I am really sick of listening to the complaints about body scanners, intrusive pat downs and the general pissing and moaning about airport security.
Suddenly, now that Bush and his fearmongering cronies are not on air every day keeping the fear level up, everyone wants to complain about airport security. No, I am not enthusiastic about getting a full body scan, or a pat down, but I seriously doubt that these activities are raising the purient interests of TSA workers who have to carry out scans and pat downs. I'm sure they are not getting up each morning enthusiastic about caressing fat men, little old ladies and snot nosed brats, and if they get a little amusement out of viewing an x-ray image of my sagging boobies, who the hell cares? I will, in all probability, never see this person again.
If another incident happens and a plane falls out of the sky as a result, I can predict the pissing and moaning about how the Obama Administration was lax in protecting us from all the terrors that we were warned about by Bush and Co. since 9/11.
I am never disappointed by the propensity of my fellow Americans to complaint about one thing or another. Suck it up and get over it. There are all sorts of options for getting from one place to the other. Flying is more convenient, but if you don't want to put up with the tightened security, let Greyhound do the driving for you! One or two experiences with a snoring slob on your shoulder for 12 hours should cure you of any airport aversions that you now have. Peace.
My biggest complaint with the TSA monkeys is not the scanners, but really stupid and ineffective shit like being forced to take my shoes off and the "random" enhanced screenings where they make you empty your carry-on bags contents so they can go through them.
ReplyDeleteLast trip coming back from D.C. they made me throw away a small bottle of mouth wash, but a phillips head screw driver that I had picked up at the trade show and forgot about having in my bag passed through.
Plus also they pulled me aside for the nudie scan. I had no prob with that, other than they should have a monitor there so I can see what I look like on it too.
There is also no room for complaints like with any other service. You get smart with one of the idiots with a power trip going on and you end up in an "interview room", even if they know goddam good and well you are not a terrorist.
Just more of the bullshit. They think they can appear to be effective on security by inconveniencing the hell out of everyone.
If they were effective, it would be worth the extra trouble we all go through. However, not many times have I flown without some type of protection. Once they even handed it back to me and I walked on the plane with an item in my hand that was far worse than mouthwash or deodorant. I was writing when I got to the scanner area and so I dropped it in the little basket and they handed it back on the other side. I put on my shoes and then continued to write. You might think what can a pen do, but it was a smith and Wesson tactical pen. I carry them all the time and so I thought nothing of it. I've even gone into the court house with it in my purse without thinking to remove it and nothing was said.
ReplyDeleteSo how are we really safe? They make all kinds of things that look like one thing, but double as other things. Stop and think about all that gets past on that next flight your on and see if you really feel any safer. What did the person sitting near you get on with? Do they have something that is maybe a weapon in disguise?
Safe, only if we keep ourselves safe. That's really the bottom line.
*Don't try getting on with items you shouldn't have. Double check so you don't lose what you enjoy.*
As someone already mentioned, there are other options. Most of the time I drive. A couple of weeks ago, I took the train. I anticipated it would be a little inconvenient especially since the tracks were out part of the way and that portion of the trip had to be by bus. Turns out, the bus was the most comfortable part of the trip. And, the train allowed me to get a great deal of work done. Seats were spacious, employees were polite, had lots of legroom, etc.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago, I loved flying. Getting to the airport an hour early, the absolute lack of courteousy of employees,exposure to radiation, and being packed together tighter than sardines with the great unwashed..........Well, I'll take the train any time I can.
I just heard on the Stephanie Miller show, that the body scanners can confuse a tampon string with a bomb fuse.
ReplyDeleteLOL. How would you like to be the TSA monkey that would have to check that out?