'Porno Scanner' Scandal Shows the Idiocy of America's Zero Risk Culture

http://www.alternet.org/story/148886/%27porno_scanner%27_scandal_shows_the_idiocy_of_america%27s_zero_risk_culture


Editor's Note: The TSA’s “porno scanners” are a gross invasion of privacy. After the House voted down invasive porno scanners, the TSA ignored the will of Congress and bought the machines anyway, wasting $25 million in stimulus funds to create just a single job. Sign the Petition: Investigate the TSA:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/tsa_an

TSA has established itself as the lead federal agency charged with perpetuating this risk-averse culture at airports around the country. The proof is evident over the past ten years: Because of the Shoebomber, we have to remove our shoes. Thanks to the Christmas Crotchbomber, we are subjected to invasive scanning or government-mandated molestation. Because there's a potential for explosives in liquid or gel form, we've got the "Three Ounces in A Baggie" rule. Wearing a sweater or bulky fleece hoodie? Take it off (along with your shoes and belt) so it can be examined. Or frisking Granny, or asking toddlers to drink from their Sippy-cups to make sure it's really Mommy's milk inside. And let's not forget the thankfully defunct prohibitions on knitting needles, insulin syringes, matches, lighters, or standing during the last 30 minutes of flights to Washington, DC.

All in the name of protecting the homeland.

Given this latest round of homeland hysteria, I must ask again -- what happens after the next 'new' attempt to smuggle something onto a plane? Actually, we know the answer: another item will go on the Prohibited Items List and additional screenings of passengers will be conducted, followed by more patronising security-speak from our Department of Homeland Insecurity asking law abiding folks to give up more of their privacy and personal "space" in the interest of Homeland (er, "State") Security. Big Brother, meet Big Sister. With all her homeland security lobbyists along for the ride.

Where does it end?

http://www.alternet.org/story/148885/investigate_the_tsa%2C_not_the_guy_who_refused_to_go_through_its_%27porno_scanners%27

...his real crime was making the “don’t touch my junk” video showing exactly what happened during his encounter with the TSA, which sparked a public backlash...

The new pat-down policy for refuseniks, which started on November 1, has been described by the Airline Pilots Association as “sexual molestation” — and it’s nothing more than a way to punish people who might boycott the Department of Homeland Security’s expensive new boondoggle scanners. And prosecuting Tyner is blatant and very public way to intimidate anyone who might follow his lead. This goes to show just how how constant threats of “terror” are used to create new markets for products nobody needs. The public is then intimidated into compliance in the name of “national security,” when in reality they’re sacrificing their dignity, their civil liberties and their tax dollars for the sake of enormous profits:

* 2005: Michael Chertoff, as head of Homeland Security, orders the first batch of porno scanners from a company called Rapiscan Systems. After his departure, Chertoff gave dozens of interviews using his government credentials to promote the device. What he didn’t tell people was that Rapiscan was one of the clients of his consulting company, The Chertoff group.
* March 2009: The Department of Homeland Security says they will apply $1 billion in stimulus money to the nation’s airports. Senator Joe Lieberman, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, personally promises to oversee the distribution of stimulus funds so money goes toward the goal of creating “4 million jobs” and not on “boondoggles”
* December 2009: Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz inserted language into the Homeland Security appropriations bill barring the use of full-body image scans as “primary” screening tools at airports, and it passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 310-118. Both the ACLU and the NRA backed it. The amendment also made it illegal to store and copy these images. It died in the Senate.
* December 25, 2009: The “Christmas bomber” attempts to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board a flight to Detroit.
* December 29, 2009: Joe Lieberman calls for “more widespread use of the full-body scanners after the aborted attack.”
* January 2010: Since they couldn’t get money for the porno scanners from Congress, TSA uses the “Christmas bomber” scare to appropriate $25 million they had received in stimulus money to buy the “backscatter” scanners — from Rapiscan, Chertoff’s client. Rapiscan said the contract “helped create” 25 jobs. The government gives the TSA the green light to spend a total of $173 million on the scanners. TSA spokesperson Sarah Horowitz said “the agency has enough funds that would come from the stimulus program and other federal sources” to purchase 300 more porno scanners, per CNN. Total jobs created, per the government’s own website: 1....

