Sunday, October 28, 2007

Familiarity and Contempt


I have not been posting the last few weeks. It largely has to do with time spent hanging out on customer lines, airports and watching the odometer in my car pass 100,000 miles. One thing I have decided, the TSA is a JOKE. Since its inception, I do not think I have seen anything less than an orange alert. Are we always at high risk of terrorist attacks? Has the TSA been bagging the boys right and left trying to sneak on planes with matches hanging out of their tennis shoes?

I do not mean to sound complacent. I just wonder how much the TSA has really done for us? As I recall, if security procedures that were in place on 9/11 had been followed, then it is unlikely there would have been the disaster there was. I also think the 84 of Flight 93 put a bigger stop in flight terrorism than TSA ever will.

I just worry when we begin counting on bureaucrats for our safety.

Name wise, "Homeland Security" sounds reminiscent of of a "Committe for State Security"

Color my paranoia "Orange"

10 comments:

sage said...

THe color codes made a good publicity stunt and have since become a joke... However, I find that I'm checked a lot more in detailed when I fly than I use to--especially when I'm carrying a backpack. I use to be able to carry a stove and empty--but used--fuel bottle, but not anymore. I've lost a couple of swiss army knifes that i forgotten to take out of my briefcase (computer backpack), so at least they've been keeping the skies from a Sage that goes off the deep end :)

Ed said...

It seems so ridiculous to me that I've had half inch long magnetic screw driver bits confiscated while a regular four inch long screw driver is acceptable. Last week, my brother had to be searched repeatedly while in a great deal of pain and having bolts and rods sticking out of his bone and skin on the outside to hold his shattered leg together. The large swollen purple leg should have been the first tip off.

Meanwhile, we spend billions of dollars protecting such things as the covered bridges of Madison County against terrorism among other "high value" targets while things like trains go largely unchecked. What a messed up world.

Freewheel said...

The color codes are a joke and Homeland Security seems to be overly politicized. However, I have some sympathy for the TSA screeners because they really do have thankless jobs.

jj mollo said...

It's really all for show. The day after 9/11 when we learned about the flight 93 response to the hijacking, a change took place in the American public that is irreversible. Hijackings are a thing of the past.

I suppose they will still try to bring bombs aboard, but once again, the passengers are the best defense against that.

BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

Just dropped by to say hello.

Yes, life is always in session.

Leesa said...

You are right-on with your comment. I was thinking of posting something similar, but more about all of the other things we have to endure and how it really does not change our safety.

Leesa said...

I never posted something similar.

Åsa said...

Merry Christmas Mal! I miss you!

Lots of love from far away

QUASAR9 said...

Hi Mal,
here's wishing you and your close ones much merry making and all the best for the festive season

Leesa said...

Hope you are doing okay.