Because we have no choice! What part of this do you not understand? Give us an alternative and we will be all over it.

Also, keep in mind that your sarcasm is being directed at your customer base. We go away, your government jobs go away. Try and keep that in mind next time you reply to someone here. Somehow, I just don't get this attitude from any other vendor of services I use. Of course, as I said in my first sentence, with TSA we have no choice. Sort of how the phone company used to be..... maybe you could get Lilly Tomlin as your spokesperson.

xxxxxxx

And I would have the advantage of being able to speak to Him in His native language.

This is without a doubt one of the funniest threads I have ever read. Including Miss Vicky's comments! Thanks to you all.

And I will tell you again I do not work for TSA.....

I forgot the airline industry would fold if you stopped flying�..and flashing your Military ID at TSA check points�.....losing half of the posters here would be what I consider as acceptable losses�..

OP thank you for your explaination.....I appreciate it... ^ I am clear on your point... ^

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I said I could speak to Him in His native language -- not one which enjoyed a brief fad about 2000 years ago.

(Incidentally, even when Jesus spoke to Him, Jesus spoke in Hebrew, not Aramaic.)

We atheists, even Jewish atheists, do tend to be a bit shaky on these details.

If you use the hotline, do not tell Him that you are an athiest. It tends to annoy Him and He has been known to strike your hard drive with bolts of lightning and/or power surges.

I absolutely agree that the TSA's response to Dovster's e-mail was neither timely nor helpful. However, if you are implying that private services providers are inherently more responsive to their clients/customers, you must not be dealing with the companies with whom I do business.

And while, in theory, we choose our private service providers, in practice there are often few or no alternatives. For example, where I live, if you want to fly, you are basically captive to Delta.

Oh, crap. Does this mean that The Pearly Gates have a WTMD? That's it . . . I'm going to Hell.

On purpose.

Where do you live? Inside of the CSG or VLD or ABY airport?

The fact of the matter is that it is not possible to fly on a commercial airline anywhere in the U.S. without dealing with the TSA. It is quite easy to avoid flying on Delta unless you insist on using one of a handful of regional airports.

There are very few regulated monopolies left from which you cannot escape. Even cable can be avoided by using satellite, and local telephone can be avoided by using a cell phone. That leaves you with electricity, water and the Post Office, none of which harrass and threaten its customers on a daily basis like the TSA.

In my particular circumstances flying from a different airport is not feasible.

Let me try to make my points clear.

1. I agree that the TSA needs to make major changes. There needs to be a reevaluation of policies so that screeners can focus on serious potential threats and not be distracted by trivialities. Policies need to be applied consistently in all US airports. TSA personnel need to be screened more carefully before being hired and trained and supervised more carefully afterwards.

2. The above notwithstanding, pre TSA airport security was also riddled with inconsistency, incompetence, and ignorance. (In 1984 I flew from London with my then 5'1", 95 lb., 14 year old daughter. In Newark, she was stopped at the security checkpoint because of the punk-style bracelet and belt she was wearing. Couldn't board until her luggage was pulled off the plane and her "weapons" were packed. Mind you, she'd been wearing them when we passed through security at LGW.)

3. Any time that employees (public or private) are put in positions of power, some of them will be tempted to abuse that power. Hence, the need for screening, training and supervision.

4. In my experience, most large private service providers are no more responsive to customer/client needs that are government agencies. The trend in both private and public sectors to automate, outsource and downsize customer service does not work in the public interest. Given the current shaky financial status of many corporations, it may not serve the long-term corporate interest, either.

5. Sure, I can, for example, have a cell phone and avoid the local provider. But if I get crummy service from either, what have I gained?

Wow, nice way to make friends and influence people.

Then he's not omniscient?