Dr. Ron Paul to TSA: Enough is enough...
 

Didn't think this necessarily belongs in the politricks forum. As a frequent flyer who travels by air 2-3x/month...i've experienced my fair share of the "enhanced patdown". The last of which ended in a near altercation. I've since canceled 2 of 3 upcoming flights as they include my family. I refuse to subject them to this nonsense. I prefer the proven methods used by Israeli airport security:
Issac Yeffet, former Security head of El Al

Till then...it'll be skype, road trips and trains for the time being. Any frequent flyer's here? What's your take or experience thus far?

This gentleman should've been President, imo:


No thank you:
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...PATDOWN~p3.JPG

Aren't the pat downs only done if you refuse to be body scanned?

In my travels so far, since the enhanced patdown was introduced, end of October i believe...if one refuses the nudie scan, if one is randomly selected, and if one sets off the medal detector once OR twice.

I'm sure there are other criteria but the TSA won't release that info as they rely on the secrecy of "ever changing security layers".

I don't have a problem with the scan. I thought it was an either or thing and not that people were randomly chosen for pat downs. I haven't flown since the end of September...

Why not just walk through the body scanner? If they can't pat you down and they can't scan you, then what would you suggest?

I love even more how you have to "assume the position." I got to do that in October, and it makes me value the fact that my car is so nice to drive on highways. The local airport here is trying to avoid getting one... that will probably help them out with traffic

Personal choice...what's wrong with the medal detector? If someone travels once or twice a year, they may have no issue being exposed to it's cumulative radiation effect. On the other hand, if one is a frequent flyer, they're obviously much more exposed. The pilot union's press release specifically mentions that pilots should opt out for health reasons. I believe one of the unions for flight attendants released something similar.

After all, aren't we recently discovering that mammograms create a potential cancer risk, even if slight? I'm absolutely not comfortable with my family, especially my child, being seen nude by a complete stranger.

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"...mentioned centuries ago, i believe Franklin knew something we either don't know or fail to know.

*Edit: What would i suggest? See post #1

I get the personal choice thing. That is absolutely fine, you don't have to do the scan, but you may have to be searched an alternative way, like a pat down. If you choose not to do that, then I guess it is also your choice not to fly commercialy.

Metal detectors are OK, but what happens when people start making weapons out of materials other than metal?

Thing is, if I get on a plane, I expect that the TSA, airlines, etc. are doing everything possible to make sure that nobody is bringing any weapons onboard. Metal, plastic, liquid, etc. If that means that I have to get scanned, I am OK with it. Otherwise, the people who want to get these items onboard will have free range.

I think you are taking the freedom thing too far. Nobody is making you fly and nobody is forcing you to a pat down. However, if you choose to fly you have to do so by their rules. Last time I checked, air travel wasn't a right. If you don't like the rules, then simply find other means of transportation, imo.

Nobody is making me fly? Perhaps in your case...How about my livelihood is making me fly. I was perfectly fine with with the pre-enhanced patdown methods, medal detector...if it goes off, you're wanded. How often does Israel experience terror attacks and how effective have their air travel security methods been?

If you're okay with yourself and family being exposed to untested long term radiation exposure, being seen nude by strangers, or being felt up...that's your choice. This is not just a matter of freedom.

When you go to the dentist, where do they go when they take x-rays? They also provide a lead cover, correct? Not only am i concerned with the machines in general, even when in perfect working condition, what about when it's not in perfect working conditions, calibration-wise?

Correct, nobody is holding a gun to your head and making you fly. You do not HAVE to. There are plenty of things you can do for a living that do not require air travel. However, you simply CHOOSE to do so. I would never personally take a job that required frequent commercial air travel. Air travel is not a right, period.

I choose not to fly routinely. I only do it when absolutely necessary, so as of now I am OK with the scanning machines.