Instead, think of this. Whether they are necessary or not, the TSA can use them. They can pat you down respectfully, or it can turn into groping. It might not--but it might. They can get an image of your naked body. They might treat this respectfully, and the image might not be saved. But it might.
It all really all depends on what the TSA does, as an institution, and what those individual agents do. You have no ability to determine the outcome.
You can rage and vent and film the episode on your iPhone. You can write to your congressman and call a talk-show to complain.
But, ultimately, they can do what they want, and you will do what they want, or you will not fly, or you will go to jail or pay a fine.
They have all the power. We hope they will use it well, but can't do anything about it.
Now, consider the healthcare situation.
The government will be able to call the shots. Hopefully, they will be prudent and humane. Hopefully they will be efficient. Hopefully they will not play favorites.
But it all depends on what they do--we have no power in this situation.
Is this good? Is this wise? Will it really lead to a better life for people?
A government that can mandate an hourly employee to touch your genitals and inspect your naked body is a government that can do pretty much anything it wants. We can hope it will use that power wisely. But, unless things change, hoping is really all we can do.
Is that a tenable situation? Does history and a knowledge of human nature give us reason to think our hopes will be validated?
As for the pat down situation. I have for years opted to be pat down due to the fact that I have this weird thing about walking on the nasty floor at the airport. I let them know that I prefer to be pat down. When we flew out of Seattle this past summer for the first time it cause an uproar. Apparently the TSA officer had no clue what to do. The Supervisor told her just to pat me down and wand my shoes then put them in the xray machine.
ReplyDeleteThe pat down they use is exactly what we use in law enforcement. The agents should not linger over any area for any significant, unless there is cause ie: they found a weapon.
I would much rather go through a pat down than the scanners. I am in a high risk group for cancer no sense is pushing it. If I remember correctly I thought I heard or read that the TSA agents had to go through special training for the new pat down method. There is a different between someone doing a proper pat down and someone feeling your private parts. I correct pat down does NOT include groping or cupping private parts it is done the the edge of your hand, think of it as a holding your hand like your going to make a puppet shadow dog. And women should NEVER be pat down by a male TSA officer nor should a male be pat down by a female officer.
I would actually like to see TSA agents fall under a branch of local or federal law enforcement then there would be a guarantee of proper training and recourse for citizens that feel they have been "violated". Actually sworn officers are bound to uphold the laws and constitution of the state and nation, TSA agents/officers are not.
Lynne