This is our glorious TSA in action - prepare to be outraged!

[Hugabear]

http://cbs2chicago.com/investigations/xrated.security.screenings.2.777423.html

<snip>
For arguing with a TSA agent, Robin Kassner wound up being slammed to the floor. She's filed a lawsuit.

"I kept begging them over and over again get off of me ... and they wouldn't stop," Kassner said.
...
In Chicago, people like Robert Perry are subjected to exhaustive security checks. He was patted down, his wheel chair was examined and his hands were swabbed, all in public view in a see-through room at the security checkpoint. Perry, 71, is not alone

"He yelled at me to get the belt off. 'I told you to get the belt off.' So I took the belt off. He ran his hands down over and pulled the pants down, they went down around my ankle," Perry said.

At that point, Perry was standing in his underwear in public view. He asked to see a supervisor. That made things worse.

"She was yelling 'I have power, I have power, I have power," Perry said. The power to stop him from flying to Florida with his wife that day to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
<snip>

It's time to put a stop to this goddamned nonsense! This has NOTHING to do with preventing terrorism, and EVERYTHING to do with some power-tripping egotistical maniacs wielding their newfound power.

[malaise]

1. They gave me a public pat down yesterday

for one metal button on my jeans. It's truly disgusting.

[Lugnut]

57. I'm glad I don't have to fly.

If I did I'd be in big trouble for refusing to put up with this nonsense.

[lib2DaBone]

2. Largest Agency Ever Created

Created by "Small Govt" Republicans... the largest and most expensive agency in the history of the U.S.

[Truth4Justice]

51. Someone remind me just why we fought a cold war with the USSR again?

[truedelphi]

71. Well don't you get it - the Russians had such a struggling

Economy that millions of them had to live with relatives in small cramped housing.

There were many stores that had few items on their shelves -and even worse, people couldn't afford the few items that were on those shelves.

In the winter, the people scrounged for wood and bits of burnable debris to keep their homes heated.

Their government spied on them, and if they did the wrong things or thought the wrong things, they were taken from their homes and sent off to work camps.

At least we don't have to worry about that scenario here!! <Do I need to mention sarcasm??>

[Dr.Phool]

3. I got home from a flight Sunday evening.

I opened the suitcase (checked baggage) Monday morning. There was the note that they had been in my bag.

They took my fucking razor.

[Hugabear]

5. I got one better than that

I know a guy who had to take a flight last week. Even though his bag had a zipper compartment that any 2-year old could have figured out (how hard is it to unzip something), they took a fucking knife and CUT his bag open.

[MrMonk]

14. Been there

On my way back from Germany (10/2001), someone took a knife to my duffel (checked baggage), cut open the end compartment, which was accessible by a very obvious zipper, took away my carrying strap and the (unlocked) locking belt that I used to keep the duffel closed during handling. They didn't have to do that. (This might have been done at Frankfurt, I wouldn't know.)

I also had a wand darn near shoved into my ass during a frisk at the Frankfurt airport, so it's not just the U.S.

[tanyev]

8. My luggage came with little padlocks hanging off the zippers.

I never used them; don't know if I ever even had the key. They just dangled off of one of the zippers, harming no one. Two times (one for each suitcase) I have discovered a note from TSA in my luggage that they were forced to cut the lock off so they could inspect the contents. They couldn't see that the lock was only attached to one zipper and would have in no way prevented them from opening the suitcase? Oh well, saved me the trouble of trying to take the lock off.

[DCKit]

11. I'd throw my toothbrush away if I were you. n/t

[OnyxCollie]

13. TSA broke our lanterns, flashlights, etc.

We flew into Utah with all our camping gear. When we had a chance to go through all our stuff, we found that TSA had broken our lantern, turned on the flashlights (killing the batteries), and unscrewed one of our flashlights, bent the LED inside (breaking it), and screwed it back together.

[intheflow]

34. From a checked bag?

:wtf: Did they think you were going to access the baggage compartment, maybe through the lavatory? I thought that was the purpose of checking bags--to be able to bring stuff you can't bring in carry-on luggage, :crazy:

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[alarimer]

45. I assume this was checked baggage?

How is a razor in a checked bag a danger? I hate the TSA.

[dipsydoodle]

4. There are issues in the UK too

Terror police detain disabled boy


Julie Maynard, of Ware, Hertfordshire, was taking a day trip to Calais through the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent.

The detective constable accused Ms Maynard and her husband Leslie Coombs of trafficking her son Joshua, 12.
>
The family were then detained under the Terrorism Act and said they were surrounded by "at least 10 police officers" who ordered them to get out of their car.
>
She said officers had told the family they had powers to hold them for up to nine hours under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act, but they were released after more than two hours.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7520598.stm

[Tracer]

6. ONLY 110,000 abuse complaints?

And they brag about that?!?

