Sometimes The Concentration Camp Guard Says A Few Kind Words To You As They're Pointing You Toward The Gas Chamber
No, the TSA isn't sending us to our death, just to the line to strip us of our civil liberties in the name of repurposed hamburger clerk-administered "security."
But anyone supporting this process is guilty of enabling the violation of our civil liberties, which is why I was shocked by Christopher Elliott's valentine to the TSA on his blog. Elliott is a colleague of mine at TSA News Blog, where my posts on the TSA are cross-posted, and I've long been a fan of his travel writing, but he's gone astray on this post, and I'm wondering why.
An excerpt:
Like most Americans, Jim Davies believes the Transportation Security Administration might benefit from a top-to-bottom reform.And like most Americans, he wasn't surprised when a Government Accountability Office study revealed widespread employee misconduct, including screeners involved in theft and drug smuggling activities, as well as circumventing mandatory screening procedures for passengers and baggage.
All of which made his recent experience in Philadelphia so noteworthy. As he waited in line to have his ID checked, he saw three elderly men approach the checkpoint.
"One of the gentlemen had clearly not been on a commercial flight in some time," he says. "He presented his Medicare card and then his library card as his ID."
The TSA agent was polite and explained the ID requirements to the passenger. Then he helped him find the right card. A long line quickly began to form behind him.
"Another agent saw what was happening and opened another line so as not to slow down other passengers," remembers Davies, who works for a nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh. "The entire transaction was completed in a polite and helpful manner. I don't know how, but somehow the gentleman cleared the identification process."
The TSA agent didn't see what Davies did: From the back, the elderly man's jacket identified him as a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II. He'd helped a war hero get through security.
For every TSA agent who steals, cheats and abuses there are hundreds, and perhaps thousands, who do an outstanding job of protecting America's transportation systems every day.
There, I said it. The TSA sometimes gives you good service.
Maybe it's time to recognize these small acts of selflessness. After all, with employee morale as low as it surely must be, do the TSA's frontline employees have any reason to perform beyond expectations?
If people cared more about their civil liberties, their morale would be far lower, because more people than I would be telling every TSA worker they encounter in the airport that they're horrible for violating our civil liberties for money.
As a commenter on my blog noted, the "administrative search" is an end run around the Constitution, but if nobody's complaining, hey, no need to stop. This is the path to the police state and we are very much on our way.
A Tuskegee Airman shouldn't have to pay to fly, much less get examined by a TSA goon.
In fact, TSA goons everywhere: if you were sodomized by that Airman, you'd be a better person for it.
And this applies to those who praise the TSA, too.
Radwaste at August 12, 2013 8:28 AM
I can't prove it, of course, but I think it's about money and pissing off people with money. Christopher Elliott is reliant on advertisers. His personal blog and various associated blogs accept advertising. Especially travel-related advertising. Every single travel agent who comments on his sites is vehemently pro-TSA. Why? Because if people stop flying, travel agents lose money. They don't want anything to discourage people from flying.
In addition, he has recently picked up a job at USA Today -- writing the travel column. That newspaper (not to mention most of the others in this country) is painfully mainstream. They're not interested in rocking the boat. So there's no way they're going to allow him to criticize the TSA the way he used to.
At least that's what I think is going on.
Flyover at August 12, 2013 9:09 AM
After all, with employee morale as low as it surely must be, do the TSA's frontline employees have any reason to perform beyond expectations?
Years ago, I was in a McDonalds. Service was slow and lackadaisical.
Standing by me, waiting, was a older black man, wearing coat and tie. Which was obviously his everyday wear. (Sometimes I really thing we've lost a lot by going to "casual" dress.)
He was getting angrier at the poor service/mistakes, and attitude, and said to me "This is just inexcusable!"
I, was young, and admittedly more sympathetic, and not wanting to be potentially critical of the people working, said "Well, I guess if you're paying minimum wage, that's what you'll get."
"Nonsense!" He vehemently sneered at me. "They agreed to do the job, that's the pay, then DO THE JOB. Do it WELL. That's your JOB."
....
That's one of the most defining experiences, and I have no idea who he was. Sadly, it took me a few more years to really, really understand what he meant.
Unix-Jedi at August 12, 2013 9:13 AM
I agree with the man in Unix-Jedi's story. You agreed to do that job, and you agreed on the pay. Therefore, you do it well.
Besides, the passive-aggressive approach is generally ineffective when it comes to negotiating for more pay. You want to move up in McDonald's? You do the job well.
Patrick at August 12, 2013 9:49 AM
screeners involved in...drug smuggling activities
Today it's drug smuggling. Tomorrow, it could be 5 pounds of Semtex, with detonator and triggering mechanism. But I didn't know will be small comfort to the rest of us...
I R A Darth Aggie at August 12, 2013 10:36 AM
Aw, how sweet. The writer ignores the leering jackals slobbering over the young hotties and focuses on the one-in-a-million acts of normal human politeness.
You know, the acts of politeness everyone else in the world takes as normal decent behavior but for which the TSA's media toadies demand a pat on the back.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at August 12, 2013 1:05 PM
Gog_Magog_,
Bingo.
Lisa Simeone at August 12, 2013 1:34 PM
Apparently the conventional wisdom is that a police state is just fine and dandy as long as it's executed courteously. The many people who think this way, in addition to thinking in a way alien to what Americans have always believed, won't change their minds until they are personally and greatly inconvenienced. Then, of course, it's too late, and none of their shrieks and baying at the moon will change it back to the way it would be if people who valued freedom were making the decisions.
cpabroker at August 12, 2013 4:38 PM
+10
From the little flying I have done post 9/11 some of the TSA try to be courteous. Some just seem like they don't care. But a full third come off as bullies drunk on their power to give you shit.
Jim P. at August 12, 2013 6:12 PM
Spot on, Gog!
And it's not just the normal courtesies we expect from everyone, but we generally expect professionals to be courteous. You know, like the cashier in the grocery store, who probably gets paid less than these inept buffoons. She's probably required to be pleasant, even when confronted with less-than-pleasant customers.
But evidently, we're supposed to "ooh" and "ahh" when the TSA extends the courtesy we expect from everyone else who provides a service.
Patrick at August 12, 2013 7:48 PM
I know others have said it, and I know I'm preaching to the choir, and I know we are all voices in the wilderness and I despair of being listened to by those who will lick the hands that feed them, but, dammit, it doesn't matter if your masters are courteous. They are still your masters and you are still slaves if you permit it. Be nice, and don't ask any questions, and we'll let you stay in Cowslip's Warren.
Grey Ghost at August 13, 2013 7:00 AM
Anything in the name of "safety"!
Radwaste at August 14, 2013 2:44 AM
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