Poll: Public Backs Full-Body Scans at Airports, but Splits on Pat-Downs

They say there were not many delays at the airports. Well, DUH, airport travel is sharply down this Thanksgiving. Those that flew already had non-refundable tickets from those ungrateful airlines, who are not willing to fight for their passengers. Pilots and attendants don't have to have pornographic pictures taken of them or sexual assaults done to them as the two choices...or leaving and getting an $11,000 fine!

My neighbor is driving on her vacation and she normally flies.

Did any of the 71% who claimed to be OK with either being groped or screened at the airport happen to note that 100% of the elected and non-elected leaders in our Government of and for the people, "that's us folks," excluded themselves from having to submit to either????

Let's Make a Deal! I will accept a pat down under the pretense of "security", IF all elected officials and staff undergo lie detector tests as part of the political process live on national tv with questions about: their qualifications, their financial backers, legislation they intend to pass, lobbyists they have spoken with, and all legislative financial dealings they could possibly benefit from. Under the reasoning that as public officials they hold a public trust to the electorate - not themselves. Otherwise, focus on the Airport Security company that allowed the "underwear bomber" to circumvent the boarding process and get on that plane. Also let's see the video from Amsterdam airport showing the man in the suit who spoke with perpetrator and have it plastered across the media (recall eyewitness testimony of other passengers on flight from Detroit to Amsterdam!). The whole incident rings of false flag operation to impose more police state measures on USA citizens, as well as allowing Michael Chertoff (and cronies) to make millions as a consultant for the company that sells the Rapiscan.

Someone left out the choice of leaving after being given the first two choices either scanned or pat down. But if you choose to leave they detain you until they are sure your not a treat, how ever long that is, and they have the power to fine you up to $11,000.00. So I think we need another choice.

I would rather go through a pat down or scan then get on a plane with one of those terrorists with a bomb in their freaking underwear! Just do it people and shut up!

The public sometimes hasn't thought things through, by the time they are polled. If the body scanner can be harmful to the health of an adult, what about the health of that little body of your child, or infant. To stand silently while you and your family are "zapped" with something everyone already knows holds great danger, simply confirms there are still a great many slow witted sheep out there. How many times has the public been told a particular drug, or device, or toy, etc., is perfectly safe, only to find out 10 years later that we, the taxpayer, must pay for the lawsuits arising from the damage that was done? The powerful and wealthy will protect the investments of the powerful and wealthy, until they are made whole, regardless of the damage to the general public.

Prior to the Revolutionary war the British soldiers stopped people and searched them as they pleased. They went into peoples houses and searched them whenever they wanted to and they freely helped themselves to whatever they found. This was not prohibited under English law at that time. The 4th amendment was written into the Bill of Rights and ratified by the States, to prevent this from occurring. I quote the 4th amendment: "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." Are we ready to give up the right against unreasonable searches for any citizen of the United States ? How about the policeman that stops the cute 16 year old girl on her way home from school, or the girl on the beach in her bikini and pats them down. If searches may be performed when there is no indication of laws being broken then the above examples would be acceptable, and the people going onto the airplane are checked though there is no indication of any laws being broken. If these searches become acceptable then your home is next. You may note I have not said anything about scans and pat downs for persons that are not American Citizens. The Constitution was written to protect American Citizens, not those of other countries. If I am in another Country, i.e. Mexico I expect that their laws may be different and I would expect to follow them. Does the American Civil Liberties consider this an infringement of our rights ? I seem to recall they have filed suits to protect the rights on non-Americans: What about Americans ?

Should the scans and pat downs be done using a profiling method ? Let me ask you if a four year old boy should be picked randomly while a 20 something man with a full beard and mustache is skipped ? Which do you think is the most dangerous to fly with ? Unless your IQ is about 50 we will come to the same conclusion. Now: Which do you feel the safest having on your flight; A middle aged American man going from one city in the US to another or a man from Yemen with a one way ticket ? How about a woman who is thoroughly covered so that the only thing you can see is her eyes who says she does not want to be scanned and her religion prohibits her from being patted down. What do you think; should we profile, or would you rather die ?

Far more nudity can be seen in the magazines found at the checkout stand in your local grocery then you will see in these scans. If you are a woman you might want to refer to the comment about pat downs made by Gloria Alred. It is a legal way to get some action.