Airport Security and Political Culture
Compare these two stories, the first from Today's Zaman:
Something happened when I was at Atatürk Airport on my way to Beirut. We, as the passengers going to Beirut, were called to the gate for our flight. We went through security and boarding was supposed to begin but, just a few minutes before takeoff, the gate was changed. At the new gate, the security check started again and the officials did not even start the second X-ray machine for us, nor did they apologize.
Then the protest of the passengers started. Some passengers, including me, started to clap our hands in a peaceful manner and demand an apology. Then, at that moment, I noticed that the only passengers who were protesting the situation were Turks.
The second, brought to us courtesy of Amy Alkon:
TSA Q&A
From the comments on this TIME piece about the elderly leukemia victim's diaper search:
Question: What kind of a man knowingly surrenders his own daughter to one of us government workers to be molested, standing by passively even as her private parts are fondled while she screams "Daddy Daddy, please help me!"
Answer: an American man.
I speak only to you men when I say you gutless cowards will be lining up to hand over your wives and daughters in our airports, it will happen hundreds of time each day across our USA. You had better start explaining to your children that we government employees are allowed to touch their private parts whenever we want; it will make the whole thing a lot less dramatic. Seriously, the 1st time is always the worst. The next time you get molested will not feel as disturbing as we accommodate you to our abuses.
-Ksiadz_Robak
The author of the first piece, Ayşe Karabat, sees political significance in that incident. "We are learning to look for our rights, at least at the door to a plane."
Now, I don't think you have a "right" to fly in a commercial aircraft, so I don't think the TSA's searches are a violation of one's "rights." But I do think the American public's collective willingness to go along with what any thinking person can see is a ritualized, invasive, offensive, time-wasting and humiliating farce is a very bad omen about our political culture.
It's alarming both because there should be some kind of enraged reflexive reaction--"Hey, we shouldn't put up with this, this is insane!"--and there just isn't. Most people seem willing just to submit to it; the objections to these practices seem to be confined to the political periphery. Is there a single 2012 candidate who has made this a campaign issue? Why not?
And it's alarming because it suggests no one party to this farce can think his or her way out of a paper bag. To see a stunning lack of common sense, on this scale, and to see a national willingness to believe that somehow it must all make sense and we should just trust the people who say it does--well, that's really disturbing.
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Feb '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Well, if you are the only one doing this protest, you'll miss your flight, perhaps get tossed in jail, who knows what.
I am concerned about this whole business in preparation for my August trip to the US but I cannot see sacrificing the trip for this principle, no matter how important. If there were others, that would be something else. Maybe.
So I suppose I am a coward. Which I can afford to be as I'll be travelling alone.
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Israel P.: Well, if you are the only one doing this protest, you'll miss your flight, perhaps get tossed in jail, who knows what.
I am concerned about this whole business in preparation for my August trip to the US but I cannot see sacrificing the trip for this principle, no matter how important. If there were others, that would be something else. Maybe.
So I suppose I am a coward. Which I can afford to be as I'll be travelling alone. · Jul 3 at 12:55am
We don't need to solve our problems by protesting--we have elections, generally acknowledged to be pretty free and fair; we have legislatures and we have courts. What baffles me is the collective lack of will to use those mechanisms to solve this problem.
Oct '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Indeed - why not? What is the theory of politics that leads to this result? Is there really an airport scanner manufacturing lobby stronger than that for ethanol subsidies (where the dam is beginning to break)? There are members of Congress who say all sorts of bizarre things - 9/11 truthers, even. Why not on this matter? Is everyone afraid that they'll get bitten by the equation 'No universal search = Profiling = Racism'? Are politicians that smart? Are they getting behind-the-scenes briefings indicating that this is the only solution to a hidden but massive threat? Are security services that dumb?
(In a previous thread a Ricochet member pointed me to a book he said would explain why these security procedures were necessary. I said to myself I wouldn't post on this topic until I'd read the book, but unfortunately I lost the link. So this is also an attempt to find that kind person.)
Mar '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
The TSA searches are a perfect symbolic issue--and one that is both populist and relatively non-partisan. It is surprising that not one of the candidates has riffed loudly on this yet.
Personally, I don't find the intrusiveness offensive as some due, but I do find it wildly inefficient, nonsensical, and representative of the sort of non-judgmental egalitarian laziness at the heart of what is wrong in the western world. I also don't think the "rights" framework is the best way to handle this.
A short yet demonstrative anecdote: I was at a regional airport not that long ago and was traveling inside the US on official business--thus, I was in uniform and carrying a military backpack. Strapped to the backpack I had a Nalgene bottle half-full of water that I had simply forgotten about. When I tried to send it through the scanner, TSA had to stop the line and send me out to empty the bottle and bring it back through. This despite the fact that I am in uniform, with valid US military ID, and a substance confirmed as water. I handled the situation quietly, but really?
Feb '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
...We have elections, generally acknowledged to be pretty free and fair; we have legislatures and we have courts. What baffles me is the collective lack of will to use those mechanisms to solve this problem. ·
This is all true, of course. But when the Texas legislature moved to make TSA toddler fondling illegal the Feds threatened to shut down Texas airports. Of course a rationalization for these procedures can be made - and apparently someone has written an entire book of that - but they still grate.
There are 300 million+ Americans, and 535 members of Congress. If we had the same ratio when the Constitution was adopted there would have been roughly six representatives and one senator. That wouldn't have worked then, and it isn't working now.
