Minihan's World

Reasonableness versus lawlessness

November 29 2010

We had a lot of hits on my views on TSA (You know them--the TOUCH, SEARCH and ARREST agency).  Things calmed down a bit after the initial onslaught of complaints, and that is probably normal around here in the USA.  First, people tend to be excited about the cause de jour rather than be really concerned about any one issue. Second, those in the wrong, especially the Feds, have virtually unlimited funding to blanket a proble with PR to makle it seem like nothing.  Third, the incidents themselves did not happen to congressmen, senators, or their staffs so no really important damage occured in the minds of those with purstrings.

TSA gets a bit like the FBI at this time of year--create a lot of spurious threats of violence to get your budget passed, and then calm things down.  The FBI has done it successfully for years, and the TSA is quickly learning.

The biggest shame of this whole mess, other than those that were egregiously insulted by the TSA gestapo was the total lack of concern about the issues by Pistole, their Director.  He casually admitted that it was his decision not to publicize the new screening procedures ahead of their introduction--after all they had the RIGHT to do it--even though advance notice may have diffused the situation.  What was the most telling part of the mess was his complete lack of concern for the travelling public--and the abject defense of him by King Obama and his other minions.  People don't matter anymore--only the potentates of Washington.

 

When is the next election?

Homeland Security has finally decided that the color-coding system they put in place and then left at yellow (Do you know what that means?) for over four year was another of their wasted efforts. One Homeland Security official was quoted in the LA Times as saying that the system 'communicated nothing'. Another of their disasters laid to rest. RIP!

I'm back!

Well, after a prolonged period following surgery for cancer, it is time to get back on the soapbox on several events.

TSA has the most incredibly stupid management of any Federal agency--even the White House (And that is not saying much).  Starting this semi-legal grope with their blue gloved veterans of the unemployment lines and giving these people nearly absolute immunity from criticism and prosecution is a bit like sending a child molester to pass out candy in an orphanage.

Let's remember that their stated purpose--so often indicated by Pistone their Director--is to ensure that no more Reeds (Could not blow up own shoe) or the arab last Christmas (Could not blow up own underwear) would not be repeated.  Two acts have generated new rules designed to prevent such occurences, but will they prevent disaster?

My voice says NO THEY WON'T.  While we are molesting passengers at will, please note that only about 5% of cargo is ever checked more than cursorily (Perhaps because it can't be groped) but allowed to sit in the holds of planes (maybe like ink cartridges).

I agree with safety measures, but also think two incredibly stupid things happened here:

First, the TSA propaganda ministry failed in getting out the word sufficiently ahead to get people aware of what would happen.

Second, they apparently had little if any training (Other than a chance to grope Secretary Napolitano and the TSA Director) before the system went in place.  The horror stories are  coming out daily, but not the list of those being fired for their over-exuberance.  TSA simply rolls over everything because, after all, they are above all laws.

This foolishness needs to stop.  Sane heads need to prevail here, and the White House needs to DEMAND accountability and respectability in what TSA does.  for myself, i urge as many as possible to refuse screening in favor of a free grops to see for yourself what Washington has done for you lately.