TSA Core values in action!
 

From ECONOMIC POLICY JOURNAL 3/8/2009

An excerpt is below, read the entie article here:

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com...in-action.html
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This is just too priceless not to pass on.

Earlier today, I was on Washington DC's subway system, the Metro. Sitting opposite me was a woman who was wearing a Transportation Security Administration uniform. The TSA shoulder emblem, in addition to the letters TSA, also has the words integrity, innovation and team, on it. Which I could clearly see from across the aisle.

A man sits in the row of seats behind me, he sees the emblem and asks, "What does integrity, innovation and team mean?" She looks at him like he's from another planet.

He points to her shoulder and says, "Your badge."

She says, "That says TSA."

He goes, "No, the words integrity, innovation and team."

She finally looks at the emblem sees the words, and says to him, "I'm not working now, I don't have to tell you anything."

He replies, "Well, you figure you would know what it means. It's on your uniform."

She replies, "I don't have to tell you what I know." But then does tell him, "I have two Masters degrees."

The train stops at her stop, as she passes by him while exiting, she looks at him and says, "Dumb ...."

Some would find this shocking. Not me. I find it dead normal boring and sadly typical of the attitude I see every day. As for having two masters' degrees, ue of the phrase "dumb ..." makes me wonder exactly what pay-us-and-we'll-pass-you online diploma mill she got her "masters degrees" from.

The TSA is a jobs program. If we got actualy security professionals in there, they'd act more professionally. The only sad thing is that this author failed to note her name and number, because this employee of mine (yes, I'm a taxpayer and this reprobate works for me) should be s**tcaned immediately.

I wonder how she did on the TSA's legendarily tight "screening" that lets so many other stellar members of society in to claim their blue shirt and their tin badge

--PP

You know what, I'm riding the Metro. Leave me alone.

TSO was in a public space, dressed like a dork. She was fair game, IMO.

Must have been SSI. :rolleyes:

Is anyone surprised?

Agreed. That's the price you pay for wearing the Clown Costume outside the airport, Comrade.

You know what, I am going to ride as a pax in an airplane. Leave me alone.

...fact is, I believe I overheard the TSA "team" CHEER being practiced:

"Razamatazz and a RAH-RAH-RAH!

We ain't as stupid as they THINK we is!"

Whoever co-signed her student loan application must be pleased with her career path.

Does the TSA have a Tuition Reimbursement program? Because if they do, I think WE might have paid for her education. Sad, isn't it?

Maybe it's time to open a diploma mill for TSA employees? Might help recoup some of those tax losses and continue to give many TSA employees that sense of self-importance. @:-)

"That's Master of Screenology, Sir!"

"I am a Doctor of Securedness, Ma'am. Don't question my ability to access dangerous liquids with an x-ray machine!"

"I had to attend online classes for five days! I didn't graduate until I got it right and my checks cleared! I know my se-cur-i-tah!"

here's to hoping ;) that the attitude presented by the tsa employee doesn't carry over to her work location......:rolleyes:

(spits dist pepsi into keyboard)

WALK AWAY FROM THE LIGHT!!

--PP

If I am on public transport the last thing I want to do is engage in conversation with a random person. I am going to give the TSA sector 7G drone the benefit of the doubt and say she probably just didn't want to talk right then.

Are TSOs supposed to or allowed to wear the uniform on public transit?

If it's the former then I don't really blame her. If it's the latter, then bring clothes to change into! I never wear anything that identifies who I work for. I make fun of people who wear work badges outside of work by greeting them by name...after all, isn't that why they wear it outside work...because they want everyone to know who they are?

The TSO could have easily said "it's our motto, you know how everyone needs a lame motto" instead of pulling the "I have 2 master's degrees" and implying the motto's meaning was SSI.

yes but the last time i looked, my parents raised me to be polite and from the way the article is reported, she was anything but

agreed on all counts

They do in ATL all the time.

Comrade TSA wears them on RTD in Denver. It's like watching a SmurfWalk when RTD pulls up to DIA West. :D

I would have loved to have chimed in, "I have two masters degrees as well. But I use mine for good instead of evil."

I'm also going to sort of cut her a break. I agree she did not handle this well, but likewise if I'm on public transportation & I don't know you I'm not talking either.(Unless I see a yellow Flyertalk tag:D) As far as being in uniform to each his own but for me I will not make a stop in uniform. Strickly to & from work in my car.

Maybe the guy trying to engage her in conversation was a member of the Civilian Spot Team.

Needs more training. Appropriate response to uniformed TSA people outside their domain is to get as far away as possible (changing buses, if necessary) and trying NOT to point and laugh, especially if you are enjoying a beverage. Liquids erupting through your nose can only attract attention...

Integrity thats a laugh as TSA doesnt have any alvin crabtree, TSO caught stealing and selling in excess of 400K of stolen goods are good examples of this.

oooooh wooooow TWO masters degrees to expensive pieces of paper as degrees dont mean much because some of the smartest people i have ever met dont even have a college education and those with degrees have been some of the dumbest people I have met. Im guessing shes the later

^^^

Allowed.

Personally, I never bring a change of clothes, it's just a pain in the butt. I just expect to be left alone.

Though, I will admit she kinda blew it there....

But but but ... I thought TSO's were PROUD to be on the front lines of protecting Americans from those evil terrywrists! Here was a citizen asking more about her work and she treated him with contempt! I thought she would have been proud to evangelize about TSA. :rolleyes:

2 master's degrees and all she can get is a job at TSA? Something's seriously wrong.

I dunno, Superguy, lessee...

One master's degree in Dignity,

One in Respect...

And one in Stupid...

THAT'S two, right?

According to TSA-math, it's 3.4 :p

That was my first assumption about the subjects of her master's degrees.

Well, if asking about her shoulder emblem was the best pick up line the guy could come up with, he wasn't the brightest star in the sky.