To dodge responsibility those 535 have dumped enormous power upon unaccountable federal bureaucrats such as the TSA. When people complain, individual congresspeople just shrug, and blame the bureaucrats.
Congress has abdicated its responsibility, and that's why people have lost faith in using the usual mechanisms to correct this.
Jun '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
We don't need to solve our problems by protesting--we have elections, generally acknowledged to be pretty free and fair; we have legislatures and we have courts. What baffles me is the collective lack of will to use those mechanisms to solve this problem. · Jul 3 at 2:11am
We have the mechanisms in theory. The problem is that our political elites don't suffer the same indignities. They fly in private jets. Inconvenience and humiliation are for little people. Unless we bring the issue to them and demand action, our elites won't act of their own accord.
The larger problem is a cultural issue. When the administrative state becomes oppressive to the point of absurdity, the common man learns that it's in his best interest to cheat the system. The loss of faith in our civic institutions makes lawbreakers of us all. When I was growing up, America was a law-abiding, high trust society. Not so much today. The cost to us will be less freedom and less material abundance if we cannot reverse the tide.
Feb '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Claire Berlinski, Ed.We don't need to solve our problems by protesting--we have elections, generally acknowledged to be pretty free and fair; we have legislatures and we have courts. What baffles me is the collective lack of will to use those mechanisms to solve this problem. · Jul 3 at 2:11am
I think there’s a general sense that saying the wrong thing, even in jest, could get you blacklisted. We’ve all heard stories about how people wind up on these lists for no good reason, and it is next to impossible to be taken off. Maybe the fear is unwarranted. Would it be safe to write a letter of complaint to the TSA?
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Yes. The entire nation has been asked to take their common sense and stuff it--and has willingly done so. Can anyone explain the logic of taking away items that could be used as improvised weapons--such as tweezers--when on the other side of check-in lies a duty-free store at which one may purchase alcohol, in glass bottles? Is there anyone alive lacking the sense to realize that a broken-off wine bottle may be used as a weapon?
May '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
A hundred years ago, if a low level government official tried to feel up all the women and children getting on a coach, someone would have ventilated him and no one would have thought it wrong to do so. And that's why it never happened.
That we now think such a response to be too extreme is why is does happen now.
Jun '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Claire's post brings up excellent and necessary points.
There is an Orwellian feel to standing in an airport watching the lines, seeing the warning signs and being funneled along by "trained professionals."
That this was initiated in the period after the Twin Tower bombings was one thing. That these programs have been expanded rapidly in our most recent flirtation with a full blown Progressive legislature and executive branch speaks to the true intentions of the Progressive movement. And it's all done in the name of "compassion."
If used properly, it could be a great campaign issue.
Edited on Jul 3, 2011 at 5:45amMay '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Write your congressperson and you will get a letter back (maybe) "Yes it's awful, but security blah blah blah" I know, I have.Same thing with other even more trivial and seemingly easy to fix issues like the Curly Fry Lightbulb.Mark Steyn is really onto something when he talks about how it seems we are unable to get our established institutions to take corrective action.
Dec '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
There is nothing so dangerous to our liberty and our security as the misplaced pride of our nanny overlords. The "we don't torture" meme is going to get us killed, but the "we don't profile" meme is getting us molested by government workers prior to putting us on airplanes with terrorists who will kill us. It's insane.
You're right, Claire. It is a sign of deep cultural sickness. Someone should make it a campaign issue.
Sep '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
I am also appalled at this. However the reason everyone has to go along is you will be arrested. When you fly you can't afford problems or delays, that's where they get us. We are extremely vulnerable having to get somewhere important on time. It's enough hassle as it is without risking missing a flight. You can't even make a joke.
I'm going to transcribe what I thought was an insightful discussion on a podcast I heard, hopefully it gets some attention. If there is anything almost every American agrees on how come it doesn't become a political issue? What gives, Republicans?
Dec '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Did Major Nidal Malik Hason have a valid military ID and uniform?
May '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
RACIAL PROFILERS! ISLAMAPHOBES! RACIST. HATE HATE HATE!! BIGOTS! HATE HATE HATE! ANTI-ISLAMIST RACIST PROFILERS. RACIST! HATE HATE! BIGOTS! HORRIBLE RETCHID CONSERVATIVES! HATE HATE HATE. BIGOTS. CRY THE CHILDREN! YOU HATE CHILDREN! YOU WANT TO KILL SENIOR CITIZENS! HATE HATE HATE! BIGOT! RACIST! OPENLY WEEP! RACIST BIGOT ISLAMAPHOBE!Just thought I'd give the liberal response that would occur if a politician had the courage to try to change our TSA policy.
Jun '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Claire Berlinski, Ed.:
Now, I don't think you have a "right" to fly in a commercial aircraft, so I don't think the TSA's searches are a violation of one's "rights."
The TSA's searches are a violation of the 4th Amendment period. It has nothing to do with whether flying is a right or not.
May '10
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Americans put up with a lot of [edited] because they think it's important to be nice.
Edited on Jul 3, 2011 at 8:09amJan '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
If Rick Perry runs, I'm pretty sure he'll bring it up.
Feb '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
Americans increasingly spend 16-20 years of their lives in school settings in which conformity is expected and rewarded...often followed by jobs in which performance expectations are vague and mouthing of expected cliches is important for retention and success. This kind of experiences do not lead one to boldly challenge authority.
Apr '11
Re: Airport Security and Political Culture
"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
-C.S. Lewis