Seriously. Why do you think the TSA strip search/fondle/backscatter rules are in place.

[Billy Burnett]

Poll question: Seriously. Why do you think the TSA strip search/fondle/backscatter rules are in place.

Example, for your consideration prior to voting ...

Young Boy Strip Searched by TSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXlHfRnf2Ak

[jefferson_dem]

1. Oh, come on.

Lame...and not helpful.

[Billy Burnett]

2. Thank you for your opinion.

Duly noted.

:hi:

[saigon68]

3. Thanks Billy--Its thought provoking

To have your child's Vulva, Penis and Anus examined------ "Priceless"

[Ian David]

4. The scanners are there to make money for Chertoff's company.

The pat-downs are there to bully us into using the scanners.

And the only reason why the administration puts up with it is because if they get rid of it, they will get blamed if something happens.

[iamjoy]

9. Exactly - And A Couple More Things...

It provides us with an illusion of security, which is different than actual security. Also, patting down elderly ladies, disabled men and small children keeps it all very p.c. and avoids any accusations of racial profiling.

[Ian David]

11. Also, they'll probably start selling TSA Fetish Porn soon. n/t

[Hansel]

18. And because TSA agents are apparently incapable of using common

sense, they don't know how to prevent the accusations of racial profiling without patting down elderly ladies, disabled men and small children.

It's not about PC. It's about narrow mindedness and focus on racial and cultural likeness, and the inability to use some forms of discipline and discretion when it comes to people who don't look and behave like your culture does. So they do this overkill.

Using the terminology "PC" gives the impression that there are not people in authority who abuse their position to punish those they are prejudice against. That all people in the positions of authority are completely capable of not allowing their biases to interfere their charge to provide security. And that even if they aren't, if you belong to a certain group, you need to take it and not complain about it.

The nation-wide argument against the mosque in NY City pretty much proves that left to their own discretion, without substantial training in profiling, that SOME TSA agents would use their positions to hone in on and harass every person with traditional Middle Eastern attire and ignore those who "fit in" to our peril.

The answer is not attacking a culture or race by labeling their legitimate concerns as merely forcing "PC" upon the rest of us. The answer is hiring and training quality TSA officers who can do the job without having to diddle little boys and grope pregnant women refusing to put their unborn child's life in danger. To train them to use some common sense.

The use of the term PC seems to be a form of blaming the victim. "I don't want certain groups to have to put up with this, so stop whining because you have to. It's your own fault because you are Muslim or black or brown." Is that your point? Because I think that that is the exact opposite direction it would be most helpful to look in. Look up not down.

[iamjoy]

35. Didn't Mean That By "PC"

I think there are some Libertarian type Conservatives who think these extra security measures are outrageous and an affront to our liberties. But I think the authoritarian Conservatives are only mad because nice white folks are getting pat down. In their world, the terrorists were Muslim, so only Muslims should be singled out for the additional security. And when one questions whether it is appropriate (to single out an ethnic group for scrutiny), they say, "Oh, I'm not worried about being PC."

I guess I just wasn't sure how to frame the argument - but that's exactly the problem - there's no happy medium. To avoid not looking like they're racial profiling, the TSA is subjecting all the wrong people to scrutiny. This leads to claims by critics that it is about being "PC" rather than the truth which is that we're being foolish.

[Hawkowl]

19. +1

Every thing is about crony capitalism and Obama's acquiescence in simply funneling the most government dollars to those huge corporations with the most persuasive lobbyists. In this instance it is Chertoff hawking his unneeded scanner machines. In health care it was buying off big Pharma and the insurance companies. In the wars it is about continuing to funnel money to the contractors.

Get it? Do people see the problem yet? Wrapped up in that Bill Cosby smile is the man cheerfully selling democrats down the river and carefully dismantling the party principle by principle.

[Ian David]

20. I don't think that's President Obama's motivation here.

I think it's more covering his ass, because if he gets rid of the scanners and the pat-downs, and THEN we get hit, they're going to blame HIM.

