TSA: The "S" Is For "Stooges"
If you're the government and you're going to put on a show of keeping America secure, shouldn't you hire people who don't seem like serious candidates for the next Three Stooges?
"Soooop! Soooop!" (That's the voice of one of the TSA goons you'll see on the video -- calling for his [clueless] supervisor...although I bet he'd be a shoo-in for "best hog caller" at the local 4-H.)
In the video, Miami multimedia journalist Carlos Miller meets up with this TSA worker and his boss, who apparently have never heard of the First Amendment -- as has been the case in a number of videos of the TSA by others. Nor do they know the TSA's own rules on videotaping (it's permitted, providing the airport itself doesn't have rules against it).
So, yes, here we have people in the employ of the TSA (very likely making a nice chunk of change), one of whom is apparently a supervisor, who apparently have never taken the time to familiarize themselves with the TSA's own rules. (Maybe they think they should get hazard pay for...ugghhh...it's so HAARRRD...reading a whole bunch sentences...paragraphs, even!)
Miller blogs at pixiq:
The first Transportation Security Administration screener I encountered at Ronald Reagan National Airport on my return flight to Miami from Washington D.C. Wednesday told me he would not let me board if I did not stop video recording.I told him that TSA policy allows me to record the checkpoints, but he wasn't buying it.
He called a supervisor, who told me the same thing; that video recording the checkpoints is forbidden.
When I insisted he was wrong, that it clearly states on the TSA website that it is legal to record, he called police.
Fortunately, the pair of DC Metro cops who arrived acknowledged that I wasn't committing a crime, but they did not go as far as telling TSA that I had the right to record the checkpoints.
They basically told TSA to deal with the situation themselves.
So even though I was eventually allowed to enter the checkpoint, the TSA supervisor, who said his name is Ricky Flowers, continued to insist that I was not allowed to record.
Perhaps Flowers would have been convinced had I handed him a copy of the policy as I did in Miami in January, but shouldn't a supervisor already know the policy?
At this point, my family was really stressing out at the thought of me going to jail, so they kept urging I turn the camera off.
And I had already proven what I had set out to prove; that TSA officials are clueless about their own policy.
The video is here:
And he's right about this:
Why do I do this?It may seem petty and instigating to many people, but it is crucial that we ensure TSA officials abide by their own policies - especially at a time when their authority is expanding beyond airports.
Too many people are cowed by "authority," just because it's dressed like authority (in phony "officer" suits), and because it talks like authority, while having no authority to violate our constitutional rights. Because thousands of people are sexually violated daily -- and otherwise have their right to not be searched without probable cause violated daily -- doesn't mean the government has the right to do this. It just hasn't been challenged in court.
It is essential that we -- all of us -- challenge the rights grab any way we can, even in small ways like this. They need to see that we all aren't just standing around blinking like livestock. That maybe there are people who will lead the call for other people to stand up, too. (I'm working on it -- an edited version of my civil liberties op-ed, the one no mainstream American venue would publish but Pravda finally did, will go out again next week to papers across America through my syndicate.)
Oh, and one final question -- look at the two TSA dudes in this video. Let's say somebody is plotting to bring down a plane. Do you really want to trust these two to stop him? (Let alone stop any reasonably precocious 8-year-old with a concealed squirt gun?)
So what to do about this if you actually want to get somewhere, but don't fly often? Do I and my child get sexually assaulted in a semi-legal (we are your government and only rape you for your safety) manner, or do I and my child get hit with radiation from a machine with no actual, certifiable, safety documentation? What to do?
Assholio at December 30, 2011 12:06 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/30/tsa_workers_and.html#comment-2883599">comment from AssholioEither or both. We all need to do something about this -- beyond what most people do: politely lean forward a little so their balls or vagina can be groped better.
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2011 12:17 AM
If only someone had suggested –like, 8 years ago– that we make it an armed service.
If we were serious about it, I mean.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 30, 2011 12:33 AM
>>If only someone had suggested –like, 8 years ago– that we make it an armed service.
If we were serious about it, I mean.
I'm guessing you're insane, an idiot, or both.
Assholio at December 30, 2011 12:44 AM
My judgment is vaguely assailed by a figure seeking to be known as "Assholio".
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 30, 2011 2:27 AM
The ironic point in the video is the one area where he's filming himself and the lighted sign to his left aid "America".
Jim P. at December 30, 2011 4:38 AM
There are many forms of resistance, not just one.
I've stopped flying. I realize that's not reasonable or even possible for everyone.
