The headline should read "TSA is installing USED unregulated X-Ray machines in smaller airports." These proprietary machines are not subject to FDA oversight like doctor's x-ray machines. When the scanner freezes up, it sits in one place and blasts a pencil-thin beam of radiation at whatever body part it's pointing to. You can't tell this is happening because the scanner is enclosed and out of sight.
Even when working properly, these blast us with the equivalent of 22 minutes of high altitude ambient radiation in just three seconds with a pencil-thin beam.
These machines should be gotten rid of because the one thing that they were advertised to do - catch another "underwear bomber" - it CAN'T DO. Literally. The placement of the explosives used in that case was such that the scanner wouldn't have detected them.
So, why do we have them?
Well, back in the Bush administration, they gave hundreds of millions of dollars to various companies which were in the business of making these things and which (coincidentally?) were gigantic campaign contributors to the right-wing.
The European folks banned them for the simple fact they don't work for the reason mentioned, in addition to the other stated reasons. Funny how the U.S. media never mentions that.
Another aspect of their use is that they are unconstitutional with respect to the allowances to suspend the 4th amendment rights in the interests of public safety. Baggage checks were considered non-invasive AND effective for the purposes it is intended to do. Both of those criteria are needed to pass constitutional muster.
The scanners are not effective for the avowed purposes they were installed, which was to catch another underwear bomber. Therefore they are actually unconstitutional.
But what can you do? Personally, I drive. The company is better, the scenery is far more awesome, the restrooms are never full and no one is messing with my stuff behind my back. Until the TSA gets smart, does what Israel does and starts profiling passengers like they SHOULD, there's no point in flying public transportation because of the pointless indignities the traveling public suffer at the hands of the Gestapo.
Actually the headline is wrong. The TSA is simply moving the devices to other airports, not removing them as indicated. Seems it is OK to irradiate a few people but not a lot of people. TSA is a classic example of "when you don't know what to do, you do what you know."
EEEExactly!!!! They're too labor intensive, so they're moving them to smaller airports??? No, they're buying MORE machines, this time millimeter wave technology that unzips DNA. It doesn't cause cancer, it makes it harder for your body to fight cancer. Another "security" billion dollar boondoggle is on the way!!!
Check out this song about how I try to reveal my girlfriend as an undercover spy (double Oh 69) by taking her through the airport, where she is groped by the TSA. I know it sounds like everyday stuff, because it is,and it is funny, and catchy as can be.http://soundcloud.com/ted-narcotic/double-oh-sixty-nine
Although well intentioned, TSA has been ridiculous since its beginning. Shoe removals, silly. So many ridiculous cases, like, for example, one can board with one nail clipper, but if you have two the second one is thought to be dangerous, unacceptable for boarding.
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Even when working properly, these blast us with the equivalent of 22 minutes of high altitude ambient radiation in just three seconds with a pencil-thin beam.
So, why do we have them?
Well, back in the Bush administration, they gave hundreds of millions of dollars to various companies which were in the business of making these things and which (coincidentally?) were gigantic campaign contributors to the right-wing.
The European folks banned them for the simple fact they don't work for the reason mentioned, in addition to the other stated reasons. Funny how the U.S. media never mentions that.
Another aspect of their use is that they are unconstitutional with respect to the allowances to suspend the 4th amendment rights in the interests of public safety. Baggage checks were considered non-invasive AND effective for the purposes it is intended to do. Both of those criteria are needed to pass constitutional muster.
The scanners are not effective for the avowed purposes they were installed, which was to catch another underwear bomber. Therefore they are actually unconstitutional.
But what can you do? Personally, I drive. The company is better, the scenery is far more awesome, the restrooms are never full and no one is messing with my stuff behind my back. Until the TSA gets smart, does what Israel does and starts profiling passengers like they SHOULD, there's no point in flying public transportation because of the pointless indignities the traveling public suffer at the hands of the Gestapo.