[Hawkowl]

22. There are alternatives

There are alternatives to groping and cancer causing x-ray machines. For example what about bomb sniffing dog teams, or puffer machines which sniff out bombs? Or simply hiring highly skilled professionals to do highly skilled screening like the Israelis do? Why? Because CHERTOFF IS SELLING THE GODDAMN MACHINES. That is just my opinion.

It is much more likely that the next terrorist attack will come in checked luggage or cargo as evidenced by the sent packages via Yemen just this past month. Dogs and puffer machines could also be used on packages and checked luggage. Obama may not be consciously rewarding crony capitalism, but he always goes with the path of least resistance and his advisors always, always tell him to appease these guys. Obama is still responsible, he is just incapable of strong leadership based upon moral principles.

[bluedigger]

21. Exactly!

[Mimosa]

30. Ian: "The pat-downs are there to bully us into using the scanners."

Yes, as well as to condition us into submission for whatever comes next.

[SDuderstadt]

5. Stupid poll with...

skewed choices.

Thanks for making matters worse.

[Billy Burnett]

6. skewed choices? Of course. It's DU.

Worse? Laughable. Take a couple of deep breaths.

:hi:

[SDuderstadt]

16. I ain't the one frothing at...

the mouth, dude.

[dave29]

7. FYI, This is what's known as a "Push Poll"

In case you want a career in dirty politics.

[Billy Burnett]

10. I do work in media.

And I've worked on some dem campaigns.

www.smpte.org

[QC]

8. To teach Americans to be submissive subjects of a police state, of course. n/t

[bemildred]

12. You should have one for "Selling Chertoff's machines".

Because that is what it is all about. All the rest is "Security Theater 2010".

[NoPasaran]

13. Macaroni and Cheese

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. To engender outrage against it, and thusly to empower and legitimize

the argument for racial profiling.

[bemildred]

15. When I was a kid, in grammar school, they had us do bomb drills.

You know: get under the desk, bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye?

That is what this is, same deal.

[saigon68]

17. I remember that too

And the CD symbol on all AM radios sold

[Retrograde]

23. A combination of factors

including but not limited to:
-the real fact that there are people in the world who think blowing up airplanes is a good idea
-spectacular acts often attract copycats (remember the spate of hijackings in the 70s?)
-the desire on the part of bureaucrats to be perceived as doing something
-an opportunity for some well-connected security firms to make money
-a lack of imagination to come up with more proactive security measures
-the expense in both time and money of doing consistent Israeli-style security nationwide

[MisterP]

24. because if they did it under the GOP, the perpetrators would be thrown out

those who object to strip searches won't punish the Democratic members of the Security State for enacting them, because enough of them will chicken out in the voting booth because The Other Guy would be worse, and besides the Dems throw us a few liberal bones, and is invasiveness REALLY that bad, and why throw away your vote over it--America is counting on you to keep the Bad Party out of power--and the good Dems in Congress need to have a majority even if it's of fascist Dems

und so weiter

[MadMaddie]

25. My choice is not there

"To attempt to claim security without spending money"!

In my opinion if they really wanted to achieve security they would look at the Israelie model. However; they have chosen not to do that because they are risking our lives to save money.

[Odin2005]

26. Creeping FASCISM.

Boiling that frog...

[Occam Bandage]

27. I think "fascism" would win as a choice for virtually every type of poll imaginable on DU.

"Kucinich" would cover the rest.

[laylah]

28. Other:

Because they can?

Jenn

[Little Star]

29. Chertoff's scanners must make money.

[ClarkUSA]

31. Unrec. Drudge is pushing OUTRAGE with the same story on his front-page right now.

He'll be delighted to know that his spin has reached DU.

[Cleobulus]

32. I voted Insecurity, which I'll define as such, classic insecurity of authorities...

causing a gross overreaction in how they treat passengers on airplanes. It really is nothing more than that, no big conspiracy is needed to explain how people overreact to shit.

[Billy Burnett]

33. Nice reason.

Agree. :fistbump:

[Cleobulus]

34. I flew infrequently, now I'm not planning on flying at all...

no one is touching my "junk" except for my girlfriend and my doctor, and they both have very different reasons to do so. :)

[and-justice-for-all]

36. Because the terrorist won...

they have the US in a constaint state of panic and paranoia, they do not have to do anything else.