The TSA Keeps Us Safe

     By now, most people are well aware of the TSA's airport security procedures. For those who haven't been following the story, I shall briefly review. It started in March of 2011 when the Transportation Security Administration began implementing a new technology called Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), or more commonly referred to as Full Body Scanners. These AIT scanners use low levels of radiation to create what looks like a nude image of the passenger. As you might expect, it didn't take long before people began objecting to the idea of strangers looking at their naked bodies. Although few passengers knew it at the time it was, and still is, possible to opt-out of the scan and receive the traditional pat-down instead. Then the TSA made another change. On November 1st 2011, the TSA changed the pat-down procedure to a much more aggressive pat-down that some say should be considered sexual assault. I don't know if the TSA ever gave a detailed explanation of how these 'enhanced pat-downs' are performed, but travelers who have received them have described them as follows: TSA agent uses the front of their hands instead of the back, runs their hands all the way up the passenger's inner thigh until they touch the genitals, as well as all around the breast, touching the breasts.

     Ok, now that everyone is up to date on the procedure, let's ask the important question. Does the TSA have the right to do this?

     I can see two ways of looking at it.  The first is that flying is a privilege, not a right.  So if you want the privilege of flying, then you're going to have to be groped.  If you don't like it, then don't fly.  This is the attitude the TSA has taken.
     The second way of looking at it is to consider that flying may actually be more than just a privilege.  In many ways, it is an essential part of our society.  How many people fly for their jobs?  If they were to quit and look for a new job, what are the possibilities of finding another that doesn't require them to fly.  What would it do to our economy if all fliers refused to to fly ever again?  What I'm getting at here is that flying is an integral part of our society, so we can't simply say, "If you don't like it, then don't fly."

   I understand that the TSA and Homeland Security care about us deeply and are only trying to protect us, but we have to decide, how much are we willing to sacrifice for security?  If they required a true strip search, rather than a virtual one, would be still be OK with it.  What if they began arresting anyone that seemed suspicious?  That would keep us safer, right?  So are we fine with that?  There is, however, one question that is even more important than "How much are we willing to sacrifice?" and that is, "Who gets to decide how much we are willing to sacrifice?"