[hootinholler]

26. I suspect many are intimidated out of complaining.

If you are a frequent flier and complain, what list will your name end up on? Even the suspicion of that happening will suppress a lot of complaints.

I will not fly with these goons in charge. I'm tempted to attempt flying naked, that will teach them! It won't be pretty.

-Hoot

[Hekate]

62. I didn't file a complaint against the fascist gang that took my luggage apart&humiliated me to tears

Five people at once were just using me to practice on, you know? Because I had a one-way ticket due to a family emergency. I had to stand with my arms outstretched while they examined and commented on every item in my one piece of luggage. Any movement got the barked command to remain in place.

I wouldn't fly any more either, but my family is scattered across the country and driving or trains takes days and days.

I didn't used to get panic attacks connected with flying, either. I hate TSA beyond words to tell it, and I want my country back.

Hekate

[Toucano]

7. The wrong people have the power.

They will always abuse it.

[remember2000forever]

9. It All Started Becoming HUGE, when poor people were offered decent wages

By working for TSA. In Miami, my husbands cousins, who were waitresses, were delighted to get off the poverty scale. In this economy, who could blame them. This thing has snowballed into a Huge Juggernaut!

[leveymg]

43. What happen when they all have to be laid off, after the federal gov't goes bankrupt?

They have a lot of knowledge of dangerous things, and will make formidible terrorists.

[Truth4Justice]

53. Never thought I would wish someone would get laid off but I make exception for TSA goons.

[indepat]

10. My seventyish wife in a wheel chair was patted down for a good 15 minutes at BNA, causing us to

arrive at the gate after the boarding of our flight had commenced: she took this virulent outrage in much better humor than I who was dumbfounded at this nonsensical 'pukedness run amok in the extreme accomplishing nothing but harrassing the home folks at enormous societal cost. :grr: :D

[opihimoimoi]

12. This crap has been going on for a longer time than we realize...for this one reason I hate to fly

and I know others feel the same...we fly only if we HAVE to

I know I know, we are not helping the economy....but I say fuck it.

BTW..those agents should get fired and jail time as a lesson to other agents who should recieve Humane Treatment for the passengers...

fucking assholes are power mad.

[lpbk2713]

15. And they wonder why the airlines are going belly up?

I'll hitch hike before I put up with that shit.

"We are from the government and we are here to help you." :rofl:

BushCo deserves to go down in the history books as the worst
disaster ever perpetrated on the entire planet.

[ReverendDeuce]

16. "Security theater" is alive and well... LOL

"Security theater has been defined as ostensible security measures which have little real influence on security whilst being publicly visible and designed to demonstrate to the lesser-informed that countermeasures have been considered. Security theater has been related to and has some similarities with superstition."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater

[elehhhhna]

17. I had to throw away a lighter, but the guy in front of me, with a chain saw in a box,

got through. Not making this up.

Happened at IAH in Houston.

[EnviroBat]

18. I will not fly any fucking airlines.

I have serious anger management issues, and if I were treated like that, I'd punch some asshole right in the mouth. I'd be whisked off to Gitmo for that. So, it's better I don't tempt fate.

[formercia]

19. I've had it happen to me.

All of the waiting passengers gawking like it's some geek show.

[Chulanowa]

20. I get super-searched every time...

'Course, I'm a well-tanned 20-odd guy who wears a beard..

Had one of my bags cut open. A real nice leather bag, had it full of books from Atlanta. When the plane landed in seattle, the entire panel of the top had been cut away, then replaced with DUCT TAPE... I lost half my books. But they left me a nice note about the locks on my zippers. Even though I'd never had any there...

[AlCzervik]

21. and every airport seems to have different rules, one place you take off your belt, at another

airport you don't, some airports take your fing ziplock bag out and look at the bottles, some airports they don't. There is no consistency and imo most this bullshit is just window dressing to make people think that checking my shampoo bottle will thwart a terrorist attack. The whole system is absurb and ineffective.

[crimsonblue]

30. yes!

as we all know, forcing people to use 3 oz bottles will prevent dangerous chemicals and compounds from making it into the plane... oh wait, they could just use multiple 3 oz bottles. Doh!

[MorningGlow]

33. And it all stemmed from a bogus "terra-ist plot"

That 3 oz. bottle rule was implemented because of that alleged terra-ist plot where the five or so swarthy guys were going to pig-pile into a bathroom on the plane and combine their chemicals into a bomb. Are they fucking kidding? I was just on a plane a couple of weeks ago, and I had a hell of a time fitting into the bathroom to help my 4 YO!

