There is currently a growing chorus of discontent concerning the new screening processes used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The most contentious issues concern the use of full-body scanners and "enhanced" pat-downs. This recently came a head with the airline pilots union, the Allied Pilots Association, where pilots were refusing these screenings and being denied entry to go to work. The TSA blinked, and have started allowing pilots to skip the new, intrusive screening procedures.
I support the screening exemption for pilots if it pushes the TSA away from the ridiculous, ineffective random gropings and irradiations that are being employed. The pilots union argued that they are a special group that has been pre-screened and low risk. I agree. However, the government now needs to start the sensible process of profiling and let others who opt for pre-screening and are low risk avoid the senseless humiliation perpetrated by the poorly educated and often power-hungry TSA agents. This approach would be far more cost-effective and gets to the issue of using Intelligence, and not random actions to try preventing terrorist acts.
There will undoubtedly be individuals who will be negatively impacted because they are in a high risk profile. However, this would be a boon to them as those who have nothing to hide should have no problem submitting to a detailed security check to avoid the hassles. It would undoubtedly be a much better system than the current one where we are all treated as criminals everytime we fly.
