TSA Employees

You cannot help it, the headlines and complaints are everywhere. No I am not talking about today’s Presidential candidates; I am talking about the TSA and their employees. Since September 11, 2001, the TSA job has become difficult to say the least. They have become the front line of defense to ensure safe fight travel. With such a mandate, there will certainly be critics.

Is the current system perfect? Nothing is ever perfect and can always be improved. Travel security is no different. But think of the cost if there was no additional security after 9/11. OF course we started at a low level of security. Every time someone beat the system, the levels of inspections were ratcheted up. What if after the shoe bombers failure, the TSA did not start checking shoes. How long do you think it would have been before someone else tried and succeeded bringing a plane down? Can you see the headlines, “TSA fails to check shoes after previous bomber attempt”? What about the underwear bomber. Shortly after that incident, once more TSA adjusted the way

Naturally, at the top of the list is inconvenience. Let’s face it, travelers want to get where they are going. They do not want to wait in long lines, they do not like their stuff being examined, and they do not like the security measures. It use to be you could show up minutes before a flight, still get on board and be on your way. Do that today, I can promise you will not make it to the plane. Due to current security measures, there are long lines at the security checkpoint.

Could you imagine being a TSA employee today? It has to be the most ungrateful job on the planet. Well, at least that must be how those employees feel, and why shouldn’t they feel that way. Do you see anyone ever giving them a high five or bragging “that was the greatest security experience in my life.” Have you ever seen an end zone type celebration? How many letters of praise do you think the head of the TSA reads every day? I bet he does not get even one in an entire year. All they hear all day long are complaints from weary line waiters. Cursed at, jabbed at, joked at, looked at with distain and that on a good day. It only gets worse. How could anyone expect a TSA agent to keep a smile on their face for very long.

Besides the stresses of the abuse they take form the public every day, the media every night, they have to live with the fact they cannot make one mistake ever. They have to be perfect no matter who it is they are checking. Because just on failure, one slip up could cost hundreds of people their lives.

At the root of the abuse they take are what their job entails, the checking and searching of all passengers, carry on, and luggage. It may not be the most glamorous job, but it is a very important job. So why do people look to give them a hard time? If I was to take a survey, I bet 8 out of 10 would say when they get to the airport they are already have a preconceived notion of what is about to happen and they do not like it. They may even already be thinking of ways to confront the TSA agent. So why not take that energy and put it to good use. Such as why not think ahead of time what will make this easier on all not to mention make the process go quicker. Instead of trying to see how far you can push the agent or how much can you get past the agents, why not just prepare ahead of time so neither occurs. For example, I read somewhere recently about a woman here in the US who was offended going through the x-ray. It seems it was very revealing because the woman was not wearing a bra. She was quite pissed and had plenty to say about the incident. But what struck me during her talk with reporter is the revelation that she always wears a bra. So why did she not wear one that day? She knew about the machines and the controversy about them, she said so in the interview. So knowing this going in, why create this problem. She missed her flight because she was detained. The TSA felt that she was carrying on so much that perhaps the bra thing was a diversion so they would just send her through. What if that was the case? They sent her through and had a devise of some kind on her. Imagine the uproar over that.

That is just one of many stories that occur every day. There is a list of items not allowed on flights. It is a clear concise list, a deliberate list. Each item not allowed in flight has a reason behind it. Yet there are people so arrogant to think those rules do not apply to them. They try to brink everything from bottled water to a knife on board. I will post a link and follow the general baggage restrictions that are covered in this link such as:

• Banned Items
• Restricted Items Allowed Only in Checked Baggage
• Items Allowed and Restricted in Carry-on Bags and the Passenger Cabin
• Things You Should Never Put in Checked Luggage
• Restrictions on Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols
• Exceptions to the Restrictions for Liquids, Gels and Aerosols
• Special Rules on Batteries

http://www.airsafe.com/danger.htm

My American View

AV, are you sticking up for the TSA? Maybe to a point, but more I am sticking up for the people who do that job every day. It is not easy doing a job people do not understand or enjoy. I know that better than most. Before 911, firefighters did not get much if any respect for the job we did. People thought we were cheesy typical civil service lazy employees that were severely overpaid. 911 changed that, well for a short while anyway. While fireman may not be thought of as lowly as they were in the past, but it has returned very close to it.

The people working for the TSA are just doing their job and we need them to do it. They are not going to work just to look at x-rays, do pat downs, or come across your undees in your carryon bag. Trust me; there are better ways to make a living. But like the fireman, they are there in our moment of need. They are on the front line of the terror defense. I want to point out something important here that I bet most if not all of you have not thought of, but do you realize how dangerous their job is. I am not talking about the hot heads yelling at them or wanting to take a poke at them, but about the potential of actually finding something dangerous. What if during a pat down, they come across someone like the underwear bomber. Say a device is hidden in the belt they are wearing. During the pat down they hit the belt they wrong way and BOOM. Do not think that could not happen, do not take this lightly.

So next time you have to take a flight somewhere, even though you are not happy with the extra time online, or the machines or procedures you go through. Remember, they are just doing their job. Smile and be cordial, treat them as how you want to be treated on your job. Civility and kindness go a long way.

One final thought, for those who still after reading this still plan to not be so kind about what the TSA is doing, ask yourself this. It the TSA was doing what they are doing today on 9/11/2001, would the Twin Towers still be standing today? Would the Pentagon been hit? Would United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville,Pennsylvania? Would we have gone to war with Iraq or Afghanistan? Would you think the TSA hero’s if they foiled the plot of that day?

That is my American View, what is yours.

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