Just like how that one idiot tried to set his shoes on fire and now we all have to take our shoes off. :eyes:

[AlCzervik]

37. yup and now i can once again I can take a lighter on board. You know the funny thing about

the ban on lighters and matches that was reversed, when it was still in effect i was flying home from Las Vegas and i was just about to chuck my lighter when this women tells me if i put in my pocket i could get through with no problems so i figured i'd try and if they found it they'd just make me throw it away. Ok so in goes the bic into my pants pocket, i go through with no problem at all, it was just that easy thus proving that was another window dressing only rule.

[MorningGlow]

38. But my aunt is still grousing about our trip last year

For some reason--she either forgot or she was lazy and thought she could get away with it--she put her two bottles of Victoria's Secret lotion (ka-ching $$) in her carryon, and of course they confiscated them. She was pissed off the rest of the day, and will rant about it even now if you dare to bring it up. But of course we need to be vigilant, as terra-ists often disguise their toxic volatile chemicals with a vanilla scent. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[intheflow]

35. Yes.

I thought it was 6 ounce bottles, so had a 4 ounce bottle of contact lens solution. When I went to throw it away, the TSA attendant next to the trash barrel said the 3oz rule doesn't apply to contact lens solution because it's considered a medication. Riiiight. No one could ever pop the top off one of those plastic bottles and fill it with something nasty. :eyes:

[intheflow]

36. No kidding!

I've been to airports that don't require you to remove your shoes in the TSA line, others that wave people through even though they've beeped going to the metal detector. And those puff scanner machines? Supposed to identify explosives? I suppose it's all fine in tiny airports where there's only one line to get to the flight gates. But it's completely voluntary at every metropolitan airport I've been to--like someone packing explosives couldn't just chose to get in a different line. You are right on that it's all for show--just a waste of taxpayer money that does nothing to increase the actual security of air travel.

[tblue37]

56. They take my cane away from me to X-ray it, while I am supposed to walk through the metal detector

without it. Why can't they hand it back to me after X-raying it and let me use it to walk through the metal detector?

[intheflow]

60. They're probably afraid that after hassling you

you'll knock them over the head if they hand your cane back to you. :silly: In reality, if they're that worried that your cane is still packing after they've checked it with their various detectors, they could have a 100% plastic cane to give you. But then that might require compassion, and I swear they take some of these folks and train them to be devoid of empathy or compassion--or even see the travelers as human. :(

[Flying Dream Blues]

22. How is it possible so many of us have been in a near constant state of outrage

since at least 9/11 and yet have not been able to do anything, even with a "Democratic" Congress? That's what I can't get over. And these airport capos really take the cake. Some are extremely nice, but others are just inferiority complexes run amok with powerlust.

[gateley]

24. "...others are just inferiority complexes run amok with powerlust."

I think you're assessment is right on.

[Truth4Justice]

54. These goons are like the police: some are decent people and some are slimey dirtbags on a power-trip

[AwakeAtLast]

23. As less people fly because of this, the airlines lose more money

Why haven't the airlines themselves taken any action? They are the ones who lose out on the business. :shrug:

[Grinchie]

58. Because Bush and the Congress Bought the Airlines after Bailing them out after 9/11

Now the dismal reality of Fascism and lies is coming home to roost, and they can't do a thing about it, because there is no more money.

[chemenger]

25. Isn't there some sort of legal recourse a person can take

against the TSA for damaging personal property? Especially if a pattern of such abuse can be demonstrated.

TSA - Totally Shitheaded Assholes - absolutely fucking useless bureaucracy

[barbtries]

65. i doubt it

they'll say you sacrificed your suitcase in the interests of national security. pfft

[TexasObserver]

27. TSA should be disbanded entirely.

It's so bad, so incompetent, so abusive of power that it cannot be saved. It should be ended and the people who work for it should not be allowed to work in government or travel again.

It wasn't the lack of security that caused 9-11. It was Bush, Cheney, Condi, and Ashcroft actively refusing to take any measures in 2001 to respond to the thousands of indicators that an attack was coming.

[crimsonblue]

31. lockable and reinforced cockpit doors

would have made 9/11 impossible to perpetrate.

[eppur_se_muova]

44. As Gore recommended, and airlanes spent million$$$ lobbying against just that ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2807467&mesg_id=2807467

I know I've seen other posts with more details, but can't seem to locate them in Expert Search ...

[treestar]

46. Exactly, heck 911 made 911 impossible to try again

Even on Flight 93 they knew not to go along with it and expect to land somewhere and be treated as hostages! Passengers and crew are going to go after any passenger who even heads for the cockpit!

We really didn't need to change one effing thing due to 911, except for the adminstration to pay more attention to the intelligence reports.

