A huge gaping hole in airport security

[lazarus]

A while back, I was in an airport. I stopped at a kiosk to buy a soda. Being bored, I started up a little chat with the lady working the kiosk.

I started by asking how frustrating it was to go through security every day just to get to her job. Then I got a surprise.

They don't go through security. They have "random" checks about once every week or two. Here's the kicker: their boss tells them the day before that they will be "randomly" checked the next day, so they can arrive early so as to be on time for work.

So dozens of people working minimum wage get waved past security every day in this airport. If that's not a huge gaping hole in airport security, I don't know what is. They can smuggle pretty much anything they like, explosives, weapons, etc., and hand them off to someone else who just passed through security on his way to a flight.

So much for the TSA.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Its a Solitary Job at TSA

Now if only the queen would show up

[lazarus]

2. I actually

have that image copied to be edited into my post. Great minds and all that.

[tavalon]

3. The mistake you are making is taking up their framing

This wasn't ever about security, it's about looking like they are doing something for your security. Dog and Pony show. Somebody accidentally let you look behind the tent. I do hope this doesn't keep you up at night as you are no more, nor less safe than you were on September 10th, 2001. Honest.

A bigger hole and one that threatens to rip a big hole in the facade is that we still don't search cargo. So when UPS uses your transcontinental flight to get grandma's gift to her, let's all just hope that gift isn't a bomb.

[lazarus]

5. Oh, I know all about the dog and pony show

this doesn't keep me up at night. I guess the sarcasm didn't come across in the OP. :hi:

[tavalon]

7. Yeah, I worry about people who are so worried that they aren't being adequately protected

The TSA isn't failing them because it was never really there to protect them.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I hope Obama's people are listening.

[uponit7771]

6. The TSA is big fail

[tanyev]

8. Yeah, that's the thing that gets me.

I would submit to the full body scan without much complaint IF a) each and every checked bag going on the airplane was being fully examined b) every bit of cargo was being fully examined and c) each and every airline/airport employee was going through the scan machines on their way to work. I'm tired of being treated like a suspect when there are plenty of other weak links in the chain.

[TexasObserver]

9. Recommend. It's not really about airport security.

It's about keeping us scared, keeping us compliant, making us think that something is being done about the alleged menace, enforcing a bunch of rules that are aimed to monitor not foreign threats, but us.

[lonestarnot]

10. Zacto! Social control. Nothing more, nothing less.

Watchers watching watchers for pennies on the dollar and being watched is so much fun. :puke:

[TexasObserver]

17. Now, they're going to teach them to spot people acting strangely.

Except we know that everyone they choose will be wrong, except perhaps once every three or four years. And if they're only right once every three or four years, it really isn't a system for catching people, is it?

This is all pure idiocy. If they want to catch explosives, get dogs, let them sniff everyone at the entry points to the airport, and stop pretending these idiots they hire for TSA are doing anything but annoying travelers.

[NightWatcher]

11. take off your shoes, gimmie your belt, bend over and grab your.....

are you subservient yet?

[rug]

12. What does minimum wage have to do with it?

[Motown_Johnny]

14. easier to pay them to carry something into a secure area.... maybe???

and I doubt very much if they are minimum wage.

[GeorgeGist]

13. uh huh

but you weren't in the gate area were you?

[lazarus]

15. yes, I was

through security, in the gate area.

[Quantess]

16. The TSA is such a joke.