(bolding mine) I wear pants and underear when I play sports, so does this mean I can no longer wear pants or underwear when transiting the checkpoint?

Somehow it seems that you are under the mistaken impression that it is your job to detect "terrorists" or "terrorist-related crime".

Your job is to ensure that no one brings weapons, incendiaries, or explosives onto a plane. The courts have ruled this on numerous occasions, and thrown out evidence when TSOs exceed the scope of their duty by looking for cash or drugs.

I believe it was just a week ago (Oct 5) that the George case (Arabic flashcards) was heard before the Third Circuit. But I fully expect that TSOs playing 'language and document police' and trampling the First Amendment will be slapped down, too.

This is a perfect example of what's wrong with TSA. I have no doubt that in this case, Ron is not alone - there are probably thousands of TSA clerks who believe that they are charged with enforcing general criminal laws of the United States. That they don't have this responsibility or authority is apparently a concept too difficult for them to grasp.

Other than the opium crop in Afghanistan, I am not aware of (and certainly have never read about at any classification level) any direct and recurring connection between drug trafficking, cash transactions, and financing terrorism. For that matter, the opium crop in Afghanistan finances practically the entire country.

This gets back to my earlier point that it's in the TSA's best interests to never define what is a threat and what isn't, because it gives them unprecedented extra-constitutional powers to search and seize practically anything they want for whatever reason they want.

Why do people bother to "debate" TSORon? It is such a waste of time. The pig-in-the-mud analogy is quite apt. There is simply nothing to be gained-- you will not convince him because he always knows better and is always right, and even when he is provably wrong, he still thinks he is right in insists he is. It is depressing to know my tax dollars pay his wages, and there are enough depressing things in life without taking extra time out of my day to have the fact that my tax dollars being pissed away to pay people like TSORon shoved in my face. These are good threads to avoid unless you like wasting time.

I am with you on this. I won't waste the energy it would take to respond to this gentleman - he is not worth it.

Why are Barack Obama and Mitt Romney debating each other three times this month? It's not like either of them are going to change the other's point of view on the issues of the day.

The reason they're debating each other is because other people are listening. Their real audience is not the person at the other podium, but the millions of silent listeners.

In the same way ... I won't speak for anyone else, but one reason I engage in conversation (or "debate", if you will) here is because of the millions thousands dozens of others who silently read these discussions and might be persuaded to agree with me.

Also, it helps me to refine my arguments; even if I'm right, I might need some help in explaining those ideas. There are fallacious arguments on both sides of these debates, and I won't claim that I'm immune from falling for the bad arguments of the anti-TSA crowd.

Those are my reasons. I'll let others speak to their own reasons.

I agree with the above poster. The more he is kept engaged, the more it allows others an opportunity to understand some truly perverted thinking (not sexually perverted) on the part of those who believe they are keeping us safe.

Not so. I am fully aware of what my job entails, its purpose, and how it affects terrorism. My job is, simply put, deterrence. Nothing more.

Every terrorist out there (one’s with a fully working brain that is) know that to commit another act like those committed on 9/11/2001, they must run a gauntlet of processes both public and not, specifically designed to detect their efforts. I am a part of the “public” process. Other people and other agencies make up the other parts of both the public as well as the non-public parts.

I just love it when a non-member of the TSA is so willing to tell me my job. Unless you are willing to admit that you are a TSO then you have no idea what my job is, or what it takes to get it done.

I suspect that they will as well. I personally believe that they were operating outside of established procedures, but that decision of course is well above my pay grade. Yours as well I suspect.

You are more than welcome to take part in the discussion, or not as you choose. If you choose not to then please bypass them and refust to comment. Honest, it wont hurt my feelings one bit.

Your job is to find WEI - nothing more.

It could be that one goal of the TSA as an agency is to deter terrorists but that is not YOUR job at the checkpoint.

It COULD be that what you do at the checkpoint serves to deter a dumb terrorist but it is only an outcome of your charge to find WEI.

And for those terrorist with a working brain would they not be smart enough to pick a target of opportunity that they could successfully attack?

How hard is it to imagine a TSA Checkpoint that is bogged down as is so typical because of the TSA procedures in place today?

I honestly believe that if a terrorist organization wanted to conduct an attack they would do so, TSA or no TSA.

TSA is just an eight billion dollar drain on the country for very little true gain.

Most TSOs have no clue as to what their jobs entail. Cop wanna-be s, nothing more. More like mall cops forced upon us in airports.

Best thing is to simply ignore TSORon's posts altogether. Every time you respond to his silly posts, it's like waving a steak in front of a pitbull...just making i worse.

I'm not sure that it is. Your employer states (as of 14 September 2012):

"Protection" and "deterrence" are not synonyms. At best, "deterrence" is a subset of "protection" --- in which case, your job is quite a bit more than "simply put, deterrence".

At least, that's how I read it.

For those wanting to know about Ron, "the Muse of Platte" see here: (This is a direct Ron quote)
http://forums.talkerfly.com/post/sho...&postcount=445
Our Friend Ron / \ And it seems tongue was not in cheek...

You can read many of Ron's musings here:
http://www.travelunderground.org/ind...e-platte.1326/


reposting ron, since you haven't answered yet please take your time:

What training? You were a failure at your Air Force job, self admitted mind you, that is not me talking but direct from your prior communication here. In fact you never answered about your Air Force failures but to say you are great foster parent...? Just share with the group.

You said you only served 15 years thus it seems never made rank fast enough...?
No one does 15 years and gets out if they enjoy the service, which you said you did. You were either RIFted which competent people are not, or you were kicked out. You already said it was not medical. So which is it ron? Why didn't you retire? That is what led to your TSA job as you also said.

You ignore me because I proved you wrong in three straight threads and you had no debate knowledge (your feckless and profane PMs notwithstanding). I understand it can be tough out here in the big world actually looking for facts but share with us more about that training.

What AFSC did you have that gave you this awesome training?
'Tis a simple question even you can answer.

Besides, you don't ignore me on TU...or you don't know it...