TSA 'Secured' Metrodome During Recent Football Game 364
McGruber writes "Travel writer Christopher Elliott touches down with the news that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration was spotted standing around outside a recent American football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers (picture). According to Mr. Elliott, the 'TSA goes to NFL games and political conventions and all kinds of places that have little or nothing to do with ... travel. It even has a special division called VIPR — an unfortunate acronym for Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team — that conducts these searches.' He continues, 'As far as I can tell, TSA is just asking questions at this point. "Data and results collected through the Highway BASE program will inform TSA's policy and program initiatives and allow TSA to provide focused resources and tools to enhance the overall security posture within the surface transportation community," it says in the filing. But they wouldn't be wasting our money asking such questions unless they planned to aggressively expand VIPR at some point in the near future. And that means TSA agents at NFL games, in subways and at the port won't be the exception anymore — they will be the rule.'"
Catch 22 (Score:4, Interesting)
Loyalty oaths should be required throughout the day. You should have to sign one to go to the shops or eat at a restaurant.
Re:Catch 22 (Score:3, Interesting)
Loyalty oaths should be required...
I work for a California public college.
I had to sign that I would be willing to take a loyalty oath as condition of employment (didn't have to actually take an oath, though).
This shit has been around (at least) since the last time right-wing crazies shit all over our civil liberties-- the "red scare."
Each time the right manages to get a bit more of this shit entrenched. Maybe this time will be the one or maybe 3 more of these right-wing police state takeovers, but eventually we will not be able to come back-- we will be in a permanent police state. "Your papers please!"
Re:TSA at Every Home (Score:5, Interesting)
Oh, you're going to the movie theatre? Didn't you say you were a student? How is a student able to afford gasoline and movie tickets?
(I have actually been asked by a TSA agent how I was able to afford airline tickets.)
Re:TSA at Every Home (Score:5, Interesting)
It was written over 100 years ago... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Nazi America (Score:5, Interesting)
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
--C.S. Lewis
If you don't like the TSA, then don't fly! (Score:5, Interesting)
Now what, bootlickers?
US Intelligence is in chaos now, so parasites grow (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:At least it will create jobs. (Score:5, Interesting)
If they stopped a bomb/terrorist attack every day, I might be willing to put up with the erosion. As the actual rate is, at this point, somewhere below a thousandth of that, we could suffer a 9/11 attack something like once every 3 years and STILL be better off without the TSA.
Some practical changes like the reinforced doors make sense. Combined with the attitude changes of the passangers and that threat has already been pretty well remediated.
Making us take off our shoes and go though the x-ray scanners as opposed to a simple metal detector is overkill.
The TSA is practicing risk avoidance, not risk management. The military learned that lesson over 30 years ago. It simply costs too much to avoid ALL risk; you end up not being able to do anything. Thus, you manage the risk - don't take stupid chances, but don't fret over extremely unlikely events, out of proportion of the damage it could cause. The underwear and shoe bombs were too small to have any realistic chances of taking the plane down. Ergo, they could have done as much or more damage in the waiting line at the TSA. More, if they turned it into a proper suicide vest with fragmentation additives. Or at a mall or some such.
Risk management is simple in theory. You look at the risk - the chance that it will happen as a percentage, and the average damage it would cost. If mitigating the risk would cost more than the damage multiplied by the chance it'll happen, then you don't perform that mitigation.
That's the simple type, of course. Some mitigations fix multiple risks, for example. Armored windows that will stop a gunshot also tend to be rather overkill for hurricane/tornado, after all. Vehicle barriers not only stop vehicle bombs, they stop drunk drivers. Etc...
SHUT UP! BE HAPPY. (Score:2, Interesting)
We interrupt this program with a special bulletin:
America is now under marshal law
All constitutional rights have been suspended.
Stay in your homes.
Do not attempt to contact loved ones, insurance agents or attorneys.
SHUT UP.
Do not attempt to think
or depression may occur.
Stay in your homes.
Curfew is at 7 PM sharp after work.
Anyone caught outside the gates of their subdivision sectors after curfew,
Will Be Shot.
Remain calm,
Do not panic.
Your neighborhood watch officer will be by to collect urine samples In the morning.
Anyone caught interfering with the collection of urine samples Will be shot.
Stay in your homes, remain calm.
The number one enemy of progress is questions.
National security is more important than individual will.
All sports broadcasts will proceed as normal.
No more than two people may gather anywhere without permission.
Use only the drugs prescribed by your boss or supervisor.
SHUT UP.
Be Happy.
Obey all orders without question.
The comfort you requested is now mandatory!
Be happy, at last everything is done for you.
Lyrics from the album Freedom of Speech (Just Watch What You Say) by Ice T, released 1989.