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Home Front: WoT

Future TSA: Track All 'Daily Travels To Work, Grocery Stores & Social Events'

2011-08-24

When the TSA was asked to provide legal reasons that definitely spelled out why physically invasive patdowns are legal, without any probable cause, not one TSA person had an answer. There was no legal documentation for enhanced patdowns other than it serves "the essential administrative purpose."
Well silly, there's your answer right there. It's 'essential'. Otherwise TSA has no reason to exist, and have you ever heard of a large bureaucracy finding a reason not to exist? Cheez, from what turnip truck did you fall off last night?
Peep show, police state or privacy invasion, patdowns and body scans are not just in airports. EPIC said DHS is refusing to disclose details of mobile body scanner technology. In fact, in answer to EPIC's FOIA request, DHS handed over "several papers that were completely redacted."

Meanwhile at airports, the TSA is rolling out "less-invasive gingerbread man" body scanners to a tune of $2.7 million for 240 machines. At this point, I don't think skinnier versions of the Pillsbury Doughboy via kinder and gentler naked body scans are going to placate people who are secretly murmuring that America is truly becoming a police state. Spending countless billions of dollars on all this 'security theater' makes it look like the TSA is "doing their best to ensure that if there's a terrorist attack the public doesn't blame the TSA for missing it."
That's part of 'essential', bub...
According to TSA Blogger Bob, in the 10 years after 9/11, there have been vast improvements and new technology as well as a "professionalized workforce" of Transportation Security Officers. Professional as in claiming no more enhanced groping of children under 12, only to break that promise and seemingly molest this little boy dressed as Spiderman?

The Los Angeles Times reported on TSA launching a behavior-detection program at Boston's Logan International Airport. These TSA officers received a whopping two weeks of training and are supposed to ask each passenger a "few" questions "in an effort to detect suspicious behavior." Doesn't this seem like yet another strike at your privacy? Some people are stressed or even nervous when they are traveling. What if you don't feel like talking or being questioned? Is this too going to become yet another TSA-mandated "you will answer if you want the privilege of flying?"

A MSNBC travel article warned that when it comes to airport security, "you ain't seen nothing yet." Some security analysts suggest Big Brother will employ an even Bigger Brother in the form of "chip-embedded passports that someday tell the federal transportation watchdogs all about your daily commutes to work, the mall -- even to parties."
Yes, big brother is wanting to watch you. Congress needs to de-fund the TSA immediately if not sooner. What a complete disgrace of an agency. And proof that a good intention paves the road to hell.

Posted by:DarthVader

#26 Reminds me of an old Joke.

A britisher comes home and seeing a light in his Gaage looks, an he sees three Yoots rummaging around for whatever they can find, be calls the Bobbies.

The Bobbies tell him "There's nobody available" and hangs up.

He thinks a bit, calls the Bobbies back and says"Don't bother, I've shot them, send a meat wagon"

The Bobbies hit his house with four cars and a helicopter, they catch the Yoots red handed and say, "You said you shot them", He replied "You said nobody was available".

Posted by: Redneck Jim 2011-08-24 20:46

#25 My accountant had his truck stolen. He located it in Philadelphia in an area that had a bad crime rate. He used gps tracking. He called the police and told them where it was. They said sorry. He goes steals his truck back and calls the police to let them know he got it back. They told him never do that again.They don't go there without several cruisers and officers. So it's the easy pickins who get targeted.
"snarkasm tag" that's a keeper.

Posted by: Dale 2011-08-24 18:32

#24 I thought smart/cell phones already did this.

Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-08-24 17:28

#23 Some security analysts suggest Big Brother will employ an even Bigger Brother in the form of "chip-embedded passports that someday tell the federal transportation watchdogs all about your daily commutes to work, the mall -- even to parties."

I don't carry my passport in country but if Big Brother really wants to, they can already track most people around with GPS chips in your phone and with Onstar-enhanced vehicles. Remotely shut it off and lock doors/windows, too, if reported stolen or just wanted by authorities. Friends in law enforcement have told me they routinely access all sorts of info we would think of as invading our privacy without warrants or our knowledge if they think they may have probable cause. Unfortunately, we cannot undo the "progress" that also gives us incredible conveniences.

Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2011-08-24 15:46

#22 I once told a TSA gent who was patting me down (I opted out of getting additional rads) that we should be able to get a clearance certification from our local law enforcement agency. His response was, no, what if someone turned after getting the clearance. My response was what about all of you guys? You've all be "cleared" to do this job. You could turn as easily as any other citizen theoretically could.

I can't stand the TSA. It is clown college.

Posted by: remoteman 2011-08-24 15:10

#21 On second thought, just as well he didn't, tu3031. To the Poles of Poland, the descriptor of Platonic perfection is "American", whether it is a couch or a man. A Grotswiecki would have immediately revealed himself as a fraud.

