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TSA Petition Idea

Started by SamIam, July 25, 2007, 05:04 PM NHFT

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SamIam

After reading the about the actions of the federal government against Dave Ridley, and hearing an idea from Mark Edge about the TSA, I decided to combine the two into an act of civil disobedience. I created a 1 page document with a petition for redress of grievances on the front, and a story about the TSA failing 90% of internal tests on the other side.

A friend of mine who is an artist got a hold of it, and turned it into a tri-fold brochure. The rough draft is attached. It's going to have the TSA story on the inside, with the world's smallest political quiz on the inside Right section. On the other side is the cover and the petition.  I could use some help. I need to condense my thoughts and reduce the text of the petition. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. The petition contains some of the most effective arguments I have discovered while talking to the TSA as I went through selectee screening. The other thing I need is a title, right now the best I have is "What You Should Know About the TSA" 

Thanks to a bogus implausible liquid bomb plot, I have to check my bags every flight (+50 times/year) this adds about 30 minutes to my time at the airport each flight. I plan to give a speech at baggage claim, and offer the brochures to anyone that requests one. I've done similar activities at the voting booth after an election official told me to stop telling people in line about paper ballots because they were going to run out, and she thought I was going to start a riot! :)  I'm also planning to give this to TSA agents. Believe it or not, some of them are very receptive to the questions I ask them. They are after all people, no different than you or I.

Anyway, I'm looking for ideas suggestions, whatever you have! Here's the raw text:

Petition for a Redress of Grievances

Given that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) exercises a government mandated monopoly on security screening at government owned airports in North America, and has grown government beyond constitutional boundaries in creating the aforementioned TSA, I hereby petition the government for redress of grievances.

Given that government mandated monopolies like the TSA are completely disconnected from market signals, they suffer from the following problems:
Higher cost of service
No profit motive
Lack of consequences from displeased customers
Lack of consequences from providing poor service
Providing a service people want to voluntarily pay for is not a concern
Failure typically results in additional Funding or resources compounding the problems enumerated above
A lack of competition, which usually exerts pressure to innovate, perform efficiently, and lower prices

Given that showing ID alone is a search, and refusing to show ID requires travelers to undergo additional screening, searches, and pat downs in order to assemble peacefully as defined by the first amendment, the TSA's actions are unconstitutional, given that the TSA fails to obtain an oath or affirmation as defined by the fourth amendment listed here:

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.

TSA agents may, at will, fine any traveler forced to utilize their service. The unlucky traveler's only recourse is to call and negotiate a lower fine with the TSA. The 6th amendment in the Bill of Rights reads as follows:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

In direct violation of the 6th amendment, travelers receiving a fine are allowed none of the provisions outlined above, thus making the TSA's actions unconstitutional.

Given the TSA's performance on internal tests, repeated inability to provide anything other than the allusion of security, the TSA's unconstitutional nature, and the recent 17% drop in international travel, I hereby petition the government to eliminate the TSA, and restore airport security to the private sector which suffers from none of the aforementioned constitutional violations outlined in this petition. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

Kat Kanning


error

You should have seen their excuses for failing the Red Team tests at Albany last month.

d_goddard

Your graphic designer friend did a totally kickass job -- please, tell me both of you will be in New Hampshire soon!

By the way, have you seen the Bill of Rights 'Security Edition'?
Looks right up your alley.

SamIam

I'll be there next year. She might come, but it's way to early to tell. If she does, the FSP is going to have some kick ass signs! She does everything from body painting, to children's books, to portraits, to illustrations for medical journals. She's very talented.

Comments on the content of the text anyone?

Dave Ridley

sam if practical i'm hoping you'll do this in New Hampshire

Dreepa

Also put them in the airline magazines on the planes.

You may find FSP bookmarks there. >:D

SamIam

Dave, when I get up there, we are going to plan some great CD for Manchester. :) I'll probably be flying out a lot for a while.

Inspiration has struck! I'll have them cut in the middle, and use it as my ticket sleeve! Then I'll hand it to the TSA agent with my boarding pass tucked away in the petition!! It's perfect! :) Half the time they keep my ticket through the entire screening process.

As a TSA agent, would you read a ticket sleeve titled: "What You Should Know About the TSA" ?  I think I would be intrigued. HEHE

d_goddard

Quote from: SamIam on July 25, 2007, 11:21 PM NHFT
As a TSA agent, would you read a ticket sleeve titled: "What You Should Know About the TSA" ?  I think I would be intrigued.
+1 brilliant!

This guy might be fun to discuss this topic with:
http://wiki.freetalklive.com/TSA_Jorge

error

TSA Jorge is a FSP member and is planning to move to Manchester.

slim

Great petition if I was ever going to fly again I would take a few copies to hand out in line while waiting for the screening.

+1 karma 4 u

SamIam

I love that guy. The best call was when he told everyone one way to safely smuggle cannabis through security. :)  That was a funny call. Still looking for thoughts on the petition wording and content. Anyone?

error

Eh, the easiest way to get cannabis through security is to disguise it as a bomb.

Dreepa

Ok I read through the whole trifold.... in general I like it...

It says that TSA is in North America... we aren't running the Mexicon airports yet are we? (NAU?)

the bullet points could be 'tightened up'

On the right side it mentions 'peaceful assembly' but is that what people are doing?


TylerM

Quote from: Dreepa on July 27, 2007, 07:57 PM NHFTOn the right side it mentions 'peaceful assembly' but is that what people are doing?

If you say yes, apparently you've never been through DFW. >.< But, seriously! I really like it! Next time I fly I'll take some with me. Which maybe a while, so I'll wait for the final version.