With all the headlines going on about security, invasive TSA pat-downs (where a lesbian friend of mine has commented she’s had her labia touched – TWICE), and the like, what exactly is this getting us? Where are we, as a nation, going? Are we any safer? I think the words you’re looking for are “HELL” and “NO”.
Not only is it getting worse, it’s getting noticeably worse. Case in point? Two separate incidents that I personally have witnessed over the last couple of weeks has led to three different people running out onto the taxiway of the Wenatchee Pangborn Field airport. Yes, this is a small field, with commuter service. But isn’t that all anyone needs? You get access to a larger plane (a Bombardier Q400) and you can pose a threat to just about any building, large or small. And if you wanted a larger plane, then hell – you can land at a larger airport and use your plane to commandeer another one.
Two weeks ago it was two kids that ran out through the double-door exit onto the taxiway to meet their parents. Today, I was almost knocked down by a 50 year old lady who ran through the same double-doors and out onto the taxiway to meet someone. Can you imagine what a couple of armed goons could do? And how is it we still don’t double-check every piece of cargo that goes in the belly of the planes we ride in? Too expensive? Bullshit.
We have the illusion of security going through to catch our flights. The TSA isn’t going to do anything serious about it unless we, as the traveling public demand it. They’ll simply continue to jump at the latest hotspot and make us put something else on the conveyor belt when we go through the magnetometer. It’s pathetic.
UPDATE: I just talked to someone at Pangborn Field (Wenatchee). They weren’t aware that anyone had breached the exit out onto the runway, though they’ve had that concern. TSA isn’t going to do anything about it. Why? They’ll require Pangborn to manage the exit, not TSA, for whatever stupid TSA reason the TSA can cite. Again, I say, SECURITY IS A JOKE.