I don't know how I thought of this comparison, but I sent a post to Propaganda Village comparing the TSA to a drug dealer with respect to all of this trusted traveler crap. I doubt it will see the light of day, and, under the threat of "outing" myself, here is it:
I wonder if all those complaints to Congress about PV censorship by Blogdad Bob have finally resulted in some scrutiny?
Oh no, and (expletive deleted) no. It was the parenthetical comment at the bottom of his post that did it! ETA: Way to go, Flies!!!
I wonder what would happen if a member of Congress laid a subpoena on Blogdad Bob ordering him to provide all rejected comments for the last 36 months, the subject of the blog post they were in answer to, and an explanation for rejection? Maybe a year in prison for Contempt Of Congress will chill him out.
Ignoring a congressional subpoena is not something you want to do. You just might end up getting the perp-walk out of your office nicely attired in leg irons and belly chains.
If anyone needs any more proof that the airlines are complicit in TSA abuse, straight from the horse's mouth: Wake up, people. The airlines are screwing you. The airlines are playing you for suckers. Market Watch: United Customers Can Expedite Travel Process With TSA PreCheck(TM) http://www.marketwatch.com/story/un...travel-process-with-tsa-prechecktm-2012-06-27
I'm working on something now for TSA news on this and plan to have it done this week. When you look at the number of "beneficiaries" so far, ~1.7 million, that means that virtually no one gets to use it yet when compared to the ~700 million pax/year. Also the selected participating airports and airlines so far seems less that egalitarian. The whole program reeks and no one seems to be looking at the mechanics or social implications of this.
Don't feel like starting a new pre-check thread, so I'm goosing this one ... Becky Akers @ LRC Blog: Behave, All You Bad Little Serfs The TSA’s “Pre-Check program … give approved ‘trusted travelers’ access to an expedited line at [airports] … These travelers can skip some of the usual tasks that slow screenings — removing shoes, belts and jackets, and separating laptops and plastic bags filled with lip balm and liquids.” Earning this dispensation from Our Masters requires the peon to “first qualify as frequent fliers, and they have to pay a fee and undergo background checks,” as I explain here. Why does the TSA allow some people sometimes to evade its perverts’ groping? “TSA can remove Pre-Check status at any time … If a passenger misbehaves or harasses agents, TSA also can add the person to a watch list, which requires more thorough security screening.”Better smile and thank the nice thug in the blue shirt, or Big Brother will send you back to the long line for some punitive Sexual Assault.