[MindPilot]

28. I hate dealing with those power-tripping fucktards.

I usually handle it by putting on my best military demeanor and give them a hearty Sir! Yes (or no), Sir! at every question. Even if it's a woman.

[lonestarnot]

29. Fucking freak!

[crimsonblue]

32. my best tsa exp...

I was flying from Denver to KC, and the agent took my laptop out of its neoprene case, ostensibly to rub that magically white cloth over it. She opened the laptop up, and I told her, "You may not, under any circumstances, turn on or connect anything to my computer." Well, this pimply bitch sneers at me and says, "I can do whatever the hell I want. We are going to have to confiscate your computer." I said, "No, you are not. I would as well not fly then have you steal all my data." I grabbed my stuff and left. I walked out of the security area, out of the airport all-together, and then went to a security area on the other side of the airport. The agents there did not look at my laptop, did not take it out of its case, did not apply the magic white cloth. I walked through security with no problems and boarded my flight. NEVER let TSA take your computer from you. EVER.

[Squatch]

42. THAT is one of the best tricks I have ever heard.

:applause:

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

39. TSA has on on-line blog taking 'suggestions'

If you didn't know....

http://www.tsa.gov/blog

[Lyric]

40. Boycott the airline industry.

If we all refused to fly while we are treated in such a way, the government would fall all OVER itself to fix the problem. Corporate America is powerful, and the panic on Wall Street would be more than enough incentive to spur the government into action.

It would take some sacrifice on the part of the American people--lots of people use the airlines for their jobs, after all. But there is no such thing as progress without sacrifice and hardship.

Boycott the airlines. Seriously.

[barbtries]

66. some sacrifice?

impossible. i'm on the opposite side of the country as most of my family and i'm getting back there for christmas - if we couldn't fly i'd lose my job. most of the people in my office fly several times a month. that's reality.

[jakem]

41. self delete

repeat-

[paparush]

47. It has more to do with discouraging the working class from traveling.

[screembloodymurder]

48. They checked my dirty underwear.

From now on I'll put all my dirty shit in baggage. Check away.

[Kitty Herder]

63. They rifled through my dirty clothes once, too. Which included a very smelly sports bra

that I'd worn hiking on a hot day. I figured it served them right to smell my stinky, dirty laundry.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThatsMyBarack]

52. But, but, but....

:sarcasm: TSA is doing all this for our safety and freedom. It's truly the American way. Anyone who says otherwise is a COMMUNIST! :sarcasm:

(I've always wanted to try a "But, but, but...." post on DU, and it felt like the time was right! ;))

[KamaAina]

55. This has happened to people I know

well, no one's actually been slammed to the floor, BUT people I know who use wheelchairs report being searched with extreme prejudice. Especially a particular female one. She lives on Maui. Guess how often I get to see her these days???

[Grinchie]

59. So much anger... Here's something to cool the sting of fascism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AWw7t5zj0">TSA Gangstaz

[Kitty Herder]

64. LOL

Too funny!

[Hekate]

61. The entire point of this exercise is to terrify citizens into submission. "Achtung! Your papers!"

:argh:

Hekate

[mnhtnbb]

67. Hubby and I both have hip replacements. We get public pat-downs

(we usually are offered privacy, but I figure, why not show everybody who these jerks are patting down)
every time we fly. My bra usually triggers the hand-held device which then ensures I get felt up
as well.

[MuseRider]

68. What exactly are our rights here?

The last time I flew they were not going to let me on the plane because my ticket was in the name first initial-middle name-last name. I never use my first name but have ID on me that has my name in full, others with first name-middle initial etc. I was covered. Still they raised a huge stink about it, pushed my husband through after looking down the front of his pants and sticking a wand down there and they held me for a bit then let me through after a "conference" and a lecture about being responsible.

I am flying again in a few weeks. I am not a "good, compliant citizen" and will be very loud and vocal if any of that shit starts up. What exactly are our rights here? Do we have to put up with all this crap? I will take off my shoes. I will abide by the carry on rules. I will do all those stupid things they require but the pulling out and public search and often humiliation I have seen is beyond anything I can even remotely tolerate. They will not be checking my bra for bombs. My cell and my computer are staying with me. What are our rights? Do we even have any anymore?

[darkrenegade]

69. The whole point of this is government-run travel, on all levels

They will control who travels, and where, and how often.

Judging by the amount of (justified!) outrage on this topic, one can only imagine that, when you extrapolate it to the country at-large, some kind of disruptive event at an airport (and not just simply "bypassing security") is inevitable.

Then what?

[bdamomma]

70. everyday they are stripping our rights away,

just priming us up for illegal searches on our inalienable rights.