Rather than re-type my whole list of suggestions again, I'll direct you to this link:
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?threads/tsa-screenings-arent-just-for-airports-anymore.1764/#post-18509
Bottom line: you have to be willing to resist. You have to be willing to undergo some "inconvenience" or discomfort. That's the nature of protest.
Lisa Simeone at December 30, 2011 4:49 AM
Too many people are cowed by "authority," just because it's dressed like authority (in phony "officer" suits), and because it talks like authority, while having no authority to violate our constitutional rights.
Reminds me of the opening of Mystic River: a well-dressed man with a police-like badge scolds three young boys for playing in the street. He manages to bully one of them into his car, ostensibly to drive the misbehaving kid home. Turns out the man's a pedophile, with buddies. Though the boy eventually runs away from the abuse, he grows up to be a broken man. The other two boys, spared abduction but nonetheless witness to their frightened friend being taken away, are also scarred for life.
Sounds melodramatic, but the same thing is happening daily in the airports. People are submitting to the apparent authority of TSA "officers" like scared children who don't know any better. While I don't believe the majority of TSA employees are perverts (I am certain some are), the organization on the whole has sinister purposes and does not deserve respect. And its violations damage all citizens--whether they are the unfortunate ones grabbed, or simply watch helplessly.
YTS at December 30, 2011 5:09 AM
My latest experience just yesterday. I was getting the usual grope instead of stepping into the cancer machine. The lady doing the feel up was singing, just to herself. But still I was weirded out more than a bit.
Me: Okay the singing is a little creepy.
Her: Well then you should have stepped through the scanner. (continues to sing)
Me: No. I understand the procedure here. But your singing is making this weird.
Her: continues singing
Me: Could you please stop singing. It's making me uncomfortable.
Her: Sings fucking louder. Does not look me in the eye from this point out.
We are just about done with the groping so she turns to pick through my luggage. She keeps singing. Tells me I can go and walks away, still singing.
I really, really should have asked for a supervisor. Or at least gotten her name to submit one of those oh-so-useful comment cards. My only excuse is that I was operating on 11 hours of sleep over the past 72 and my analytical and problem solving skills were definitely not up to snuff. Fucking hell, I hate it when I miss an opportunity like that. Stupid, passive aggressive, GED earning bitch probably thinks she got one over on an unruly passenger.
Elle at December 30, 2011 9:22 AM
Elle, start singing back to her. Something like 'I touch myself'
I bet you could make her a lot more uncomfortable than she makes you.
DrCos at December 30, 2011 10:35 AM
I don't fly. I don't go through "check points" on the roads.
And if the NTSB gets their way and makes moving your lips in the car a crime, I'll be getting a ticket every day for singing.
And when I'm asked to testify what I was doing with my lips moving, I'll sing to the court recorder.
Everything else is farce, why not just have at it?
brian at December 30, 2011 10:36 AM
About the only thing I say in my car is when I'm listening to the opening of Cam & Company. I repeat with the host:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Jim P. at December 30, 2011 12:19 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/30/tsa_workers_and.html#comment-2884269">comment from Jim P.And if the NTSB gets their way and makes moving your lips in the car a crime, I'll be getting a ticket every day for singing. -- brian at December 30, 2011 10:36 AM
Me, too. I always sing in the car. Ever since the cell phone laws, I've worried that I'll be nabbed for it.
Amy Alkon
at December 30, 2011 12:26 PM
"My judgment is vaguely assailed by a figure seeking to be known as "Assholio"."
Your judgement is as vague as my assault on it, if not more. You act like I, and anyone reading, is supposed to know wtf you are talking about. Like anyone gives a fuck enough to pay attention to you, and your cryptic pronouncements. Shit, say something solid. At least I'm honest about my name.
Assholio at December 30, 2011 11:21 PM
Oh, and Yeah, attack my name, that's "classy!" Big points for you! I'm soo hurt, and you're so smaht for that most intelligent of digs! Score for you!
Assholio at December 30, 2011 11:31 PM
"Bottom line: you have to be willing to resist. You have to be willing to undergo some "inconvenience" or discomfort. That's the nature of protest."
Hmm, maybe I should go in a day early, to account for missing my flight?
Assholio at December 30, 2011 11:47 PM
"Elle, start singing back to her."
Ah, L'esprit d'escalier. Always after the time has passed do you think of the awesome response. Thank you for giving me a laugh about the whole thing though.
Elle at December 31, 2011 9:06 AM
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