Are we losing our rights in the name of safety?

[ChriswUfGator]

Calling the agents goons, doods (sic) and losers kinda sounds like an attack on the messenger to me. 

I'll have to check my Garmin and make sure I'm not too lost.

I never said goon or anything like that. The policy is what I'm opposed to, and has been from the beginning.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

'stop shooting the messenger' is across the thread - no one in particular.

Based on both sides of the story that I've read, people are angry with the screeners because of what they're doing, the screeners don't want to do it but have no choice - it's their job (finding another job isn't really a choice in this case)  The anger, warranted or not, needs to be directed at the powers that be. 

I think you even said something to the effect of, "make the politicians go through the same scrutiny", but that's never going to happen.

[Ernest Street]

Yep..as this escalates more and more people are slipping "Above The Law"
For the simple reason of assuring safety to a country that never asked for it....When will people start getting Uppity again and get their head out of the sand?

Get off the pain pills,Turn off the 115" Plasma Screen and get a Spine and formulate a basic plan to be aware and defend yourself and your property.

[Coolyfett]

Many Aftermath headlines are popping up. The losers at the airport were either laughed at or got funny looks from normal americans, they slowed down NOTHING!! More anti Obama foolishness.

[JC]

What right is being taken away?

You are the most horrible kind of hypocrite!  Seriously, yeah SERIOUSLY! To paraphrase your zillions of wasted words 'Its security if it doesn't negatively impact me.' 'Its not a government take over if I say its not'

Personally I don't fly unless I absolutely have to. I think its a hassle and I surprise myself by how unpredictable I can be at times.  I might just cause a scene and to prove a point if someone fondled me I may go all Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally with a faux orgasm.  I may even go as far as to ask for a happy ending and tip the TSO.  

[KenFSU]

More anti Obama foolishness.

?? ?? ??

This is pretty clever:
http://cargocollective.com/4thamendment

[KenFSU]

The losers at the airport were either laughed at or got funny looks from normal americans.

70% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein was personally behind 9/11.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-09-06-poll-iraq_x.htm

90% of Americans can't find Afghanistan on a map.

60% of Americans can't identify the three branches of government.

http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/24/dumb-things-americans-believe.html#

Call me crazy, but I don't exactly put much weight on the opinion of normal Americans.

The normal American (58%) hasn't read a book since high school.

These are the people that you suggest should be used to gauge approval?

Really?

REALLY?

[uptowngirl]

While comparing the TSA agents to Nazis is obviously extreme, the intent of the comparison is to ask yourself when does the madness stop? When do normal everyday people draw the line about what they are willing to do to their fellow citizens so they can collect a paycheck and buy a plasma TV at Best Buy?

The Germans thought Hitler was going fix Germany's economy, make it a safer, cleaner grand country. Hitler started out small, and kept adding to his attrocities, until eventually there were interrment camps were fellow citizens were kept until they (the guards and soldiers who were just doing their jobs) could get around to murdering them, all in the name of making Germany a better place. Normal citizens allowed this to happen, normal citizens actively particpated, because jobs were scarce, the economy was not too hot, and it was a job after all.

It is a valid comparison, based on your defense of "these people are just doing their jobs", most "normal" Americans do not mind the intrusion. Do I think the TSA agents will start killing people? No, not really. But I do think you walk a very dangerous path when you let people molest you and your children just because they are doing their job.

molest - To sexually abuse, especially regarding a minor; To annoy intentionally; To disturb or tamper with

fondler - a molester who touches the intimate parts of the victim; "the woman charged that her jailer was a fondler"; "not all fondlers are sexual perverts"

[BridgeTroll]

Really?  Hitler??   Happy Thanksgiving Uptown!  I'm glad you did not have to travel by air for the holiday.  The vast majority breezed through without problem...and understand what is going on.

[JC]

Really?  Hitler??   Happy Thanksgiving Uptown!  I'm glad you did not have to travel by air for the holiday.  The vast majority breezed through without problem...and understand what is going on.

Yeah, if by understand you mean like how a cow understands when it goes down the shoot to be slaughtered.

[BridgeTroll]

Oh the drama...

[ChriswUfGator]

What right is being taken away?

You are the most horrible kind of hypocrite!  Seriously, yeah SERIOUSLY! To paraphrase your zillions of wasted words 'Its security if it doesn't negatively impact me.' 'Its not a government take over if I say its not'

Personally I don't fly unless I absolutely have to. I think its a hassle and I surprise myself by how unpredictable I can be at times.  I might just cause a scene and to prove a point if someone fondled me I may go all Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally with a faux orgasm.  I may even go as far as to ask for a happy ending and tip the TSO.  

You know, I can't understand it either.

For years, he's argued with me and everyone else that the constitution doesn't allow whatever he doesn't like, usually anything that might actually help people, like healthcare reform. He finds language that vaguely supports his position and then argues strict construction to the hilt. And though we do not share the same political ideology, I at least always respected him for his consistency.

But now here we are, with an issue that's plainly prohibited by the 4th amendment, I mean this one's not even questionable. No construction of the language is needed, the words are clear and this is just flat out prohibited. And to get around that, the government has devised this flimsy consent argument whereby everyone is deemed to have somehow waived their constitutional rights just by buying a travel ticket. And completely inexplicably, Mr. Strict Constructionist around here, a/k/a BridgeTroll, is all in favor of it. I just don't get it?

I think the bottom line for these conservatives is if the government helps people in some way, then it's unconstitutional. But as long as the government is harassing people, starting illegal wars, running secret prison camps, or sidestepping the constitution entirely by hiring "subcontractors" to do its dirty work, well then that's all kosher, especially if some conservative somewhere is profiting off it.

So I now present you with BridgeTroll's Guide to Constitutionality in a Nutshell:

Helping People: Unconstitutional

Harassing/Arresting/Searching/Killing People: Constitutional

[BridgeTroll]

with an issue that's plainly prohibited by the 4th amendment, I mean this one's not even questionable.

I wonder why no judge has halted the practice as unconstitutional yet?  Hmmmm... why could that be?

[JeffreyS]

I going with a kilt next time full Scottsman style.

[JC]

with an issue that's plainly prohibited by the 4th amendment, I mean this one's not even questionable.

I wonder why no judge has halted the practice as unconstitutional yet?  Hmmmm... why could that be?

WOW....