Things That Irk Me

I already know that I seem to think differently than, what, 90 percent of the population or something, and I guess that's fine. I usually don't care to be the odd one out with my ideas or thoughts. But last night I was thinking about how annoyed I get over certain things. I realize, we all have to choose our battles and we can't get worked up over everything, nor can we be involved in every good cause or fight for every worthy issue. I understand that, and that's fine. But what I don't understand, or rather what annoys me, is that complacent attitude a lot of people have. Ya know, kind of like I've got my big fat TV, and my job, and my fridge is full so leave me alone. Bleh! I hate how little people often times seems to care about just anything. And what makes me even more upset is not just people not caring - if you just don't care, and keep quiet so be it. But I really get annoyed when those who don't do anything, then start giving those who try to promote change for the things they believe in a hard time. Or those who make fun of those who care about something a lot. What's wrong with people???? Ok, just to tamper my words here a bit, I know that we need balance in the world. Some people go overboard. But I still think it's the people who care and then get involved, rather than the silent onlookers, or careless consumers, who can influence and change our world for the better. Nothing really awesome has ever come from people doing nothing, or just talking without action. Therefore, it just annoys the crap out of me when people simply couldn't care less about the world and the people around them and how our actions and lives impact others. Seriously. I just don't get that mindset.

Anyway, I just had to vent. Why? Because recently I've been really concerned and upset about the recent security changes at airports from the TSA. And I've gotten some lame comments on my efforts to try to let people know what's going on as well as trying to change this by writing to our representatives. Grrrr...So, since I really really care about the whole TSA stuff, I'll mention it on here as well, and tell you why you, too should be concerned/upset. I'll even try to keep it "to the point".

1. Terrorism threats on airplanes are statistically insignificant. If we take all the known bomb threats/terrorism threats we had on airplanes in the US in the last 9 years (since 9/11, and 9/11 included), we get 8 threats, 4 of which were successfully averted but not by the TSA. Considering that the US has about 500,000 flights a year, that puts your risk of a bomb threat on your airplane at less than 1 in 500,000. I certainly don't want to be blown up in an airplane, but I think it's also smart to think about how real the risk really is. It's easy to get worked up over sensational threats that are, however, unlikely to really happen. To give you an idea, 1 out of 100,000 women die using an epidural during childbirth - and the government certainly isn't promoting this as a huge risk. 11 out of 100,000 die in a car accident. I could go on with the list. You're statistically speaking more likely to die in your car, be murdered, raped, struck by lightening, drown, die of various obesity related deseases etc. than through a bomb on an airplane and yet, we need all kinds of invasive government action to protect us from that one threat????? How about we prohibit cell phone driving? That should save about a couple of thousand lives each year, right away????
2. TSA has no record of having successfully averted any threats. They have collected many pocket knifes and the like, but they have no record for successfully having found/detected any explosive materials or other real risks. However, they do have a track record of many instances of failure. So, if they keep beefing up security, but still fail at finding stuff, what makes people think they know what they're doing?
3. Terrorism threats keep changing. No matter what single procedure will be made standard, terrorist will find a way around it, until we're targeting the real problem: terrorists. The average traveler is not the problem. Key is finding those who are a problem. Isreal has successfully secured their airport by using behavioral profiling, as well as bomb safe luggage areas. Bomb sniffing dogs are also very effective. Random selection for screening by very unqualified TSA officials, who don't have the brains to assess a person properly, has proven to be pointless, and statistically it also doesn't make sense. If you randomly select people, your chance of catching a terrorist are at best average. If you are trained, and smart enough to know what to look for, and consistently pulling out those people who appear suspicious (not based on merely race, but behavior, travel itinary, luggage checked etc.) you're far more likely to find the real threats. TSA has failed to use any of these simple measures. Maybe because their workforce is not a very qualified and intelligent one (no offense intended - I'm sure they're nice people, they just don't have to prove any particular smarts to get the job). And even if we finally secure airports with scanners and pat-downs, it'll hardly stop there. Then terrorist will see how they can exploit malls, sports events, schools, trains, buses, bridges, ships, parades,...you name it. They'll find something else. So, what are we going to do? Scan everyone as they leave their home, not let anyone enter the country anymore, and do regular searches of all homes to make sure we don't have anyone dangerous in our midst?
4. The new scanners supposedly still cannot detect low-density explosive, such as the ones the underwear bomber used. So, you get your nude picture taken, looked at by who knows who, in some dark room, associated with your personal info, hoping it wont be safed, or made fun off, or jerked off to, or whatever else, and hoping the radiation really isn't harmful, and then have it all be for nothing??? Great. Oh, and even if you get scanned, if they see something where they're not sure what it is (pace maker, artifical knee, whatever) you still get a pat-down.
5. The new pat-down includes feeling around breast and feeling the breasts, patting up all the way to your crotch, and between your buttocks, and putting hands inside your pants waistband to feel all the way around. The benefit? According to a recent NY Times new articles where a reporter went through the pat-down 8 times with various metal objects to see if they'd notice, the benefit is nill. They never noticed any of the items in the pat-down. And supposedly explosives can't necessarily be found that way either. But there are plenty of youtube clips showing kids that are very uncomfortable being touched that way, as well as adults.
6. Lastly, if you still think this is not bad, Mrs. Napolitano has just said that these measures should be spread to ships, buses and trains. And soon probably any major public place. Is this really what you want? 

I find this all very disturbing, and I'm still kind of baffled that not everyone is outraged the way I am. Are people seriously ok with being groped and having their nude pictures taken, being exposed to radiation, and lastly to simply be inconvenienced left and right, for a minimal risk with measures that don't even improve the risk factor?????? Really? Am I the only one who thinks this goes beyond "too far"???? Please tell me you're peeved as well.