one on the TSA mailing/watch list.) Snopes does not seem to think so. I tend to agree.
Jan 14, 2012, 10:34 am
#7
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Has an online petition ever done anything? (Besides get everyone who signed the whitehouse.gov one on the TSA mailing/watch list.) Snopes does not seem to think so. I tend to agree.
In the general aviation fees petition, they trotted out someone from OPM to state why they needed to do what they're doing. No hint of any listening to the petitioners, just an excuse to put forth propaganda and put folks on a mailing list.
Total waste of time and resources.
Jan 14, 2012, 4:34 pm
#8
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We're watching season three of the miniseries "The Tudors" right now. Watching how King Henry VIII dealt with his subjects who protested the destruction of their abbeys reminded me of how our Federal Government deals with protests about TSA and other ways the government erodes our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Jan 14, 2012, 4:52 pm
#9
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We're watching season three of the miniseries "The Tudors" right now. Watching how King Henry VIII dealt with his subjects who protested the destruction of their abbeys reminded me of how our Federal Government deals with protests about TSA and other ways the government erodes our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Jan 14, 2012, 8:02 pm
#10
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Well, that's depressing indeed. I too have generally little regard for online petitions, but I figured this was a little more above board, being from the White House and all.
It's quite disappointing, but not especially surprising, to read the results of that other attempt.
Dovster, my apologies for the non-specific nature of this petition. It struck me as being self-explanatory.
It's quite disappointing, but not especially surprising, to read the results of that other attempt.
Dovster, my apologies for the non-specific nature of this petition. It struck me as being self-explanatory.
Jan 14, 2012, 8:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 733
We're watching season three of the miniseries "The Tudors" right now. Watching how King Henry VIII dealt with his subjects who protested the destruction of their abbeys reminded me of how our Federal Government deals with protests about TSA and other ways the government erodes our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Worth it? I watched the pilot episode that came on one of The Tudors discs. It seemed interesting, but I couldn't decide if it was worth the time investment. I'm waaaaaaaaaaaay behind on both my Jersey Shore and True Blood!
Jan 14, 2012, 8:29 pm
#12
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Jersey Shore! Dude, you got a situation going on! GTL!
Jan 16, 2012, 7:10 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
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We're watching season three of the miniseries "The Tudors" right now. Watching how King Henry VIII dealt with his subjects who protested the destruction of their abbeys reminded me of how our Federal Government deals with protests about TSA and other ways the government erodes our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Richard Nixon would be so proud...
Jan 16, 2012, 8:46 am
#14
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,567
10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free
By Jonathan Turley, Published: January 13
Every year, the State Department issues reports on individual rights in other countries, monitoring the passage of restrictive laws and regulations around the world.
.....
Even as we pass judgment on countries we consider unfree, Americans remain confident that any definition of a free nation must include their own — the land of free. Yet, the laws and practices of the land should shake that confidence. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, this country has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state. The most recent example of this was the National Defense Authorization Act, signed Dec. 31, which allows for the indefinite detention of citizens. At what point does the reduction of individual rights in our country change how we define ourselves?
......
The list of powers acquired by the U.S. government since 9/11 puts us in rather troubling company.
Assassination of U.S. citizens
.....
Indefinite detention
.......
Arbitrary justice
.......
Warrantless searches
.......
Secret evidence
......
War crimes
......
Secret court
......
Immunity from judicial review
.......
Continual monitoring of citizens
........
Extraordinary renditions
............
Since 9/11, we have created the very government the framers feared: a government with sweeping and largely unchecked powers resting on the hope that they will be used wisely.
The indefinite-detention provision in the defense authorization bill seemed to many civil libertarians like a betrayal by Obama. While the president had promised to veto the law over that provision, Levin, a sponsor of the bill, disclosed on the Senate floor that it was in fact the White House that approved the removal of any exception for citizens from indefinite detention.
Dishonesty from politicians is nothing new for Americans. The real question is whether we are lying to ourselves when we call this country the land of the free.
By Jonathan Turley, Published: January 13
Every year, the State Department issues reports on individual rights in other countries, monitoring the passage of restrictive laws and regulations around the world.
.....
Even as we pass judgment on countries we consider unfree, Americans remain confident that any definition of a free nation must include their own — the land of free. Yet, the laws and practices of the land should shake that confidence. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, this country has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state. The most recent example of this was the National Defense Authorization Act, signed Dec. 31, which allows for the indefinite detention of citizens. At what point does the reduction of individual rights in our country change how we define ourselves?
......
The list of powers acquired by the U.S. government since 9/11 puts us in rather troubling company.
Assassination of U.S. citizens
.....
Indefinite detention
.......
Arbitrary justice
.......
Warrantless searches
.......
Secret evidence
......
War crimes
......
Secret court
......
Immunity from judicial review
.......
Continual monitoring of citizens
........
Extraordinary renditions
............
Since 9/11, we have created the very government the framers feared: a government with sweeping and largely unchecked powers resting on the hope that they will be used wisely.
The indefinite-detention provision in the defense authorization bill seemed to many civil libertarians like a betrayal by Obama. While the president had promised to veto the law over that provision, Levin, a sponsor of the bill, disclosed on the Senate floor that it was in fact the White House that approved the removal of any exception for citizens from indefinite detention.
Dishonesty from politicians is nothing new for Americans. The real question is whether we are lying to ourselves when we call this country the land of the free.