Stop flying and end the airline industry. That will either put the TSA out of business or put them into new positions that are so intrusive that the sheeple will either wake up or at least self-identify so we can shun them from polite society.

agree with brian, if everybody stayed away from the airlines for even one day, this would end

The sheeple have already given up their power. And ours. Over the years, the sheeple of this nation continuously voted for politions who support unconstitutional legislation under the guise of "safety" and "govt protection" and in return for that feeling of "safety", those sheeple traded their and our freedoms. It's too late to go back. Once you let the govt have that much control, short of another revolution, it's be near impossible to get it back.

Even before the TSA started feeling up the passengers, there was no dignity in air travel.

Coach seats have become squeezed so tightly together that I've almost had my nose broken by the guy in front of me leaning his seat back.

Coach passengers have to beg for a shot glass of water during a long flight and are forced to pay real-meal prices for a "snack box" consisting of little more than a bag of chips, two crackers, and a lo-fat cheese-like spread.

And checked baggage fees mean people are now schlepping enough carry-on baggage to equip a small army. All of which is supposed to fit into an overhead compartment smaller than my high school gym locker.

With limited stowage, passengers scramble like animals to get on the plane as quickly as possible so they can grab at least some space in the overhead bins before the family of five - each with three carry-ons - takes it all. Or the frequent flier with priority boarding drops his suit case off in the first row overhead bin before he makes his way to his seat in Row 22 (all so he won't be inconvenienced by having to lug his suitcase to the front of the plane when disembarking).

This has been a long process since the days of "Hi, I'm Cheryl, fly me." to "Hi, Mr. TSA Agent, feel me." And the airlines, the government, and the passengers themselves have all played a role in the de-dignifying of air travel.

I recommend traveling by touring bike (bicycle, that is). No one wants to feel you up when you're sweaty and stinky.

By the way, where is Crid?

Is it safe to pubish an e-mail address where he can be reached? I don't want to create a privacy violation problem for him. But I would also like to tell him he is missed, and I wonder what he is doing.

--PEEJ

Well, the TSA goons have to be doing *something* while they're not catching guns being brought through their checkpoints, don't they?

Anyone remember the days when air travel was seen as romantic and exciting?

"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away..."

I was working interstate most of last year and flying home every second weekend. Fortunately airline security is more sane in my country so no patdowns. But as a single male with limited baggage I got singled out for "random" explosives residue checks way more often than was warranted. For anyone who hasn't done this, they wipe a bit of sticky tape over your shoulders, legs, shoes, bag, and for some strange reason your belt buckle - which because I habitually wear an untucked T-shirt involves lifting my shirt and presenting my crotch and bare belly to a total stranger. Then the tape goes into a machine for analysis. It's not too invasive, but I got sick of it after the first five times.

I did consider wearing a slightly longer shirt and putting a ribbon tied into a bow on my exposed penis as a present for them. But I would rather get home than get arrested.

Maybe that's the way to fight this - make them uncomfortable? When they pat your genitals, just moan and say "mmmm, a bit to the left...oh that's great...". I'm guessing they'd back off pretty fast at that point :)

Or wear a bikini under your clothes and strip down to it before going through the full body scanner...

Or wear a bikini under your clothes and strip down to it before going through the full body scanner...

That was tried -- Amy blogged about it a few months back. The woman wore essentially nothing but see through clothing going through security.

They freaked out.

When I heard of the hoopla around Erika Eleniak's TSA encounter, I dearly wished I could have been there. Not to leer, but to get her to say, "Take a good look. And when you remember this day, remember that no one like me will EVER voluntarily be seen this way by the likes of you."

I recently flew after 3 years of no flying, and had no complaints with TSA. That's not to say they don'thappen, there just not ubiquitous.