Is the TSA going too far?

[TorontoTrekker]

I came across this earlier tonight on Facebook, and it seems a propos:

The crap we put up with getting on and off an airplane - The Oatmeal

 

[Lindley]

When you buy a ticket, it's an informed choice. You are at that point accepting that you maybe searched. It's that simple. You have accepted it. You don't need a warrant for such occassions. You are saying, I accept that you may need to search me for the safety of everyone.

If you don't want to be searched, scanned, whatever, don't buy the ticket. Is that simple enough for you to understand?

Mr Awe

Except that you are entering an agreement with a private company (the airline), and yet you may be searched by a government entity (TSA). Therein lies the gray area. Does the government have the right to interpose itself into a private transaction?

Airports however are not private institutions. They are government owned entities so airlines cannot have free reign to make their own policies within an airport.

Lots of airports actually are private; however, I'll grant that most of the big ones are public institutions.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

It's really disgusting how people are just tolerating it like the lemmings they are.

In the grand scheme of things I just don't see it as a big deal. Stupid and ineffective, sure, but certainly not any sort of major violation of civil rights worth screaming about and threatening to have people arrested.

 

[Trekker4747]

It's really disgusting how people are just tolerating it like the lemmings they are.

In the grand scheme of things I just don't see it as a big deal. Stupid and ineffective, sure, but certainly not any sort of major violation of civil rights worth screaming about and threatening to have people arrested.

You see no problem with the government forcing you into either being irradiated or being groped by a stranger just so you can "feel safe" traveling across your own country?

Then you are part of the problem America has right now. People shrugging over stuff like this and letting it move on.

 

[Leviathan]

Bah. Primitive scanning technology won't do squat.

Now a REAL system would simply have you step into a sealed chamber that would automatically detonate any explosives on your person.

Plus you can sell the videos for profit.

 

[Trekker4747]

I really think that before too long there'll be a "waiting period" to take a flight. You'll have to book a flight no less than two weeks in advance to allow for background checks and such to ensure there's nothing shady about you. And then you'll still have to come to the airport -which will have a fairly strict dress code for what you can and cannot wear onto the plane to ease security check- and go through the body scanner and maybe even the pat-down too. Your luggage will also be searched item by item.

Extreme? I don't think so if things keep heading the direction things are going. There'll likely be a progression of stops between "here" and "there" but at some point in the name of "security" and "safety" (which is neither but a nice presentation of such) but in the future traveling by air will involve you sitting in a plane dressed in a plain white shirt and pants, looking like a Mormon in his temple, required to keep your hands in plain view at all times and you'll have to call the flight-attendant to get permission to use the lav.

No carry on luggage allowed period.

But, hey, we'll look SAFE!

As LoB said above if the point of TSA is to make me not want to bother with taking a flight anywhere they've won. Without some major changes in the way TSA and airport security operates I won't fly anywhere ever again.

 

[Kestra]

I'm pretty easygoing about rules and regulations and I go along with a lot, especially in the name of safety. But I have to admit this makes me pretty uncomfortable. Especially because I think we're moving into territory where the trade-off isn't worth it.

 

[JarodRussell]

Except that you are entering an agreement with a private company (the airline), and yet you may be searched by a government entity (TSA). Therein lies the gray area. Does the government have the right to interpose itself into a private transaction?

Airports however are not private institutions. They are government owned entities so airlines cannot have free reign to make their own policies within an airport.

Lots of airports actually are private; however, I'll grant that most of the big ones are public institutions.

Private or not, why should they be allowed to do anything they want. If you want to buy a product in a shop and the shop owner insists on frisking you every time, there'd certainly be not only the choice: don't go there, there'd also be the option: sue them.

And while we're at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh3pnsUs4mE

 

[Nowhere Man]

^ Nice.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I would submit to a groping TSA search every single time if I could specify that I only wanted it from someone of the opposite sex.

It sounds like I'm being snarky, but I'm dead serious. I would submit to it every time.

for the record, I fit the "profile" of people who would be searched if they took up the sort of profile republicans are insisting the draconian search should be limited.