Posted by: trailing wife 2011-08-24 14:35

#20 He's Polish today, TW. Poznan, I believe...

Then he should have called himself Grotswiecki, tu3031. A more varied people, the Poles -- some sweet, and some tough as nails, many both. None of them foolish enough to think that name calling wouldn't get them a punch in the snoot, though.

Posted by: trailing wife 2011-08-24 14:20

#19 Just think what the unemployment rate would look like if TSA was shut down. Not nearly as bad as it would look if the federal government merely reverted to what it spent in 2001.

Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-08-24 14:06

#18 He's Polish today, TW. Poznan, I believe...

Posted by: tu3031 2011-08-24 14:04

#17 Oddly enough, Mr. van der Groot, all the Dutch people I met last summer, while wandering though the countryside with my mother, visiting her old haunts, were charming and courteous. Quite like the mathematicians I know, oddly enough. Only you insist on being rude, for some reason, but perhaps you merely have a Dutch name.

I answered your question about American troops last night, by the way. Go read it, and learn something. Then google "Rantburg "Princess Pats" " and "Rantburg Canada" to learn more things. Learning is important, and you need to acquire some.

Posted by: trailing wife 2011-08-24 14:02

#16 If the government or your social betters wanted you to have rights, they would have given them to you.
(/me rummages in the desk for a snarkasm tag)

Paging King John to the white courtesy phone.

Posted by: SteveS 2011-08-24 13:51

#15 "Rights can be either recognized or abrogated, but they cannot be granted."

Find the idea of rights not granted by a state offensive, do you lib? Typical.

Posted by: Secret Master 2011-08-24 13:43

#14 Yes #12 I agree. You have an unalienable right to be stoopid...

Posted by: Van Der Groot 2011-08-24 13:26

#13 $32./hr. with benefits

Only if you're full time and at a mid SV-H level. That's equivalent to a GS-12, btw. Not who you'd see in the airport security area.

The pat-down artists are SV-C band (GS-04/05 equivalent) $22K-$33K, full time. However, most of those are part-timers

Posted by: Pappy 2011-08-24 12:19

#12 How Unalienable Rights Become Privileges

Posted by: newc 2011-08-24 12:15

#11 "you will answer if you want the privilege of flying?"

This attitude that flying, driving, walking is a priviledge needs to be slammed down.

I can see regulation for common rules, but travel isn't a priviledge, its a right.

Posted by: flash91 2011-08-24 11:11

#10 You have to just laugh or you're heart would explode. Quite frankly, I enjoy watching the TSA ($32./hr. with benefits) slip-shoe, shuck and jive at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. It reminds me to hit the tax-free munies and to save receipts for the long form.

Posted by: Besoeker 2011-08-24 11:08

#9 The project initially was supposed to be a very temporary security contract to allow the intel service enough time to identify threats.
The democrat congress insisted on making it another permanent federal bureaucratic nightmare.

It needs to be shut down.

Posted by: newc 2011-08-24 11:05

#8 You really need to read the archives. Bush got a lot of beatings here over the Homeland security and TSA bullshit.

But now, like all government regulation agencies, the TSA is morphing into something that it was never intended to be and taking away more of our freedoms.

Posted by: DarthVader 2011-08-24 10:21

#7 However, your buddy Obama says its time to bring the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan because things are better now, so we can anticipate in a few days the announcement that TSA will also be drawn down as well, right?

Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-08-24 08:08

#6 ..if you check the record, Bush was initially opposed to the project which was pushed by the Donks for political leverage after 9/11. But don't let facts get in the way of your alternate universe.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-08-24 08:06

#5 You can thank your buddy 'Homeland' Bush next time your undies get frisked at the aeroport...

Posted by: Van Der Groot 2011-08-24 08:04

#4 Just think what the unemployment rate would look like if TSA was shut down. It's become 'essential' as a jobs program.

Posted by: Glenmore 2011-08-24 07:53

#3 While they are at it, could they clean the gutters, mow the grass, carry in the groceries, put them away, wash the dishes, brush and walk the dogs, feed the critters, prepare meals, clean the house, dust,...Forget it. It's not worth the cost of freedom.

Posted by: JohnQC 2011-08-24 07:43

#2 "good at confiscating millions of bottles of water and fingernail clippers". Ebay deals.

TSA government jobs, what? $32./hr. with benefits!.

Posted by: Dale 2011-08-24 06:36

#1 When govt is unwilling or unable to profile potential terrorists and to deal with the obvious threats, then it goes after the law-abiding citizens with invasive searching and intimidation tactics.

A wall of bureaucrats will not protect the public, but they are good at confiscating millions of bottles of water and fingernail clippers.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2011-08-24 00:58

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