The New Media Journal | The Insanity Called Airport Security by Paul R. Hollrah

The New Media Journal | The Insanity Called Airport Security by Paul R. Hollrah: "Anyone who has flown on U.S. or foreign commercial airlines since September 11, 2001 understands, intuitively, that we are all living in a giant insane asylum and that the inmates are fully in charge. Anyone who finds it acceptable that two or three bearded men dressed in Muslim garb should be allowed to pass almost unmolested through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint, while my 88-year-old mother-in-law is made to raise herself painfully from her wheelchair to undergo a complete body pat-down, including a thorough inspection of the contents of her bra, is certifiably insane. But that is precisely what is happening in airports every day of the week, all across America.



The airport screening system that most Americans are familiar with requires each passenger to remove shoes, belts, jewelry, and pocket change...anything that might contain metal and/or explosive materials...for examination by an x-ray machine (cost: $35,000-$60,000). These items are then placed in large plastic trays, along with purses, briefcases, coats, jackets, and other carry-on items and the trays are placed on a conveyor belt attached to the x-ray machine. Items such as small pen knives and fingernail clippers attached to key rings are considered to be dangerous weapons and are confiscated and discarded.



Next, the passenger is required to pass slowly through a doorway-sized metal detector (cost: $4,000-$5,000) which will sound an alarm if a passenger has any amount of implanted orthopedic prostheses, or even a stray piece of shrapnel in his/her person. In that event the passenger is taken aside for a thorough going over with a hand-held wand (cost: $200).



And finally, once these indignities have been endured, the passenger is required to assist a TSA agent with an inspection of the contents of all carry-on bags, briefcases, and purses. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, facial creams, and lotions must be no larger than 3 oz. each and must be contained in a separate 1 qt. plastic zip-lock bag for easy inspection. Any items larger than a 3 oz. travel size are confiscated and discarded...perhaps set aside for use by the families and friends of TSA employees."