Backlash Builds Against TSA
By Mary Theroux • Saturday May 28, 2011 9:43 AM PDT • 6 Comments
In the aftermath of my own encounter with the TSA Thugs, I submitted complaints to “my” representatives: Barbara Lee, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer. To paraphrase a favorite poet, I didn’t get no satisfaction, and Dianne Feinstein had the gall to include this line in her emailed response:
As a frequent traveler, I understand the frustrations that can result from the increased security measures.
Really, Dianne, you face the choice of “assuming the position” in a scanning machine with unknown radiation levels, or getting your breasts and pubic area felt by a stranger wearing blue rubber gloves?
It has thus been heartening to see what one hopes is a growing, vocal backlash against these intrusive new backscatter machines and groping “pat downs” instituted by TSA late last year.
Recent notable posts include this by a former Miss USA:
Ms. USA 2003 Susie Castillo is a frequent flyer, but rethinks her travel plans after a recent incident at Dulles airport. Castillo, an actress, says that she was sexually harassed by TSA employees while flying out of the Washington DC-area hub. In this video she explains how she opted out of a body scan machine and, as a result, was humiliated and hassled by a government employee. Has it come to choosing between a dangerous machine or molestation? Castillo discusses her encounter moments later here.
And this vivid description of one man’s triumph over the idiocy that has become the norm in America, “My TSA Encounter:”
I’ve read a fair amount about the controversy surrounding the new TSA policies. I certainly don’t enjoy being treated like a terrorist in my own country, but I’m also not a die-hard constitutional rights advocate. However, for some reason, I was irked. Maybe it was the video of the 3-year old getting molested, maybe it was the sexual assault victim having to cry her way through getting groped, maybe it was the father watching teenage TSA officers joke about his attractive daughter. Whatever it was, this issue didn’t sit right with me. We shouldn’t be required to do this simply to get into our own country.
So, since I had nobody waiting for me at home and no connecting flight to catch, I had some free time. I decided to test my rights.
Read his full story, here.
And Jesse Ventura is suing the TSA, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole, charging that the pat-down to which he was subjected due to his hip replacement surgery:
exposed him to humiliation and degradation through unwanted touching, gripping and rubbing of the intimate areas of his body.
Utah is now following Texas’s lead in proposing legislation that would prohibit TSA pat-downs unless TSA agents have reasonable suspicion.
Let’s hope we see more and more stand up against these petty thugs emboldened by too much power. Send any you are aware of and we’ll keep posting!
Tags: Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Liberty, Peace, Personal Liberty, Police, Politics, Privacy, Propaganda, Surveillance, Terrorism, Transportation 
Well the Federal Government had to find employment for all the sex molesters, so they hired them to be TSA agents. After all they hired all the gun smugglers to be ATF agents. That’s what you get when you have Obama from Kenya in the White House. Patriot Update, 23 May 2011 @ 10:35 AM, Obama and his wife both admit that Obama was born in Kenya!!
Danal | May 29, 2011 | Reply
In addition to the violation of individual rights for the sake of controlling the citizenry, it is also a very sad story because those truly responsible for the terror crimes of 9/11 never have to undergo TSA scans or searches as they fly on private aircraft, even now after being out of office. Remember, they get guaranteed life-long bodyguard protection.
Real 911 Truth | May 30, 2011 | Reply
Mary,
Thanks for this wonderful post which reminds us that we are not alone in receiving poor and at times disgusting service from the TSA. I’ve held back my anger while interacting with TSA personnel a number of times. I’ve done better (or worse depending on how you look at it) than my father in this regard who has thrown raging fits in airport security lines. Last time he passed through airport security he hurled his shaving cream against the wall and yelled out: “You can keep it!”
I have a few recommendations to improve the volume of backlash. Rather than write our representatives which is fairly costly in time, I would recommend that a Facebook page be created. The Facebook page should describe the poor service that TSA provides and the reasons it provides that service (government monopoly, politicians taking advantage of crises to gain power, etc). The page should suggest market solutions for providing airline security (such as might be provided in a private market with multiple competing providers).
Many people are unable to visualize on their own the private market providing airline security. They need some type of cartoon sketch or prompt to get their imagination going. David Friedman’s The Machinery of Freedom is a good example. I’m surprised that this book has not been given more attention. It seems like even I, an engineer could take his chapter on protection services, condense it, change it sufficiently to avoid copyright laws, add some cartoons and make it into something that could go viral. Maybe I should start working on it?
If a Facebook page is created and people start pressing its Like button, the elephant in the room will be difficult for the politicians not to address.
This model of helping people visualize a voluntarist world where private markets provide all products and services is the best way I can think of to educate people.
I would start off with a fictional story of David Friedman’s The Machinery of Freedom chapter on protection services. Then try to create a cartoon video or film with real actors. It doesn’t need to be long—something on the order of 5 or 10 minutes may even be optimal.
Scott G | May 30, 2011 | Reply
Scott,
I have a simple three step process that should do the trick:
1. Abolish the TSA and the odious Homeland Security Dept.
2. Dismantle the empire, bring the troops home, and stop pissing off foreigners with our incessant meddling, bombings, assassinations, ccupations.
3. Make the airports and airlines institute their own security rules subject to oversight from insurance companies responsible for assessing risks.
Voila! Problem solved.
Steve | Jun 1, 2011 | Reply
Steve,
Great list, but the problem still exists. It’s going to require more work to get to where you and I want to be. Here’s a revision of your plan that includes some more detail:
1. Create a YouTube video introducing the idea of allowing airports and airlines to institute their own security rules subject to profit and loss of a private market (of which insurance companies play an important role).
In this video provide one or two examples of how convenient airport security could be if competing private companies were allowed to provide security. This might include not waiting in a line if one agreed to allow the airport or airline to identify you using a robust biometric identifying tool such a iris recognition backed up with a onetime background interview. It might also include allowing private companies to discriminate and profile airline passengers.
Point out that customers will have the freedom to choose from among various security service provides.
2. Once this video becomes widespread enough it will become less politically palatable to suggest a TSA monopoly as a solution. People will eventually want choices and politicians will have to acquiesce. (Right now the thinking is: “TSA is better than a hijacking.” People don’t think much past this. They need help.
One strategy with the above video would be to point out or even pose as a real company wanting to provide airport security. This company may even pay for the video.
3. Allow the airports and airlines to institute their own security (this is your step 3).
4. Once people experience the higher level of service provided by private security, then abolish the TSA.
5. Insert about 100 more steps here.
105. Dismantle the empire, bring the troops home (your step 2 here).
I’ve been writing and discussing this type of YouTube strategy for a few months now. Here’s a more detailed and general version of my thinking:
http://www.studiohayek.com/2011/05/images-of-relatively-free-market.html
It essentially involves doing real work to create stories and videos that depict the unseen and wonderful possibilities markets could provide if governments didn’t regulate and/or monopolize these markets.
For example, it involves buying and learning how to use software to make illustrations in videos. It involves buying a camera and learning how to use it. I’ll need to write up a plot and develop the language for the story or video. It might involve finding actors or getting help operating the camera.
Another strategy would be to teach others how to create videos.
Scott
Scott G | Jun 2, 2011 | Reply
I guess what this story proves, is that the TSA actually has no legal authority to prevent us from exiting the airport once you’ve cleared customs, and they know it, yet he was indeed detained illegally for 2.5 hours. Civil action anyone? Legal actions are the only way to reign in the unconstitutional TSA, since our elected officials won’t do it.
Steve E | Jun 7, 2011 | Reply