Transportation Safety Administration

We know that TSA personnel are mean and threatening.  They enjoy lording over passengers and looking at each pereson suspiciously.  And yet, they still seem to effect that attitude of “I’m doing you a favor, so don’t piss me off.”

We also know that having some one’s smelly shoes in a bin next to your bin (and permeating your coat and blazer) is no way to start or end a trip. 

My favorite, though, is the full-body glaucoma test, where you are in a Woody Allen-esque orgasmatron machine as jets of air hit various areas of your body.  The point is to find any trace chemicals.  I also had someone swab my dirty underwear (I was on my way home) looking for trace chemicals.  And, G-d forbid, you wanted to pack some hair gel.

We put up with these and other indignities.  Why? Because they are keeping us safe.

Hmmm.  Then how does a man previously denied entrance into this country, whose family alerted the authorities that he was dangerous, walk on a plane with a syringe and more liquid than “allowed”?

What have we learned?  TSA personnel are mean and threatening AND incompetent.  Luckily, the terrorist in this case was more incompetent.

There are a lot of very qualified people out of work.  Maybe we should upgrade our TSA personnel (and personality).