December 29, 2009: Joe Lieberman calls for "boondoggle"

"Where does it end?" may well be in our "ends" after somebody sticks something lethal up his ass. Can you see some moron telling you to bend over and spread em? I can too.

This entire charade will be scaled back, however, when more and more people experience for themselves what it's liked to be x-rayed or groped at the airport and decide to opt out of flying. When the airlines' bottom lines are being harmed by this crap, you can bet the CEOs will be begging the politicians for a return to sanity.

The only reason it's gotten this far is that the wealthy fly around on corporate or private jets and don't have to put up with this shit. This is only for the peons.

No one should have to be sexually assaulted as a prerequisite to boarding an aircraft. Enough is enough.

Governmental Sexual Assault crosses the line.

I was thinking I'll give my gonads a little private rubdown before I get in line so the TSA goon will have to feel my throbbing manhood in all its glory!

:evilgrin:

In case he doesn't do a good enough job to make it occur naturally.

When he groped her.

''No man has touched me there but you and my doctor said if you had ejaculated on that glove and not cleaned it right, you could have done it. Will you take a DNA test after the baby is born or do I have to get a court order?''

And do all of this with hundreds of people in line behind you, of course.

When you've got to go, you've got to go.

This shit continues, the only people who are going to be willing to take these jobs are the type who otherwise would sign up to work in some kinky sex parlor.

I have heard it someone that some men may like that :)

embarrassing bind.

we keep surrendering more and more power to the government- once they get a power, they do not give it up peacefully. And to be clear- both parties are complicit, or else stupid things like the patriot act wouldn't get extended.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704104104575622651744906116.html?mod=WSJ_myyahoo_module

"If you touch my junk..." may have garnered all the attention, but it is not the most important thing on Mr. Tyner's recording. A TSA supervisor told him that if he was uncomfortable, he could be escorted out "and you don't have to fly today." Mr. Tyner asked how "sexual assault can be made a condition of my flying." After a bit of back and forth, the TSA supervisor played the trump card: "By buying your ticket you gave up a lot of rights."

Do we really want to make a practice of giving up "a lot of rights" (and without the advice of counsel, at that), especially when the TSA makes it clear it will use its authority to punish those who inconvenience or embarrass it? The agency's San Diego office chief announced that he is pursuing charges and an $11,000 fine against Mr. Tyner for leaving the airport without allowing his naughty-bits to be inspected. Such blatant payback hardly inspires confidence in the TSA as a steward of our surrendered rights.

But it's all in keeping with the "love pats" (Sen. Claire McCaskill's unfortunate euphemism). The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg has flown several times since the new procedures went into effect Nov. 1. He has refused the X-ray machine every time and found that the TSA agents inspecting his "crotchal area" (as one of them said in a newly coined bit of bureaucratese) admit the procedure is meant to be so unpleasant that fliers will choose the naked-picture machine instead.

I'm gratified that enough Americans are still jealous guardians of their rights to have made this an uncomfortable week for the TSA. And I admire the impulse behind making Wednesday—one of the heaviest travel days of the year—"Opt-Out Day." The idea is for everyone to gum up the works by refusing the X-ray. If the TSA has to give its lengthy semimolestations to everyone, the thinking goes, they won't be able to do it to anyone. Alas, security gridlock isn't likely to discomfit the TSA much. It is Thanksgiving travelers who will bear the brunt of the nightmare—hardly the best way to build popular support for a protest movement.

Instead, perhaps we should make 2011 "Opt-Out of Flying" year. Since buying a ticket means giving up "a lot of rights," the best way to protect those rights is not to fly unless you absolutely have to. It will help if you let the airlines know why they haven't had the pleasure of your company...

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article26853.htm

READ IT AND GET ANGRY ALL OVER AGAIN