About the TSA - there seems to be a difference of opinion

[hedgehog]

Poll question: About the TSA - there seems to be a difference of opinion

Which do you think is the best description

[Warren DeMontague]

1. I'd say it's mostly security thater, but more 'pain in the ass', not 'fascism' variety.

I do find it amusing that middle America is only now waking up to the fact that the 4th amendment is gone. It's been gone for decades... it disappeared with the drug war, kiddies.

[hedgehog]

6. I'm seriously wondering how many people who criticize the TSA

are in fact more worried about getting caught with illegal drugs than they are about a terrorist attack. Now, I think drugs should be legalized and I agree that getting caught carrying is a bad thing. In other words, if I was carrying, I wouldn't want to be searched, have my luggage inspected, etc. If that is in fact the concern, I wish people would be honest and say so.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. used to be every time I'd be on the East Coast, I'd get a 'special search'

this was before 9-11, if I hadn't stopped smoking pot completely by then I certainly wasn't bringing it on airplanes (shoulda tried while I was in college, boyos!!! :hippie:) but I suspect the long hair plus the 'California' on the ticket gave these guys a hard-on, every time. I almost missed a couple flights this way, and boy were they disappointed when they never found anything.

And like I said, this was before 9-11, even.

I think the objection is that the security is a monumental pain in the ass, and if the real goal is just to find bags of weed, it's an expensive waste of time for ALL of us. Beyond that, pot should be legal, regulated, and taxed---- and we could save a lot of energy and $ as a society if we ended the drug war. And I say that as someone who hasn't personally smoked it in years.

[hlthe2b]

2. Hedgehog... I doubt anyone thinks so monolithically about the TSA...

I find it impossible to answer, because while I think there are good, respectful, professionals working there, I also think TSA as currently constituted affords a myriad of opportunities--for those who are not so-- to abuse their power and authority.

That said, I also would distinguish staff from policies---some which are excessive and akin to kabuki theater or seemingly have no other justification other than to intimidate the public into compliance. If ALL policy is truly based on an evidence basis, I'd love to see it. Count me exceedingly skeptical. Further, there are training, and supervision issues and the lack of uniformity....

But, I can't seem to fit that view into a simple answer for your poll... :shurg:

[seabeyond]

3. ha. that is funny. i was going to post that i thought hedgehog did a good job with options

especially saying 2 and 3, because personally that is exactly how i feel.

[hlthe2b]

9. I agree partially with 2 and 3 as well...

Just not fully. :shrug:

'Guess I'm a hair-splitter...;)

[JustAnotherGen]

4. We think of them only as

People who harass us at the airport . . . we forget that they are ALSO the people that prevent 10 Lithium Ion batteries from flying 'loose' in the cargo hold. I'm part of Import/Export/Hazmat/Freight Control/Department of the Treasury for the company I work for.

I think they make mistakes - but I also think LESS time on people and more time on their baggage and their 'commercial' packages on flight. That has nothing to do with Homeland Security . .. it has to do with dumbasses putting flammabal materials in improper containers and packaging on flights - that fly over my home or that I'm on.

[hedgehog]

10. I added another option for people who support the notion of the TSA

but think there's big room for improvement.

[Xithras]

5. Defund and disband.

The TSA offers us no real security, at a cost of $8 billion a year.

[ixion]

7. exactly.

:applause:

[Modern_Matthew]

8. I have no respect for them. I'd starve before manhandling grannies and kids. nt

[customerserviceguy]

12. I went for option four, like most here

but with one caveat. I consider the drug laws enacted during the reign of St. Ronnie to be the first step towards a police state, this would be the second or third step in that direction.