Americans line up to join 'no-fly' list

World Net Daily ^ | Nov. 11, 2010 | Bob Unruh

[re_tail20]

Supporters say it enhances security aboard passenger jets, but critics say it is little more than government-sponsored voyeurism for Transportation Security Administration workers.

The dispute is over the new enhanced airport security screening procedures that offer a choice of either a nude, full-body image X-ray scan or a hands-on-all-parts pat-down by a federal agent.

And the controversy could be coming to a head.

The Air Transport Association of America says it expects 24 million people to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday period, and an online campaign is urging everyone who flies the day before Thanksgiving – usually one of the busiest air travel days of the year – to opt out of the new full-body, nude-image scanners.

"The goal of National Opt-Out Day is to send a message to our lawmakers that we demand change," states the website. "No naked body scanners, no government-approved groping. We have a right to privacy and buying a plane ticket should not mean that we're guilty until proven innocent.

"While the government doesn't always like to advertise this, you have the ability to opt-out of the naked body scanner machines," the organizers said.

The move was praised by some as a needed spotlight on the invasive images derived from the security screenings – so graphic that WND cannot post them online – and the aggressive nature of the alternative "pat-downs" conducted by federal agents. One woman described how agents grabbed and twisted her breasts.

But the campaign also drew some alarmed reactions because of the potential it has to clog or shut down the travel system.

[HusbandMan]

“I have fixed this problem for myself... I WILL NEVER FLY ON A COMMERCIAL PLANE AGAIN.”

It seems to me that you have the real solution. Let the airlines suffer a 10-15% drop in customers, and let 50% of those customers tell the airlines that they are not flying because of the TSA, and watch the airlines get the govt to check the powers of the TSA.

As a side note, I have a friend who is a TSA agent. When I asked him what the new pat downs were all about he said, "We have to get right up in there, now."

[70th Division]

I agree. I did farm work as a boy. It is good enough for all americans to do. Not sit home on unemployment and collect 20K a year on their ass.

[Tzfat]

Zero. It doesn’t use xrays.

Sheesh. Disinformation. If they are harmless, then they don't work. Simple physics.

Sixty years ago, thousands of soldiers were told to stand in and watch Atomic explosions. There was "no harm" promised.

[Tzfat]

NET: we need and deserve a legitimate, non-TSA answer to this question: do these scanners emit ionizing radiation?

Why are these machines exempt from the same testing that our cell phones are with regard to harmful effects?

[Tzfat]

Here’s the deal. I’m not going to subject my minor daughter to EITHER the naked scanner or the groping “pat down”. From what I’ve read, the “pat down” would land these people in jail if they tried it outside the airport.

I recently was subjected to this. I did not know it was coming. It was nauseating. It was quite simply, sexual assault. I will never go through that again without a gun to my head. It is time for ALL American's to OPT OUT.

[Doe Eyes]

There is an alternative: Follow the example of El Al.

Are you saying that EL Al flights out of the United States don't have to go through TSA checkpoints? I don't think so.

[Zarro]

I'm sorry to hear that. But, yes, I think MANY Americans WILL opt out and it's too bad that it will just hurt the economy more.

I read more after my first posting and came to find that it seems like the majority of travelers don't even KNOW they can opt out. I was also maddened at the TSA stance that they are not getting an increase in complaints over this. Check out their "blog" site -- they're getting PLENTY:

TSA Blog

[MichiganConservative]

You know nothing about me. Don’t presume to tell me how I think.

Yeah, sure. You're a little snowflake. Unique in every way.