An
about.com writer has a skeptical take on airport security:
Summer travel approacheth, and this question will arise if you haven't traveled before or lately: will you walk through a full body imaging scanner at the airport? Personally, if I wanted TSA agents to check out my birthday suit, I'd invite 'em to the hot springs. Since I don't have the urge to do that, I don't walk through the backscatter Xray machines, but opt for the patdown which is sometimes just that -- a pat here and there -- and sometimes a more intimate squeezing than one might expect on, say, a date.
The backscatter (a term which applies to the radiation method used) machines -- also called body imaging -- transmits photos of more than a body's outline to a TSA agent in a remote (50-100 feet away) area. If one chooses the walk of shame through the backscatter scanner, know that the TSA agent viewing the images has complete authority to save them and print them (though the TSA swears that will only happen if one poses a threat to national security). On the other hand, some folks think the backscatter machines keep them safe (evidence shows otherwise, but...). So, what will you do?
They should defund TSA entirely. TSA is a useless organization interested only in growing its size and scope while providing security theater as an excuse for its existence. NTEU couldn’t care less about airline safety and is only interested in collecting dues from TSA screeners. The opinion of this shill for the NTEU on airport security is ludicrous and no responsible journalist would include her biased comments.
ReplyDeleteI trust that the current debt crisis will necessitate that Senate Democrats approve these cut or risk being demonized in the press and by their Republican counterpart. TSA is most reviled of all Federal agencies and public opinion will not view fully funding TSA favorably when other more popular programs are suffering.
The most sensible approach would be to abolish TSA entirely and assign airport security to the FAA, an agency that actually knows something about air travel. This would eliminate redundant management and administrative roles, improve efficiency, lower costs and provide a more cohesive air travel system.