TSA intimidates children
 

Another example of the why the TSA needs to have oversight and be accountable. The actions in this article by the TSA personnel disgusts me.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,6521789.story

This is a letter by an uninformed person. A male TSA would not be able to do a pat down on a female of any age in the US. Also, a six year old would not have to go through a pat down without an adult present. I don't even know why a six year old would be selected. To be honest, I don't think a six year old should be flying as an UM but that is OT. My four year old goes through security an average of four times a month and the TSA has been in general respectful, kind and sweet to her. I've seen the TSA treat children MUCH better than adults.

That is quite true, my baby sister is respected (for the most part) when we go through security.

Read it again - "Wearing shorts and a blouse, barefoot, she stood spread-eagle while an agent ran her hands over the girl's body."

Of course it never happened. Screeners never deviate from the SOP. The guy simply made the whole thing up. Yes ?

I saw a TSO document checker talking with a child at the checkpoint once. Probably asking him his name since he didn't have ID, and has been heard on the board, they do that sometimes with children. It really annoyed me. It looked like something out of communist russia.

On a lighter note, this post on the comments section of that article made me laugh:

"Last time I had a similar experience with TSA. I was asked "Do you ever like to watch Gladiator movies?"

I thought that was a bit odd. "

they did this to my cousin on tuesday morning...only i answered for her, and grabbed her, and we walked right thru :D

This is so so wrong & on the side I've seen children in tears thanks to TSA non sense.

This says volumes, doesn't it?

Congratulations, Kippie and Skeletor -- your intimidation and social engineering programs have been a success.

I read the very brief, uninformative article, and I don't see the big deal. So the girl had a patdown, by a female TSO...that's what TSO's do. Without knowing all the info here, it is hard to draw any conclusions.

Cee, do you honestly believe that it's necessary or appropriate to pat down a child?

Please don't respond with the standard TSA line that terrorists have been know to use children as weapons.

I don't think it's necessary to pat anyone down. I'm not a fan of the TSA patdowns, believe me. But realistically if they're going to keep up the farce, they can't exclude kids from random searches. If anyone's going to smuggle something on board, the ideal place to do it is in the clothing of their kids, the ones least likely to be searched.

Back in my retail days, I saw plenty of women caught shoplifting because they'd stuffed a small, expensive item into their baby carrier or down their kid's pants. If adults are going to do something unethical/illegal, they won't hesitate to drag their kids into it.

I'm no fan of the TSA, but personally I believe that if anyone is going to be subjected to their nonsense, then EVERYONE should be subject to their nonsense.

Under 18s need no ID, and for six days now we have been told that "All Those With No ID" are the worst of the worst by the Toddler Scaring Agency blog squad. By definition now, the IDless are all criminals until proven otherwise. So all under 18's will be SSSS.

OTOH, the TSA must have hired some consultants in Classical Conditioning to advise how to raise the next generation as sheeple. Easy, "scare em often and start em young" to Respect/Fear everyone with a Badge and submit to the Au-tho-rah-tay of Badge Wearers who say "Papers Please and spread em". By the time this girl is 30, she will no longer cry or object, just meekly SUBMIT to the Homeland Security Badges whenever and whereever she encounters them. :td:

I was composing a response to this effect but you said it better. Thanks.

Which is why I continue to be amazed that no one demands that every single member of the executive branch, traveling with or without a detail, should be required to go through the same security procedure as anyone else. Chertoff, et al - ANYONE flying commercial, members of Congress, etc. should be required to go through the line.

Unless and until government officials have to experience the same thing we do, nothing is going to change. If you're traveling with a detail, then let them show their credentials, but make the elected official, administration official or whatever go through just like the rest of us.

Until that happens, nothing changes.