TSA Scan or Patdown Process Remains Abusive Ashley Jessica

Saturday, June 1st, 2013 @ 9:32 pm | Civil Rights, We Think So

“Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security” ~ Benjamin Franklin

We recently listed those things about which U.S. citizens are fearful, among them the security process travelers must endure before boarding flights in the United States.

^^"How early do we have to be there for the frisking?"

The following is a recent video of student activist Ashley Jessica, and her mother, recorded as they prepare to board a flight from San Diego to Toronto, to show what more often than not does happen when one of the two non-options is selected in order to travel via air in the United States.

The Transportation Security Administration, (TSA), was created following the September 11, 2001 attacks, wherein commercial airliners were used to shock and awe millions of civilians, both Americans and foreign nationals. The purpose of the organization is to to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems as well as ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. From this we, the public, typically understand the administration will be capturing would be terrorist. We did not expect they would be harassing old people, molesting children of all ages, racially profiling, as in, "M'am your hairstyle needs to be examined," as the person in line in front of you, the white woman with the Marge Simpson beehive, was just easily cleared for boarding with no questions asked nor any unusual delay because of her hair fashion choice.

Twelve years after its creation the TSA has not lived up to its stated purpose. In fact the day to day administration of transportation security has caused more anxiety, stress, and delays than it has made secure the means of transportation for millions who use airplanes to go from point A to point B. Would be passengers are nervous weeks before they fly; they are upset because they wish to resist this personal invasion of their privacy. It is thrust upon us because we recognize the policy is being implemented by those who know they have the power. You Must Not Resist. Many of us are beginning to recognize the government is wearin' us down...we acquiesce to foolish demands such as removing our shoes, or surrendering more than three ounces of our expensive hair products and other cosmetics

We consider being scanned with unsafe equipment, levels of radiation are in question; versus physical pat downs by TSA screws, unreasonable choices in order to be cleared to board a flight. The procedure certainly is ineffective as a deterrent. Especially when one considers the fact TSA hasn't deterred one credibly suspected terrorist from boarding a plane. They've collected a whole lot of expensive perfumes, colognes, lotions, shampoos, varied kinds of hair products and other travel booty; items they promptly use to raise money for the TSA by selling to state and county agencies. Plus all the stuff you can steal. (How can they be selling anything when it's confiscated because it might be a deadly weapon of terror?) No menacing terrorist types have been caught. They didn't even stop those two guys from Chechnya in Russia, the two brothers we're told had sought and received political asylum in the U.S., who were freely flying back and forth to their former homeland. The ones who the government says detonated not one, but two explosive devices at the Boston Marathon foot race in April 2013.

The unspoken objective of the TSA is to observe the comings and goings of U.S. citizens; to intimidate with unreasonable required searches of individuals with either scanning technology or manual body searches of the most personal kind. The government has been extremely successful controlling and manipulating in a negative way those who use airplanes; regardless of age from infants to great-grandmothers no one eludes the scrutiny of the ominous TSA representative.

To say the government's hiring policy is lax is an understatement. The first time we'd seen TSA's agents in action at airports we suspected they were varying types of miscreants...male and female. Last fall it was reported the TSA has employed, and as far as we can tell he continues to be employed by the administration, Thomas Harkin, disgraced former Roman Catholic priest; he was defrocked for allegedly sexually abusing young girls. Harkin resigned in the midst of the church scandal, and was hired shortly after by the TSA to work at the very busy Philadelphia International Airport, assigned to patting down passengers, *before* even completing the background check for his employment.

"What'll it be, the full nudie body scan or being groped by that dude?"

According to TSA officials Harkin worked for two years in the capacity of security guard touching passengers, before being promoted to now supervising screening operations for checked baggage. They say he hasn't performed the physical search of passengers since 2004.

A spokesman for the TSA says several things with regard to the fact Harkin is still in their employ for more than ten years. Firstly, "An allegation alone does not warrant dismissal or automatically disqualify applicants from employment with the TSA." Secondly, "The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits TSA from disclosing information from our employees' job applications and employment records. However, all TSA employees undergo comprehensive background checks, which include criminal history." That last part became policy after 2003 following the hiring of more than 50,000 workers, some before full background checks were completed. Harkin was among them; it's likely he's not the only confirmed alleged pervert who was hired during the feds' rush to provide secure airline travel.

Visit the TSA web site to see the recruitment style used, and review the qualifications necessary to become eligible to be one of a "prestigious group of individuals."

"Our job requires you touch people, touch their bags." If you enjoy touching strangers, searching through the personal affects of others contained in luggage, Have we got a job for you! As an added bonus you'll get all the collected "illegal" items you carry without being caught. Your gift giving problems are solved in a jiffy!