more tales from the TSA zone

[lanning]

Since it's come to my attention that some folks think that only people with "bad attitudes" are being abused by TSA personnel, I'll link two of the latest examples of the work being done by our defenders of freedom.

A breast cancer survivor is forced to remove her prosthetic breast.

A bladder cancer survivor's urostomy bag is ripped open.This is

Comments

[sidewinder]

Jesus fucking christ.

[lanning]

Yeah, my reaction exactly.

[lanning]

I keep asking myself when constitutional protections were legally declared null and void in airports. I must have missed that memo. And yes, the official response has been infuriatingly stupid. If these agents are so egregiously disregarding established policy, why aren't they being disciplined? If their behavior is due to poor training, what's the plan for improving the training? It would be so nice if the Administration could cultivate a sense of urgency about SOMETHING.

I hope your brother doesn't need to travel this week! Or if he does, that the travel gods watch over him (hopefully smiting a few TSA agents in the process *g*).

[teenygozer]

I'm tired of hearing the party line: "80 percent of the public thinks this is fine", which doesn't mention the fact that the ones polled were people off the street who had never had the procedures done to them, or really heard what the intensive, groping pat-downs were like, let alone endured one

[lanning]

Agreed on all counts. I think those polls are crap, frankly. And Obama either needs to get on the stick and do something about this, or be honest about the fact that the Constitution is being scrapped in favor of unbridled corporate interests. Just tell me the republic is dead so I can make plans to emigrate, okay? Jeebus.

[teenygozer]

I suspect Obama is afraid that if something happens on a plane, his administration will be blamed for not doing enough, so he's waiting for all these lawsuits and protests to gain momentum. He'll then be able to say, "Hey, we did what we could." I find it amusing that he was raked over the coals for the Underwear Bomber by Faux News despite the fact that it was pretty much exactly the same scenario as the Shoe Bomber, which happened on Bush's watch. Meanwhile, the taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars for these machines.

Also, I've seen no mention of whether or not they're putting pregnant women through the nudie-view machine yet... is the TSA cheerfully exposing them to all that radiation? They keep saying it's safe and they'd never lie about that, right?

[lanning]

Jesus, I didn't think about that. What a nightmare.

[emrinalexander]

I've got titanium staples and some space-age alloy cable holding my right lung together. Are these morons going to stick there arms down my throat to feel that up when the alarm goes off? I haven't flown since 1999 and I sure don't see any reason to start now, even if I wanted to be charged for the air I breathe and for a pillow.

[lanning]

Wise choice. I wouldn't put anything past these brownshirts at this point. :/

[tehomet]

It just keeps getting worse.