TSA
While you wait in line to get on the ride Disney makes you feel like its a Stars Wars TSA checkpoint
"The second room of the queue is now a security check area, similar to a TSA checkpoint. The two G-series droids are still there, G2-9T scanning luggage and G2-4T scanning passengers."
Something I just don't understand, why the TSA is the only Govt Dept that seems tasked to completely eliminate deaths. As you can see in the report below the US DOT is very pleased that vehicle fatalities are the lowest EVER and yet still 32,708 people DIED in 2010. That's more than the total population of the small town I grew up in here in Texas. US DOT doesn't invade our privacy with naked body scanners or enacted draconian security measures that even a stupid mad man could bypass at yet deaths still happen.
As Rep John Mica reminded everyone, airports are not required by law to use the TSA for screening. They can actually run the process themselves. While the TSA might have the right to choose which airports can 'opt-in' to the TSA Screening Partnership Program (SPP), the problem is the TSA has now decided that airports can not 'opt-out'. Its Hotel California; TSA style.
Seriously. I am not making this up. In fact I don't know where to start but reading the lastest TSA blog left me shaking my head once again. Its titled "A Friendly Suggestion on Products Designed to Conceal Sensitive Areas" and is in reference to male and female underwear that is now available that blocks the AIT naked body scanners from seeing your genitals. Being that they are underwear the blocking is limited to well only your genitals.
A 50 year old pilot had his licensed handgun taken away pending a review. His crime? He exposed on YouTube that while flight crews and passengers get screened, ground crews only get their ID cards scanned. Just more security theater from the TSA.
Check out this video from News 10 KXTV with has an interview of the pilot.
Long before pat downs and body scanners I would laugh at the TSA's protocols and say its was merely there to make grandparents feel safe. Today they call that Security Theater. According to wikipedia, "Security theater" is a term that describes security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security. Honestly we all live with and accept risk in our everyday lives.
So despite the fact that the TSA fails to stop loaded guns from being carried onboard a plane they insist on the need to spend billions of dollars on naked body scanners.
A retired surgeon from Oklahoma, was tired of constantly being patted down by the TSA because she used a wheelchair. So she thought if she only wore her underwear it would make the TSA's job even easier. Wrong. They detained her for an hour and patted her pretty much naked body down twice just to make sure. Of course I haven't gone through the extensive training TSA agent's receive but maybe, just maybe, a half naked wheelchair bound older white female isn't where you should focus an hour of your day. Just throwing it out there as a suggestion.
Note: The media says that he may not have actual ties with an Islamic terror organization, in this article I will call him a terrorist simply for his murderous plans to crash a plane with 133 passengers.
I travel through an airport almost weekly and while I think 90% of the TSA rules and processes are just "Security Theater" to make grandma feel safe, I have pretty much put up with it all.
