Scope or Grope

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

This pearl of eternal wisdom from one of America's founding fathers has been much in my mind of late.  I have often spoken out against the tyranny inflicted upon our citizenry by our government in the name of protecting us from terrorism. Ever since the attacks of 9/11, the reaction of the American government has been to toss the Constitution out the window and subject Americans to a seemingly endless intrusion into our daily lives and a steady erosion of our rights.  Even a change of party control of the White House and Congress hasn't slowed this nonsense.  Nowhere is this assault more overt than at America's airports.

In an effort to gain a measure of security, air travelers have gradually had to surrender their freedoms as well as their dignity.  At first the requirements were tame.  Have your carry-on x-rayed, be ready to get the electronics out for a visual.  If you want to see a TSA line slow to a halt, travel with my beloved wife, the Lovely and Talented Cathy.  The collection of electronic devices she travels with would boggle the mind.  Then some moron tried to light his shoes up.  This is where things got silly.  Now all air travelers had to take off their shoes to have them x-rayed.  It still amazes me that the vast majority of passengers just stood for it.  That was bad enough, but everything changed when the next sphinctroid decided to hide explosives in his shorts.

This brings us to the sad state we are in today.  Anyone that wants to fly out of a major airport in America has two choices if the want to get on their airplane. The first option is to be subjected to a "full-body scanner". An x-ray machine that sees through your clothes and lets a "remote operator" see an image of your naked body.  I really don't give a husky fuck how remote the operator is.  If I wanted to pose for porn, I'd put it on the net and find a way to get paid for it.  The second option is even worse. If you choose not to be "scoped", you have to submit to an "enhanced pat-down", which is TSA-speak for "touch every place that an explosive could be hidden" and if you think that your breasts, crotch or ass are off-limits you WILL get an unpleasant surprise.  If a police officer did this without a warrant or witnessing a crime, they would be up on charges!

My question is this: When did wanting to travel by air become a criminal act?  When did possession of an airline ticket become probable cause?  The 4th amendment to the Constitution is a very clear statement.  "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."  Why hasn't someone sued over this? 

Some people are muttering on the Internet about an "opt-out" day on the day before Thanksgiving.  The head of the TSA is pleading with travelers to submit to the scope rather than slow the lines down and opt for the grope.  He wants people to not "tie up people who want to go home and see their loved ones".  If I was flying this holiday, I would absolutely opt-out.  If that is what it takes for the government to wake up and start following the Constitution again, so be it.