Unutterably Silly Airport security decisions?

[nohmi2]

I have heard them referred to as;

Wedding tackle.
Meat and two veg.
(and for a man with a big tummy)The playroom under the verandah.

I'm just saying......

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by kennyc

And not used in 15 years?

use or lose it?

[NormHart]

I am amazed that my fellow citizens accept this. I mean really; Exactly how many bombs have been discovered using all these intrusive methods on flights originating in the US? For that matter how many bombs have been found using any method on flights originating in the US?

And what happens when an underwear bomber decides to light his pants on fire at a baseball game? Can you imagine having to be fondled in order to get into a sporting event? A concert? An opera? (Well that might be OK.) I mean really, how wide is this sort of thing going to spread?

At what point will the American people decide that the intrusion of government into their trousers has gone on long enough? I am not willing to sacrifice any freedom for any amount of security but I appear to be in the minority.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by NormHart

I am amazed that my fellow citizens accept this. I mean really; Exactly how many bombs have been discovered using all these intrusive methods on flights originating in the US? For that matter how many bombs have been found using any method on flights originating in the US?

And what happens when an underwear bomber decides to light his pants on fire at a baseball game? Can you imagine having to be fondled in order to get into a sporting event? A concert? An opera? (Well that might be OK.) I mean really, how wide is this sort of thing going to spread?

At what point will the American people decide that the intrusion of government into their trousers has gone on long enough? I am not willing to sacrifice any freedom for any amount of security but I appear to be in the minority.

I'm much less concerned about this that what they are doing with spying on domestic communications - phones, internet, etc....

Let's get up in arms about that .... and the still existing so-called PATRIOT ACT!

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by NormHart

I am amazed that my fellow citizens accept this. I mean really; Exactly how many bombs have been discovered using all these intrusive methods on flights originating in the US? For that matter how many bombs have been found using any method on flights originating in the US?

And what happens when an underwear bomber decides to light his pants on fire at a baseball game? Can you imagine having to be fondled in order to get into a sporting event? A concert? An opera? (Well that might be OK.) I mean really, how wide is this sort of thing going to spread?

At what point will the American people decide that the intrusion of government into their trousers has gone on long enough? I am not willing to sacrifice any freedom for any amount of security but I appear to be in the minority.

If they were smart they would have phased it in a little slower so people could get accustomed to the idea. Maybe introduce it at Hooters restaurants.

[happy_terd]

Even though I cannot physically hurt without getting arrested I can still stare at them real mean with my best "I am strong enough to rip your arms off" look.

*shrug* Who wouldnt want to grope me though?

[Bikeridr]

There's missing one option in the poll.
"I'll strip naked and have the groper"

I couldn't care less on how/which body scanner they use, but I have a suggestion for increased safety:
Everybody planning to fly should hand in all their luggage (including terrorist items) to the airport 2 days in advance. Then, one should walk completely nude for the 2 day period before flying and of course fly completely nude. One will be handed out a controlled eReader with only "Sleeping Beauty" on it to read on the flight. Then one will receive the luggage (including the terrorist items) 2 days post flight. Also after 2 days you will be allowed to wear your clothes again

Flights should become more interesting then

[Sweetpea]

Well, after seeing a Discovery show yesterday, I'm more and more sure that most Americans are crazy! They go by plane while they have the most magnificent areas to pass through by train!

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Well, after seeing a Discovery show yesterday, I'm more and more sure that most Americans are crazy! They go by plane while they have the most magnificent areas to pass through by train!

Passenger train service is lousy where it exists in the US. I also hear trains running between the US and Europe are a bit damp.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Passenger train service is lousy where it exists in the US. I also hear trains running between the US and Europe are a bit damp.

No, that's what I mean. You shouldn't demand that they do away with those scanners, but that they do something with the railways! And who needs Europe when you have a hinterland like that anyway

[charonme]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

What is YOUR answer to keeping terrorists w/bombs or weapons off planes?

Whatever the solution is (if it even exists), it surely is not these optoutable porn machines with the alternative of genital fondling / sexual assault. If you really want to use a deadly weapon aboard, you will find a way even with current measures.

To keep terrorists off planes you could prohibit all flying, but the terrorists may still try to use their own planes. If the only concern is to keep terrorists off planes (while letting some other people fly) without any regard to privacy, freedoms and rights, you would have to go into ridiculous measures.

By the way, why keep terrorist of planes only, why not keep them from trains, buses, subway stations, banks, post offices, other public buildings, libraries, schools, malls, hospitals, streets, cities etc? Why not employ strip+cavity searches everywhere?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Well, after seeing a Discovery show yesterday, I'm more and more sure that most Americans are crazy! They go by plane while they have the most magnificent areas to pass through by train!

Yeah, you should try living here among them!!!!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yeah, you should try living here among them!!!!

I have, for a year

And I went from Roswell, NM, to LA, CA, both by car and by plane (ok, the plane was back from LA to Roswell...) And I must say, I prefer the car ride (and this was waaaaaaaaaaay before any extra security measures were made, I remember wondering where the security was in the first place )

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Well, after seeing a Discovery show yesterday, I'm more and more sure that most Americans are crazy! They go by plane while they have the most magnificent areas to pass through by train!

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Passenger train service is lousy where it exists in the US. I also hear trains running between the US and Europe are a bit damp.

Not only that but it is pretty expensive as well as compared to flying.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by NormHart

I am not willing to sacrifice any freedom for any amount of security but I appear to be in the minority.

You aren't sacrificing your freedom. You are still free to refrain from flying, if you don't like the process of doing so.

And in the broader picture, your suggestion that any security at all is somehow a violation of "freedom" (whatever we think that is) is unrealistic... and I'd bet you go against that statement every day, in some way or another... every time you lock a door, for example, or buy a product with a credit card.

Freedom and security are not mutually exclusive concepts. In many cases, you need security to be able to grant freedom. This happens to be one of them: Without security protecting flights and lives, there would be more and more serious threats during every flight, which would have an adverse impact on flying; and if flights are curtailed or cancelled because of threats or decreased ridership, or prices skyrocket to deal with the increased cost and insurance against loss of planes and lives, it could possibly prevent you from being able to fly at all.

Society at large has already accepted various levels of security, in order to make their lives safer or easier... this is just one more, and it's voluntary, at that. It does the best job of keeping planes flying, and allowing passengers to fly them comfortably. Until someone comes up with a better solution to making sure no one attacks my plane, I'm cool with it.