TSA

When I went on a business trip a few weeks ago, I opted out (again) of the TSA’s scanners, and wondered: Is it just me, or have the pat downs become even more invasive? Instead of terrorists hiding bombs in their nether regions or shoes, have they taken to hiding them in their armpits? (Insert your own joke about armpits and the TSA.) It’s an […]

Federal agencies are supposed to go through a process by which members of the public can go on record with their thoughts on proposed changes to regulations and agency actions. When the TSA introduced “full body scanners,” it was supposed to go through this comment period. It didn’t. After that, it ignored a court’s ruling, and the TSA remains a scofflaw, still. It hasn’t yet […]

Was it an act of civil disobedience, or simply a bad decision? I’m going with the latter, but a man, upset at the treatment he receives from TSA screeners, stripped naked at the Portland International Airport earlier this year. While I’m all for calling attention to the numerous problems of the TSA, I’m not sure that getting naked in front of your fellow travelers is the right […]

Oops! Hundreds (thousands?) of people went through a TSA metal detector at an airport in New York City before the employee realized that the machine … wasn’t plugged in. Inconvenience for passengers ensued, according to the New York Post

When government is involved, it may be worthwhile to rework a law of physics: For every action there is, in response, an over-reaction. Such was the case in the actions the federal government took after 9-11. Rep. John Mica (R. -Fla.) lays the wood on the TSA, saying it has “failed to actually detect any threat in 10 years.” He added that it has been […]

There are plenty of indignities that people face when they confront the TSA at the airport. But lately the agency has hit a new low by endangering the life or at least the health of a pregnant, diabetic woman. According to a news report from a Denver TV station, TSA employees seized a woman’s insulin, syringe, and needles. (Note that if you don’t have enough insulin […]

OBL is dead, which is good news. The bad news is that even from the grave he exerts an influence on not only how we fly, but on how we view government. As Randall Holcombe says, “Most people don’t question things we’re told to do for our safety”. He adds, “We have been intimidated, by bin Laden’s terrorist network and our own federal government, into complying […]

If Gene Healy is right, perhaps the terrorists have already won. Writing on two issues I mentioned the other day, he says, “I’ve always thought that what makes Americans exceptional is our ornery resistance to being bossed around.“

CNN reports on something that is a bit chilling: “complaining about airport security is one indicator Transportation Security Administration officers consider when looking for possible criminals and terrorists.” Supposedly the complaining has to be “arrogant” to trigger the extra surveillance, so be sure to smile if you object to your 6-year old being subjected to a grope. Published in the Detroit News: http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php?blogid=2083

A man was arrested at an airport on charges of disorderly conduct. His crime? Stripping down to his boxers, thus exposing to the world … the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, written on his chest. Aaron Tobey is suing the TSA, proving that not all lawsuits are frivolous. Officials wanted to know “his affiliation with, or knowledge of, any terrorist organizations.” Yeah, I’m sure […]