Do you think TSA is getting out of control?

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Jan 12, 2008 | 4:05 pm

#16

Global_Hi_Flyer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Cholula

To be honest, I do believe that some...if not the majority....of the individual screeners feel they are doing something positive to protect us. And probably some of the TSA/DHS management feel the same way.

That is absolutely true. Most folks in government think they're protecting us or helping us in some way.

Unfortunately, most are disconnected from reality - especially those inside the beltway. Unfortunately, they are no longer looked upon as being in a noble profession... instead, it's become them against us.

Too bad, really, but that's what bureaucracies do. It's all about paper.

Jan 12, 2008 | 5:12 pm

#17

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer

That is absolutely true. Most folks in government think they're protecting us or helping us in some way.

Unfortunately, most are disconnected from reality - especially those inside the beltway.

"Terrorist 'chatter' " is like a Rorshach test - one hears what one wants to hear out of it. Steeling one's self in a Manachean (read: paranoid) mindset for a long time, looking for "problems" to confront, with a need to justify the ever-expanding "security" bureaucracy, results in security-by-"gut feeling".

The world of myriad plotters aching to blow up airliners becomes one's "reality" if fixated upon long enough ... refilling 6 oz toothpaste tubes (though NOT two 3 oz ones!) and cleverly mixing the contents with those of seal-intact .5 L Arrowhead water bottles in airside (if not midair) lavatories for hours under far from ideal conditions becomes a "grave risk", rather than a highly remote possibility (at best).

I don't believe it's about politics (at this point, though it may have been in the past), but that Those Who Make Policy are caught in a delusion from which they cannot be pried for months to come.

Jan 12, 2008 | 5:57 pm

#18

bzbdewd

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy1369

I noticed that lately, TSA seems to be kind of getting a bit out of control. I wonder why, as there hasn't been any threats to aviation lately.

Here's what I've observed:

2001: Private security - very, very strict after 9/11
2002: TSA took over, very strict too, more consisent, limited scope, IDs required
2003: Breast groping controvosy, a bit loosened up but still very strict, CAPPS II scandal
2004: Loosen up a bit
2005: " " "
2006: Loosen up considerably; tightens up somewhat again with the liquid ban
2007: Tightens up quite a bit; ID checks, SPOT gaining monetum, getting new uniforms resembling police officers' uniforms, longer lines, increased gate checks, proposing Secure Flight again
2008: ??? (REAL ID, but that's DHS's decision, not specifically TSA; and battery controvosy; but blame FAA & DOT, not TSA)

It seems to me that TSA is kind of returning to the old days when things were more strict. Compare that to 2005 and 2006 (until the liquid ban), when TSA was more neutral - didn't do ID checks, SPOT (a few airports only in sensitive areas), and was pretty much primarily only for screening passengers. Now, TSA seems to be becoming more strict like after 9/11 - but I could be wrong. Do you think TSA is more or less strict than when it was first implemented?

And, if you agree with my assessment, why do you think that is, especially if it's been a while since 9/11? What caused TSA to be more strict now?

Getting out of control?? no I'd say they've been there for quite some time...... getting worse? Yes I'd say they are.

Jan 12, 2008 | 7:13 pm

#19

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They're no worse than any of the other alphabet agencies filled with unemployable bureaucrats. They wouldn't exist if Clinton's NSA hadn't refused to take Bin Laden from the Sudanese in '96, or if Bush's FBI hadn't ignored the Phoenix Memo.

Sad thing is we're foolishly taking off shoes, getting carded like 18 year olds at a college bar, and being subjected to lame "if you see something" posters, yet Osama is moving around Pakistan more freely than we can move around IAD.