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National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

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Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#31

Post by techiferous »

This reminds me of Gandhi's non-cooperation attitude and shrewdness in dealing with unjust people or policies in power.

As an individual, you are powerless when you go through the security line. As a group, however, the American people have all of the power. Because this is both a democracy and a capitalist country (however flawed it may be), if there is an organized and concerted effort against the TSA policies, they simply cannot stand. Congress would not be able to oppose a unified voice of the people saying "this is not okay" and the airlines would not be able to tolerate a significant reduction in customers (and therefore would put pressure on the TSA to change its policies).

Gandhi organized a "day of prayer and fasting" which was basically a general strike of all of India. It was a wake-up call to the British. If somebody organized a "do not fly" day where no one flew, that would probably be a bigger wake-up call than opting out of the scan.

Sometimes you have to give up some temporary convenience or comfort to send a message to those in power that you don't agree. During the Montgomery bus boycott, people stopped using the bus and this was extremely inconvenient but they would rather not trade their dignity for convenience.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#32

Post by jarin »

d2viant wrote: post #13
terryjsmith wrote: post #3

I can't get behind this, especially when it comes to kids. I really hope that someone finds proof they do store images and sues the US government/TSA for child pornography or something similar. While I doubt this opt-out day will gain serious traction to make a decision, I agree that the best thing to do is continue to call media attention to and scrutinize it.

Generally speaking, you can't sue the U.S. Government.

Sure you can: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Tort_Claims_Act

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#33

Post by trunnell »

This protest might not slow down security lines. These new scanners are pretty slow to begin with.

When I went through SFO recently it took 1-2 minutes to go through the scanner. The slowness seemed to be a combination of the instructions given to the flyer for positioning themselves inside the device, the slowness of the device itself, and the slack in the line.

In any case, I remember thinking that a pat-down might actually be quicker.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#34

Post by geophile »

ojbyrne wrote: post #12
[deleted] wrote: post #9

[deleted]

Actually, given the additional delays for security, trips under ~ 250 miles, buses and trains are a viable alternative. I'd suspect that those routes are rapidly becoming more profitable for ground transport. Maybe that can help with investment in high speed trains.

The TSA Radius is the distance below which you'd rather drive than fly. (I invented this term, but feel free to use it.) As far as I'm concerned, they've just increased the TSA Radius to infinity.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#35

Post by jberryman »

Not sure how feasible or legal it is to do this, but a good strategy for a demonstration might be to hand out fliers to people waiting in the security line. On the fliers would be some information on the new security policy and body scanners and an example image of a body scan. Also attached would be a sticker that says "opt out".

That we people can make an informed and visible decision before they encounter the TSA pressure.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#37

Post by trunnell »

techiferous wrote: post #31

This reminds me of Gandhi's non-cooperation attitude and shrewdness in dealing with unjust people or policies in power. As an individual, you are powerless when you go through the security line. As a group, however, the American people have all of the power. Because this is both a democracy and a capitalist country (however flawed it may be), if there is an organized and concerted effort against the TSA policies, the…

would rather not trade their dignity for convenience

I wonder if that idea is still as powerful today.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#38

Post by _ouxp »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #30
_ouxp wrote: post #6

The TSA is now calling National Opt-Out Day "irresponsible." John Pistole, TSA Administrator: "On the eve of a major national holiday and less than one year after al Qaida's failed attack last Christmas Day, it is irresponsible for a group to suggest travelers opt out of the very screening that could prevent an attack using non-metallic explosives." http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/11/12/131275949/protest... That…

"On the eve of a major national holiday and less than one year after al Qaida's failed attack last Christmas Day, it is irresponsible for a group to suggest travelers opt out of the very screening that could prevent an attack using non-metallic explosives." He seems to be overlooking the possibility that things are getting so bad with the TSA that increasing numbers of travelers would rather take their chances with t…

And that no security measure at the airport will prevent a threat before the security checkpoint. With or without people opting out of the body scanners, security checkpoints are bottlenecks (something that the scanners have, in fact, exacerbated) and therefore vulnerable.

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#39

Post by [deleted] »

danilocampos wrote: post #20
aneth wrote: post #15

This anti scanner fad stinks of mob mentality and hysteria. There is no evidence images have been stored at airports or that harm is caused by scans. There is a pathetic lack of rational discussion of factual policies and why such policies might be necessary, whether we like them or not. I expect more from the HN crowd. Someone want to fill us on on facts instead of speculation and fear mongering?

Let's start with this: In a free society, people are being coerced to participate in a security procedure that violates their privacy. Don't want to go through the porno scanners? Okay, punk — have fun being aggressively groped in punishment. You don't get to enact this kind of invasive, extreme policy on a whim. Extreme measures call for extreme circumstances and at this point, no one has made any sort of compelling…

[deleted]

Re: National Opt-Out Day Called Against Invasive Body Scanners

#40

Post by nitrogen »

jberryman wrote: post #35

Not sure how feasible or legal it is to do this, but a good strategy for a demonstration might be to hand out fliers to people waiting in the security line. On the fliers would be some information on the new security policy and body scanners and an example image of a body scan. Also attached would be a sticker that says "opt out". That we people can make an informed and visible decision before they encounter the TSA…

Better yet, t-shirts. The front of the t-shirt is innocuous (so the security guards don't get alarmed too early), but the back explains the body scan process to everyone in line behind you, with example images.
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