Having shrugged off the concerns of privacy watchdogs and legal experts, the TSA has escalated its use of full-body scans for air travel, giving passengers an option between this and an intrusive patdown. Less easy to ignore however is the growing backlash among travelers offended by the invasive scans.
“We have received hundreds of emails and phone calls from travelers vowing to stop flying,” warned an official for the US Travel Association. Though the TSA has found itself under growing scrutiny for its ever more intrusive system of checks related to air travel, it seems the full body scanners have found opposition from almost every conceivable group, from religious activists to privacy activists to pilots.
Indeed, Dr. Michael Love, the X-ray lab head at Johns Hopkins medical school, warns that the technology involved in the scanners is likely dangerous, and given its widespread use will inevitable cause skin cancer in some passengers. Other scientists have warned that the “classified” nature of the scanners is preventing any independent review of the health threat they pose, with one terming the official claims of safety “deeply flawed.”
In fact the threat of cancer and the extremely graphic nature of the image the scanners produce has prompted many to choose the “enhanced patdown” system, which itself has prompted massive complaints that it amounts to a full-on, public groping.
The TSA’s strategy appears to have been to offer two equally offensive choices and then insist that everyone “had a choice” in the matter. Far from deflecting criticism, however, it seems to have prompted massive cynicism about the TSA’s goals and methods. How long they can continue their policy of routine invasiveness remains to be seen, but it seems that at the very least it will no longer be something Americans quietly grumble about.
This is what I find to be the case after going through "security" at the airport – Americans will gripe one on one to each other in whispers and after making sure no one is looking or listening- but never in a group becuase you just can't be sure some super patriot won't take offense at us speaking our minds. So we will bitch in whispers about how "awful" travel is now in the United States.
But as far as doing anything? No. Americans are isolated atoms incapable of collective action of any sort against the powers that be. Zero. None. Our "Protests" are stage managed events organized by giant government beholden media corporations that are utterly anemic and bloodless and address nothing of substance- indeed- address "issues" that are not even real. Amercians stand up for themselves against body scanners? Not gonna happen. We are a nation of shameful cowards who allow ourselves and loved ones to be oogled and groped by agents of the government and we WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT_ EVER. Well- one day some American "crazy" guy might go on a shooting rampage at a TSA checkpoint but that will only serve to make things worse- and we will actually applaud the even tougher restrictions on us.
These scanners will not go away- and I fully expect security to get even more burdensome and oppressive in this country in the future. And with the worsening economy that isn't going to get better- the brain drain will start slowly- and then- that is when all these border measures against illegals will be turned towards keeping Americans from traveling abroad- which will soon become a privilege of elites like in the Soviet Union. And it will be accepted across the board in the usual "bi-partisan" ways.
I can already see the fraud "debate" now:
The Rush Limbaugh"Conservative" position on restricting foreign travel for Americans: "These people are assets to the American economy- they took out loans- they need to be repaid- national security demands that we can't allow Americans to travel abroad and be exposed to pernicious Anti-American ideas that are peddled abroad by Haters of this country."
The Jon Stewart "Liberal" position: Rush Limbaugh thinks students shouldn't be able to travel abroad at all! Of course everyone agrees that certain Americans who are vital to national security cannot be allowed to leave the country- only crazy fringe weird people think otherwise- but Limbaugh is just soooo crazy isn't he folks? All students can't travel abroad Rush? What about our best ones? Even them? Geesh. Ain't I so liberal and wonderful to oppose Rush Limbaugh in this manner? Cue laugh track!
Spot on Chris…but you forgot to mention that the company that makes most of these scanners is one headed up by that charming former Homeland Security chief, Michael Jerkoff.
What on earth is wrong with these silly people?. Do they actually imagine their bodies are their own?Not if Michael Chertoff gets to make millions of bucks on selling the mavchines. How long will it be before you will have to have a supply of quarters in your pocket to pay for passing the X-ray? The suckers are always there to be fleeced.
Jesus Druthers – keep it to yourself! Don't give these pervs any more ideas!
Well in the land of the FREE (American virtual constructed reality) couldn´t you just make private air travels? Is the governmental surveillance MANDATORY? If you just sign a paper saying you accept the risks from your travel providers, ain't you allowed to think for yourself, act by yourself, take on your own responsibility?
You're joking, right?
Chertoff, the former homeland security director, is responsible for the full body scanners. He
represents the firm that makes the scanners, and he used his revolving door connections to lobby
the scanners into use. I wrote about Chertoff's role in a recent column.
Sadly, after Bush and Obama, a fascist regime is the next option for the US!
Pathetic!
nothing will happen until the first ream of celebrity body scan hit the web, then we will get 2 weeks straight of mainstream coverage of it and the solution will be the new versions that can censor the naughty parts, of-coarse costing twice as much and defeating the purpose.
It's a farce. The screening process is random so it's as effective as a broken condom. Also the technology in use with the scanners is classified. Government agents say it's safe and of course the government is always forthright and honest in sharing information. Experts in the field can only speculate on its potential threat because they can't get access to the information on the scanners. If anyone does try to get info on these scanners will the government declare it a state secret and ban the release of the information? The government would argue if the information gets into the hands of the terrorists then they could potentially defeat the scanner's intent. It's a macabre dog and pony show put on for no one's amusement.
I used to work in the USA and have visited many times, but the 'Last Best Hope' has never been on my travel itinerary since the Iraq invasion, nor will it be ever again.
Nor will I ever go thro the USA to Europe, better via South America or the Middle East.
What in God's name have you done to your great country?
America, the land of the sheep and the home of the clueless.
Part of what the scanners and security checks say is "You have no history, no virtue, no track-record that we care about, no honor and, most of all, no future."
Do people traveling in their private jets have to submit to these scans? I mean they don't use the big airports. So they can just by-pass this can they not? Therefore
Get naked. Beat them to the punch. Wear nothing under your coat, and drop it open the minute someone asks you to be scanned, and not before. There is no law against going without underwear. There seems to be no problem with having strangers see your private parts. Perhaps you will be charged with disorderly conduct, but isn't this a mere misdemeanor? Anyway, isn't it worth it? I am really surprised this has not become a common practice. It ups the ante. It asks that prudery suddenly be deployed to deal with a fractious traveler who does not want to be scanned. It's almost certain that TSA and others will have a nutso reaction. I did a spontaneous thing at Charles de Gaulle when my wristwatch set off an alarm and I asked to go throw. My thighs were massaged up and down several times and I acted aroused and stuck out my butt and "presented" for more. The person checking me suddenly acted shocked, shocked that I was soliciting lesbian sex. I thought I'd be forced to stay in France!
Nah folks don't be a prude. Sure it's a little inconvenient. But the humiliation, radiation from body scanners, use of cattle chute lines similar to Kansas City Stockyards to redirect the beef, the prodding and probing, removal of shoes, security inconveniences – it's all to protect you the "little people"..
Now for those of us that really make a difference in society, we don't bother with this stuff because it's too annoying and time delaying. We use private or military aircraft , and general aviation airports subsidized by your commercial aviation tickets.