I'm in the Minneapolis Airport as I write this returning from a business trip.
Every time I have to deal the TSA I get more and more frustrated.
This morning in an airport back East I was question about my liquids. I've taken the same bag with the same liquids through at least 5 airport security checkpoints since the security alert went to "Orange" (what's next, Kiwi?) and never had anyone blink at them. I have them in the correct size bag, I have them in 3 oz or less sized containers. What is the problem? Why can't these people be consistant?
At some airports, such as Spokane and Atlanta, they've had some TSA drone calling out instructions, over and over again. Which I guess is a good thing as I've always seen at least one person unaware that 3.5 ounces of shampoo is now verboten. But it still reminds me of a scene from a dytopian sci-fi movie: ("All those who wish to receive soylent green will line up behind the red line and will be given one kilo apiece").
What I do not understand is, since 99.99999% of fliers are NOT terrorists, why do 100% have to go through stupid, ineffective, and just plain intrusive inspections. Because I carry a piece of medical equipment (that I really don't want lost in checked luggage) my suitcase is opened ever single time (except when the TSA screws up and it isn't).
As I said in November:
Instead of banning possibly dangerous things how about banning possibly dangerous people. That might mean (gasp) racial profiling. But 99.9999% of people getting on to airplanes could carry a gun, box cutters, lighters, and a pound of C-4, and not be a danger to anyone. The terrorists will find some new way to smuggle on dangerous items, or make something deadly out of something seemingly innocuous. The logical progression is eventually to not allow anyone to take anything on board. No books, iPods, cell phones, laptops, magazines, nothing. Exploding pants, anyone? Then we'll have to fly naked, or in TSA issued paper gowns ("All those who wish to receive a paper gown will line up behind the red line and will be given one garment apiece").
And if it were effective, that might make me feel better. But I know of one man who accidentally took a live ammunition round through airport security TWICE (He discovered it while sitting next to me on the airplane). And I've heard of knives accidentally left in carry-on bags being missed.
There was a time 20 years ago that the U.S. government trusted me with some of it's most valued secrets. Now they don't trust me with shampoo.
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