Why the TSA is all gung-ho over groping pat downs

[sharp_stick]

I was at the airport last week flying back home and as I was passing through the normal metal-detector line I had a thought over why the TSA is being so public in their support for the over the top "pat down" being forced on people who decide not to go through the full body porno scanner.

The number of people actually being told to choose between the scanner and the pat-down were pretty small (at least at O'Hare when I was there last week). As I put my belt and laptop into the bin I saw maybe two or three people go into the full body scanners and none being patted down.

I think the TSA wants you to decide that if you're given the choice of a nudie scan or a full on groping by some big dude with latex gloves you're going to choose the nudie scan. The TSA paid a lot of money to some really well connected Government contractors for these things and by God they're going to make sure they get used.

I still think this entire thing is a simple ploy to make you think everything is all secure and happy at the airport. It's a waste of time when the guy that mops the floors in the john can bypass it by going in the back door.

Does anyone really think that these $10/hour outside contractors are actually being fully background checked? If something happens it's going to be just like Lou Dobbs and his illegal immigrant groundskeepers. Or any other company that hires contract companies to do the dirty work. "I hired an outside contractor and _assumed_ they carried out the proper screening." It's totally bullshit but it's the excuse that works.

I really hope the TSA has a bunch of people going through the secure areas all the time looking for breaches and potential breaches. Along with camera surveillance it's a lot more effective than making sure you don't have more than 3.5 oz of mouthwash in your bag. The TSA spends a lot of time yammering about how much we need to give up any and all civil liberties for safety I can only hope they are actually doing the real work without being so publicly idiotic about it.

[LisaL]

1. TSA spend a lot of money on these scanners and if people

were refusing to get into them what would be the point of having them? Of course if the alternative (enhanced pat down) is worse than getting into the scanner then very few people are going to refuse.

[sharp_stick]

7. Absolutely

They would look bad if those things just sat there gathering dust.

[liberal N proud]

2. As with most things GREED is involved here as well.

[sally cat]

3. Of course that's it. They're making it pretty obvious, aren't they?

[Loge23]

4. Good point.

You have a good point about the scanners and their intended usage.
Eventually, America will collectively be "shocked and outraged" when it is determined that the scanners are not safe.
This is inevitable, as was the Ground Zero dust and Agent Orange.
This whole mess is yet another indication of how far off the mark we have shifted in this country.
Meanwhile, the odds of being involved in an aircraft/terrorist incident are 10,500,000 to 1 and growing!

[Ilsa]

5. One major airport I was in had a steakhouse in the secure area.

I doubt the waitstaff or bussers were counting steak knives when the diners leave.

[sharp_stick]

6. That doesn't surprise me

I used to travel a lot more than I do now and I remember a time about 6 months after 9/11 when we all went buggy over airport security.

After spending the better part of an hour lining up to go through the single metal detector at the airport the security guy goes through my bag, removes my nail clippers and my Gilette razor telling me that these weapons are no longer allowed on flights. I was kind of pissed off because I just put a new set of four blades in with that razor and those blades aren't cheap.

I finally got out of there without my nail clippers or razor and walked into the convenience store right next to my gate to buy a new disposable razor so I didn't need to stop off on my way to the hotel. The clerk laughed and told me that he was doing a booming business in disposable razor sales.