After 9/11, no one was clamoring for a bunch of unqualified, untrained individuals to exercise the authority to control the free movement of citizen's around the country.
If there's any finger pointing, it's for failing to stop the plots before they get to the "walmart greeter fellow" tier of security. Maybe I've got a problem with sacrificing privacy for security measures that have been consistently proven ineffective.
've generally considered myself pretty realistic, though, so that might have something to do with my rational approach to the issue, vice the shoulder shrug method of handling unwarranted, thoughtless, and heavy handed government intrusion into something that is a fundamental right.
Please define "qualified" and "untrained"...I'm guessing you have no idea what training they go through. As for the qualifications to get the job, the requirements to be in the military aren't much different, yet no one says every enlisted person in the military is a moron and we are doing a "walmart greeter type of soldiering". It just seems easy to look down on people who don't make a good living as being idiots, when we get frustrated.
Here is the deal: despite the absolutely stupid shit you said about Secretary Napolitano, her agency is trying to do the best job they can (*Disclaimer: she is my boss). I'm guessing there are those that would prefer racial profiling (which has been shown to be ineffective) to this, and I'm guessing there are those who would prefer nothing be done. The problem is that politically something
has to done, and using technology like this on people seems like a good balance of privacy (seriously...a silvery outline of your wife would get you amped up? Seriously? I'm guessing you think ultrasounds of babies is child pornography?) , to security.
I actually agree with you about the government being intrusive, but these pics aren't where I would make my stand (I made it years ago with warrantless wiretapping, if you are taking score). As for the pat downs...well, I agree that they shouldn't occur, but take the scan and it won't happen.
a TSA Agent working in MS makes 29k a year.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Have reached his/her 18th birthday at the time of application submission;
Be proficient in English (e.g., reading, writing,
speaking, and listening);
Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent; OR
Have at least one year of full-time work experience in security
work, aviation screener work, or X-ray technician work.
This comes from here
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.as...2+12:07:00
Enlisted Qualifications
-You must be no older than 34 but at least 17 years old. If you are not yet 18, you must have parental consent.
=You must be a U.S. citizen. If you’re a non-citizen*, you may enlist in the Navy if you entered the United States on a permanent residence visa or have an Alien Registration Green Card and have 1) established a bona fide residence, and 2) established a home of record in the United States.
-If you are a single parent, please contact a recruiter for details on how you can enlist in the Navy.
-Generally speaking, you must be a high school graduate, have earned a GED or have met other high school equivalency requirements to enlist in the Navy.
-The Navy has a zero tolerance drug/alcohol policy. Early in the enlistment process, you will take two urinalysis tests. You’ll also be asked questions about prior drug and alcohol use. Answer honestly. If you have questions, contact a recruiter.
-The Navy also applies medical, legal and character standards to your application, including traffic offense history, criminal history, citizenship status and more. For more information, contact a recruiter.
This comes from
http://www.navy.com/navy/joining/qualifications.html