Former Newark Airport TSA screener says the job does little to keep fliers safe

I had the "pleasure" of flying through Newark several times last year and I think the Blueshirts there, at least in the Delta terminal, are sociopaths. One time I went through the peep show and then got felt up. I asked the groper why I had to do both and he just walked away like a true, surly, government union employee. Easily the worst of the worst among the Blueshirts.

Right on, David!

It's like frisking everybody walking along the street because one of them might not be a nice person.

I'm a 78 year old Caucasian, bald, slightly overweight American male, I've served my country well and honorably both in and out of the armed forces. I've have had a command in the US Navy. I've passed so many background investigations for high level security clearances that I can't count 'em. Why should anybody with that kind of curriculum vitae be considered a potential terrorist? The answer, of course, is so as not to hurt the feelings of people whose appearance, ethnic and religious backgrounds are similar to those of the 911 murderers. Perish the thought. EVERYONE MUST BE SEARCHED to avoid offending ANYONE.

TSA thing become another bloated, bureaucratic control organization. It's there to control of YOU. You must endure without complaint -- or else.

The milk sop defense for TSA is that: "If TSA can stop just one terrorist, it's all worth it." That's specious nonsense. If the speed limit were 10mph we'd have less fatal accidents, too, -- but would that be worth it? Of course not.

TSA exists because the 911 hijackers passed through security with box cutters -- which were perfectly legal at the time. The Director of the FBI couldn't have legally stopped those murderers from passing through security, but there was a frenzy to DO SOMETHING -- et voila! TSA was born. Now it's like Herpes Type II. It's here to stay because nobody under 21 remembers its ever having been any other way.

Btw, TSA inconveniences MILLIONS of people, not just thousands. It does the latter at large airports every day. Has it stopped any terrorists from highjacking an airplane? NO. but it's hard to prove a negative.

No planes have been hijacked either.

Actual!!!???? You mean a former TSA employee. Ask that individual why they are no longer employed by the Dept of Homeland Security? This former disgrutled employee could have told them that he/she was from Mars and they would have ran with the story. I noticed that Fox News is really putting a spin on it. Follow the money trail and you'll get to the truth. Who stands to benefit from the private contracts?

Come on Chip! You are better than this. I expected even you to see thru this smoke screen. It's not the first time an airport (Federal or Private screeners) has failed a Federal test. So, you have to ask yourself, why are they concentrating on this one? Also, why don't they publish the results when an airport pass a test? Ahhhhhhhhhhaaaaa, you smell that Chip? Follow the money trail?

Why didn't they report about the Private Screeners failing test?

America, The Greedy!!!!!!!

Hmmmmm. Could it be a reaction to a rude flying public? It makes sense that there would be more friendly people at smaller and rural facilities rather than at the larger hubs. Do something considerate in the Bos-Wash corridor and see how many people say thank you, less than half. perform the same courtesy in Tampa and you see a jump to 90% or more. I had hands full of McDonald's the other day, exiting the store. Three young people tried to go through from the other side when I opened the door.

The airlines were happy to give up security at airports as a dead expense. With the latest tollerance of small knives the FAs, at least are ready to take the responsibility back. On a recent trip from JAX, I mis placed my toilet kit in my carry on. In it was an inexpensive bottle opener you might find in any restaurant to open wine, soda, beer, eyc. A TSA glomm asked me to stand up from my wheel chair so he could get up in my face, less than 3" between noses, to ask me if I wanted to mail it to myself. He was visably upset when I yeilded title of it to him rather than spend $5.00 to mal it.

The biggest threat to people's safety: spreading butter with a plastic knife. Now that we are allowing butter knives on airplanes I am surprised planes aren't running into buildings left and right. I fear for my life anytime I am in a building greater than two stories now, what if the butter knife terrorists strike?

The decision to allow knives is pretty simple. The Blueshirts and the idiots who herd the Blueshirts (known as management in the private sector but not worthy of the title in government) know that the Blueshirts can't stop squat. So when too many knives get by the prying eyes of the Blueshirts while they flag the scary shampoos that are too big, instead of being accountable for the failure the answer is to simply legalize the stuff. Then when Akmad and Co slits some throats the Blueshirts can say "the knife threat was not known to us, so we need another $5 trillion in our budget to make air travel truly safe." When private sector businesses fail (auto, airline and other business dominated by unions excepted) they disappear. When government fails, it gets bigger. Makes sense, right?

Thank you euronorb! This is the most logical post yet. The fact is; there are people outside our country who are brain washed from birth to hate Americans. It doesn't matter if you are Black,White,Hispanic,European,Muslim,Asian,or any race. If you live in America, you are the enemy. With, or without TSA, they are going to strike. They are just waiting for us to fall asleep. It really doesn't matter if it's Private Security or TSA. The standard operation procedures and policies for airport screening and hiring are mandated by DHS. I also agree that the idea to let small knives back on airplanes is a bad idea. It's not just knives but other prohibited items are being allow back on planes too. You will hear about these soon.

D.M Street, you are probably right about the more professional and rational screeners being located at the medium to small regional airports.

Law enforcement doesn't make you empty your pockets and walk through a metal detector prior to their pat down. They pat you down while you are in handcuffs and by then they have their probable cause, apples and oranges.