Activism
 

Food for thought: Let's stop whining and do something purposeful. IMHO bureaucrats and security flunkies are not going to change their behavior until a) they are shamed into doing the right thing, b) there is appropriate and objective oversight of their processes, or c) there is no more risk.

Since (c) is not going to happen anytime soon, we need to deal with (a) and (b). First (a).

It's apparently illegal to photograph TSA personnel doing/not doing their jobs, so that's a non-starter. It would be great if we could get old-style 60 Minutes video of these misguided morons misinterpreting shoe policy, but I get the distinct impression that anyone who tries to do it will face a big expensive legal problem.

No matter what we say or write, the TSA is "in charge" of everything that happens at a security checkpoint and you're gonna go to jail if you challenge them, and you have zero realistic recourse...nonetheless, here are some things we could do:

1) Perhaps we could organize a signage campaign at shoe carnival airports in the area outside security. Tasteful, well-done signs indicating that the TSA doesn't follow SOP at this airport, a box full of official complaint forms, or even an FF volunteer helping passengers to understand how thick their soles are.... We can turn the carnival into a circus....and potentially attract media attention to the problem in the "safe" zone without violating any laws.

2) Schedule a day when all FFs traveling through shoe carnival airports force secondary screening "en masse". EVerybody participating paints a pair of SOP-compliant shoes fluorescent orange and refuses to remove them. Slow up the lines, and delay, cancel or send some flights out empty. It's legal, it's civil, and it will attract legitimate attention after the lines extend out the building. Also a good day to burn some FF miles for a good cause. We could be very public about what we're doing, too.

3) Better yet, do it at DCA on a day when Senate and House members are bugging out for vacation. Remember when Teddy Kennedy got put on the No-Fly list?

Now for (b):

Let's ask for representation on TSA/DHS oversight board. We don't need a PAC, we need some Senators and House Members on the right committees who fly commercial and are willing to listen. Let's find out who they are, and give them a very specific agenda... Let's get them to schedule hearings and hear testimony. I don't think DHS/TSA wants more visibility -- we can get them to be more reasonable.

There's a reporter for the Star-Ledger in New Jersey who has been writing about some of the TSA stupidity at EWR. I think his last name is Marsico. I'd urge anyone who goes through the shoe carnival at EWR to contact him and ask him to investigate what goes on there.

Any television investigative reporter could get a camera into the airport under cover and photograph a carnival.

We have to push them to do it, but if enough requests are made, it would happen.

It is not illegal to photograph checkpoints or baggage pods located in the lobby since these are "public view" areas. It is illegal to interfere with screeners performing their duties and illegal to photograph x-ray screens. Other than that, you can click away. By the way, I find your use of the term "misguided morons" somewhat offensive and childish. Try to be an adult when expressing your thoughts and ideas. Read the TOS Agreement.

Actually, I agree with this. As I've posted in this forum on other occasions, TSA screeners are acting within the law even when they find illegal drugs and notify law enforcement. Something that your fellow travellers seem to disagree with. Nonetheless, I agree with the idea of an oversight committee because TSA screening should be subject to scrutiny to make sure that it does not stray away from its intended purpose.

I'd encourage you to do the same. What the TOS forbids are personal insults. So, calling screeners, at an arbitrary checkpoint misguided morons isn't the most pleasant thing, but it isn't personal. Referring to another FTer as 'childish' is.