How About Some Airport Chaos?

              Last Tuesday we discussed the issues of airport security and the general inclination was that though some security at the airport is indeed something that must be done, the current state of things at the airport has gotten out of hand.  Most all of us agree that although profiling is somewhat distasteful, there is no denying the most terrorism these days comes from a certain type of person who practices a certain type of religion. 

             Facts are facts, and though a few of us may start trying to dig through certain anomalies of the past, the real fact remains that our most recent threats regarding flying are related to the group already alluded to in the previous paragraph.  So what has the government decided to do?  Inconvenience every single one of us by presuming us all guilty until the TSA can assume that we are innocent after a thorough screening.

            And now, tomorrow, Wednesday November 24, 2010, has been designated as Opt-Out Day by an internet site.  Travelers are being rallied to participate in this event which involves opting out of going through the airport body scanners and instead submitting to the body pat down.  They say that they are not intending to slow down the security lines, but why else would they do it.

           According to the organizer, this event is intended to educate the public about the new TSA screening process.  But let's face it, if many people did participate in Opt-Out Day, it could have a massive effect on the busiest airport travel day of the year.

            I really don't think that many people will participate.  After all, most people just want to get where they're going and have a great Turkey Day with their families.  But with all the publicity this stuff has been getting of late, who knows.

            Personally, I wouldn't do it either if I were flying, and I'm glad I'm not flying. And I don't have any family flying either so I don't really care about the security lines at the airport.   My perverse sense of enjoying the chaotic nonsense that is surrounding all of this would kind of like to see huge back-ups in the security lines because of the opt-outs.  And perhaps it would encourage change in the security screening process.

          From what I've been hearing it sounds like changes are coming anyway.  And we've been hearing plenty.  This TSA stuff has been all over the radio talk shows, TV news, internet, and print media--and now it's getting a bit tiresome.

So what do you think about National Opt-Out Day?

          Are you going to opt out?  Do you hope a lot of people do participate and create airport havoc?  Are you ready for some serious profiling, no fly lists, and prescreening of fliers?