Posted on 12/06/2004 2:52:00 PM PST by Angry Republican
Helen Chenoweth-Hage had a simple request. The former Idaho Congressman had been pulled aside at the Boise Airport for secondary screening to include a physical pat-down. Chenoweth-Hage had sailed through the metal detector without problem, but TSA officials wanted to scrutinize her some more.
The former Congressman simply asked to see the regulations that permitted TSA officials to pat her down. They refused. And she refused to allow them to pat her down. So they booted her off her flight.
Incidents like this have happened so many times that it is beyond absurd. The regulations of TSA, which should stand for "Thousands Standing Around," are cloaked in secrecy. In this case, a 66-year old former Member of Congress is told to submit to further scrutiny for reasons of political correctness and to inflate inspection numbers.
According to aviation industry sources, the TSA intentionally targets individuals for further scrutiny not because they pose a threat, but because their profiles fit those the least likely to complain. Groups getting extra scrutiny include government employees and the military. Other national security threats reportedly requiring further scrutiny in the past include former Vice President Al Gore and longtime Congressman John Dingell.
The two-part problem is this. First, inspecting people who clearly do not pose a threat distracts attention from those who could pose a threat. Second, the notion that TSA can subject the public to regulations that are not made public is ludicrous. It's like citing a motorist for speeding with the speed limit signs all covered.
The Transportation Security Administration has not provided real and responsible security to our nation's airlines and airports. Playing hide and seek with the regulations and subjecting innocents to absurd inspections in the name of political correctness is simply a waste of time and money.
And that's the Point.
I'm Mark Hyman.
And may you someday possess the wit to realize that the Holocaust in Germany did not begin with death camps, poisonous gas, and crematoria. It began with regulations, restrictions, and government authority that few Jews saw reason to oppose.
...and until we adopt the same logic, MaxCombined's rules will rule and we will remain in danger.
We have the best computerized screening in the world but are too pc to use it.
Max wants to waste time screening algore everytime he gets on a plane. What a use of resources! unghh...
What about large building, skyscraper, tunnels, subways, malls etc, where literally 10,000 people work, and shop. Should they too be groped, searched, scanned, x-rayed, sniffed, and searched?
agreed
Ditto...
...but hopefully not BLOWN UP because they were feelin' her boobies instead of PROFILING like they should be.
Pardon me, but how is she a nitwit? Is she a nitwit for asking the nitwits to produce the regulations that supposedly provide their authority over the citizenry?
Hey Max, you don't work for the TSA or any other gooberment agency do you? You seem to be awfully hot on people not questioning "authority" and keeping their mouths shut.
Intelligent people get banned all the time but you go on and on like the Energizer Bunny.
"while the while the terrorists truck, ship, or pilot a nuke across the border.
For the record, I am against allowing terrorists to truck, ship, or pilot a nuke across the border.
I am also against nitwits slowing down the line at airports.
I'm done with this thread. Your (our) day is coming. Thanks.
Questioning authority means questioning authority and not some poor guy just trying to do his job."
This "poor guy" signed on to act as an extension of the governments authority. If he doesn't like the job he can go back to flipping burgers.
2004 has not been a vintage year for Freepers.
Some geek putting his grubby hands all over your body isn't humiliating? Well, buster, then bend over!!!
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