Public Concern Over TSA Screening Grows
A new poll by Zogby International demonstrates the increasing public concern about full-body scanners that use low-level X-rays and extremely invasive pat-downs. Members of Congress and the flying public are just starting to uncover the numerous problems with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's decision to deploy these scanners without adequate public input.
Ralph Nader
November 23, 2010
An excerpt from the Zogby International news release follows:
Zogby Interactive: 61% Oppose Full Body Scans and TSA Pat Downs; 48% Will Seek Alternative to Flying Frequent Fliers: 59% Oppose Enhancements and 43% Will Seek Alternative to Flying
The implementation of full body scans and pat downs by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as part of security enhancements at our nation's airports will cause 48% of Americans and 42% of more frequent fliers to choose a different mode of transportation when possible, a recent Zogby International Poll finds. Overall, 61% of the 2,032 likely voters polled from Nov. 19 to Nov. 22, oppose the use of full body scans and TSA pat downs. Republicans (69%) and Independents (65%) oppose in greater numbers than Democrats (50%). Of those polled, 52% believe the enhanced security measures will not prevent terrorist activity, almost half (48%) say it is a violation of privacy rights, 33% say they should not have to go through enhanced security methods to get on an airplane, and 32% believe the full body scans and TSA pat downs to be sexual harassment. This is in line with frequent fliers (fly more than once every 3 months), as 53% say the enhanced measures will not prevent terrorist activity, 48% believe it's a violation of their privacy rights, 41% say they should not have to go through it to get on an airplane, and 35% believe it is sexual harassment.
The full text of the Zogby International news release is available at:
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1925
A new cartoon by Matthew Marran appears at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewm5/who-says-bureaucrats-are-out-of-touch-zgz
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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2 comments:
We have to keep at this. Obama needs to take notice of this farce. Great article in NY Magazine on the subject, by the way. I couldn't have said it better myself: http://nymag.com/news/politics/powergrid/69779/
I am a frequent flyer for official DoD business as well as pleasure. I have been Executive Platinum on American Airlines for many years. I have a very high DoD security clearance, which means that I am a more trustworthy American citizen than every single TSA agent who lays hands on my genitals. On 10 October 2010, as I was passing security in San Antonio, Texas, I was singled-out for a pat-down. The TSA agent explained that he would “place his hand on my inner thigh and raise it until it touched my torso.” I told him that I would not allow him to touch my genitals. He repeated that he “would raise his hand until it touched my torso.” I told him that he could use the word “torso” all he wanted, but I would not allow him to touch my genitals. At this point, he called a supervisor, and the two of them took me to a private area and repeated the “torso” speech, to which I repeated my warning about touching my genitals. He then patted me down, which included feeling my genitals. He and the supervisor appeared to think the situation was humorous. So, to recap, despite my unambiguously stated refusal to have my genitals touched, a TSA agent deliberately felt my genitals, which appeared to amuse both him and his supervisor. I strongly urge everyone who reads this to 1) not submit to a full body scan, thus necessitating a pat-down 2) refuse to be searched in private and 3) loudly and clearly state your objection to having your genitals touched. Perhaps this will inform other flyers going through security about the humiliation that they are about to receive. If you are not inclined to this level of protest, I urge you to discontinue flying and to write the major airline careers and your Senators and Congressmen to inform them of how you are removing dollars from the airline industry. In other words, let your pocketbook speak for you and notify those who profit from your patronage that they are losing your money. And finally, I strongly urge all who read this to write your Senators and Congressmen and to forcefully express your opposition to this unconscionable intrusion of personal privacy, which at least in this instance, appeared also to be a source of entertainment for the TSA agents.
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