Posted on 11/24/2010 3:44:25 PM PST by Beaten Valve
Of the 150,000 travelers who have so far gone through Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, 133 have opted out of the full-body scanners and receive enhanced pat-downs, according to officials.
Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said 17 of 19 body-scanning machines at LAX on Wednesday were operational. The scanners at Terminal 1 were off for at least part of the day, and Melendez said he didn't know why.
Many passengers paid little attention to the screenings.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
RE: “A more sensible protest would be a flying boycott. The airlines going bankrupt would force a change in policy and nobody goes to jail. As for me, I’ve never flown, and I am certain now that I will never be tempted to do so.”
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You’re not missing anything — flying has been NO pleasure at all since 9-11 and even before then, if we are honest.
I have flown all over the world but refused to fly anymore after a particularly disgusting pair of flights to/from the Caribbean from west coast back in ‘06. Enough was enough!
So...I have done the ultimate ‘opt-out’ - just given up flying altogether. No more nonsense for me.
RE: “I don’t think it’s dumb.
Some people merely do not want to be irradiated. Many cancer patients [or former cancer patients] refuse to be x-rayed.
They may not even know or care about an opt out day.”
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Agree — don’t we all get way more radiation than we need in the first place? Just flying in itself gives us too much radiation. We are bombarded with it in ways we are not aware of in addition to those we do recognize. Enough!
I’m sick of ALL the annoyances of flying — just going to opt out totally for the foreseeable future. Have not flown since ‘06 and don’t miss it one bit.
I won’t fly again either unless I must for business.
Opting out of both isn’t an option unless you’re ready to be really detained and face an $11,000 fine. That’s just the way it is, like the man says, if you’re willing to take that risk, go for it.
In the meantime, while some may call me a candy a.., I have a life which includes going lots of places—Florida, Costa Rica, Canada, and beyond. I’m not going to allow the gub’mint to force me to give up my life. So, I’ll opt out, request a pat down in a private area, and hope that enough other frequent fliers do the same, so that the system will be impacted. That’s the only realistic protest.
Actually, TSA closed down the porn and groping system at LAX. Trickey, Trickey, TSA.
Of the 150,000 ticketed people, how many went through the enhanced body scans? Not all of them were subjected to the new scanners I’m sure. I heard one report, only those triggering on the metal detectors had to go.
An article with incomplete information is not good journalism and if it was a release from the TSA, it was intentional concealment of facts.
:’)
I see that as exactly what the government wants...bailouts along with government control of the airline industry. Air travel is too big to fail.
the local news tonight showed LAX and it was not the usual thanksgiving holiday lines, but the freeways were bumper to bumper going both directions
There seems to be a very common misconception that the airlines have any control over this THEY DO NOT! I work for an airline and we are at the whims of the TSA as well. I could tell you really absurd stories about that. Some agents will try to trip us up on one thing or another and when they don’t succeed, lie about it to try to fine us. Trying to bancrupt the airlines is a hugely stupid idea. What, so Obamass can use an excuse to bail us out and take us over? For you and others who think this is a great idea, do your homework. The most effective thing is to get the horror stories out to the public by whatever means possible. I think the use of humor as a weapon, like the SNL skit also serves to demoralize these thugs. When traveling, push the envelope and force a confrontation like the guy who stripped down to his Speedos and had “Screw Big SIS” written on his back. Make them a laughing stock. Write to your representatives and urge them to start putting the screws on the TSA when they come into office in Jan. I think TSA tried to lighten up over these heavy travel days to avoid bad publicity, but they will be back to their BS again. We can’t let up on them.
Airlines going bankrupt = many losing their jobs, including myself. I really don’t appreciate that!
Yup. People still don't get it. IMO course in order to fully comprehend exactly what is being protested, you have to actually take the time to think about it, and do just a bit of your own research. Most people aren't familiar enough to the concept of the difference between a citizen and a subject. The bottom line on all of this is very simple to me and boils down to that one fact. I have rights, by virtue of having been born a human being that are granted me by my creator. This particular line is one that I will simply not allow the government to force me to cross. I cannot, even by the laws of this screwed up former Republic, be required to waive one right to exercise another.
One thing I've noticed in a lot of the reporting, is that if you read very closely you will see that the government is attempting to accomplish through intimidation what it cannot through law. Even the stupid drones at TSA know that if you refuse to submit to them, and they are not able to bully or provoke you, that ultimately they have no real power. I'll be flying in less than a month, and am going to push this as far as it can be taken. Ultimately, it may well end up being a lawsuit if they don't recognise how far they can push without there being concrete consequences.
I don't want them to go bankrupt, but either we stop this crap at the airports, or people will be 'spot' checked on streetcorners before long. This is the camel's nose under the tent, just the beginning if we don't stop it now.
If the airlines feel the drop in sales, they'll make an issue of it, guaranteed, and the more big dogs in our side of the fight the better!
I know things are tough out there, but don't sell my freedom for your job.
I’m hardly selling anyone’s freedom and that is insulting to suggest it. In my post I suggested other ways that I believe would be more effective in protesting this TSA BS. Of course I’ve only been in the airline industry over 25 years and you admitedly do not fly, so what would I know about it?
Exactly! The roar now is how the Opt Out Day fizzled and sheep were funneled through “security” faster than normal. Gee, wonder if TSA had anything at all to do with speeding the system up?? D’oh.
“Airlines going bankrupt = many losing their jobs, including myself. I really don’t appreciate that!”
You certainly shouldn’t...but consider this:
Airlines going bankrupt=airline bigwigs leaning on their buddies in Congress/government= a removal of these strictures.
Big business will always be in bed with government to some degree. I don’t think it is a good thing to put people out of work- but I see it as preferable to rebellion or civil war. My reasoning is that the airlines would either buy some influence or use what they do have to reduce/change these search procedures rather than go bankrupt.
If the boycott started right before Christmas, the bailout would not come until after January- and Congress would not be in Obama’s pocket at that time. It would also be a test to out any RINOs there....
The administration doesn't have the balls to profile the most likely suspects, so they have to grope ours?
If the Constitution doesn't mean squat to you, fine. Just say so. You have a right to your opinion.
The reason I don't fly is the TSA. I remember getting on the plane, sitting in the smoking section, carrying the knife I carry every day, no biggie.
I loved to fly.
Don't carry so much as a nail clipper? Take off your shoes, submit to being imaged nude or groped? Submit the kiddies to that?
Piss on it. I'll drive. I won't be the only one.
How's that work for your industry? It'll be hurt longer and harder this way. Otherwise a couple of weeks of no-fly protest would get this crap shut down.
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