Damn Bush and his TSA goon squad

[cstaylor]

Just received my letter from the American gubmint about my trashed baggage. The cheapass bastards of the Bush Administration refuse to compensate me for my destroyed property:

Dear Claimant:

This constitutes final administrative action on your claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against the United States in the amount of $670 for property damaged based upon the alleged negligence of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee.

Under applicable law, TSA denies your claim. TSA is required by law to screen 100% of checked baggage, and must in some cases physically inspect baggage in order to complete screening. It is for this reason that TSA recommends that travelers do no lock their bags. Under circumstances described in your claim, we find that there was no negligent or wrongful act or omission on the part of an employee of the government. Consequently, the government is not liable for the damage to your locks.

If you are dissatisfied with the action taken on your FTCA claim, you may file suit in the appropriate U.S. District Court no later than six months after the data of mailing of this notification. This information is not intended to imply that any such suit, if filed, will be successful. In addition, prior to the commencement of a suit and prior to the expiration of the aforementioned six-month period, a written request seeking reconsideration of TSA's denial of your claim may be mailed to: blah blah blah

Here's to following the Spanish example: vote the bums out!

[Big Booger]

Are you going to sue? I am sure you'll loose if you do.. It was done in the name of "Homeland Security"...

"We need to inspect your anal cavity sir, this is in response to the butt bomber on our previous flight"

[GomiGirl]

Are you going to sue? I am sure you'll loose if you do.. It was done in the name of "Homeland Security"...

"We need to inspect your anal cavity sir, this is in response to the butt bomber on our previous flight"

Isn's that in response to the Samoan Pile Driver Bomber?? (Damn that is just icky, BB!!)

[Big Booger]

Well I was debating the WW Donkey Punch.. but I thought the Samoan Pile Driver to be more appropriate

[plaid_knight]

Here's to following the Spanish example: vote the bums out!

Absolutely right. The current administration is the absolute worst we've ever had. Worse than Hoover, worse than Nixon.

I just hope that we still have elections so we can get rid of them.

[Big Booger]

Here's to following the Spanish example: vote the bums out!

Absolutely right. The current administration is the absolute worst we've ever had. Worse than Hoover, worse than Nixon.

I just hope that we still have elections so we can get rid of them.

How could any administration be worse than Nixon's ..watergate, Vietnam, well he did go visit the communists back then, wait that is not a good thing... ?

[Cubed]

That stinks - baggage handlers are not always the most honest people around and it used to be that not locking baggage was asking for your stuff to be stolen at some airports.

The implicit assertion by the TSA that US airports' baggage handlers are more honest and that you are obliged to trust them now that they are fighting terrorism is insipid and ridiculous.

The question surely is, will the TSA compensate you if a handler opens your baggage and helps themselves to your souvenirs? Unlikely I think.

This is what I hate about the US's war on terrorism. It's dependent on a highly skewed logic (based on the US always being right) which doesn't ask that you trust the US government implicitly - it demands it, without question or recourse.

I don't think the US government understands how much it has in common with communist states in these respects, as such countries are the only ones I can think of which would make such demands on their unwilling citizens.

The current US administration may not realise it, but American people certainly understand how much the US Administration's aim - a complicit and unquestioning populus - has come to resemble the very countries' state systems they say they are fighting.

Massachusetts very own Kim Il Jong indeed ...

[maraboutslim]

Sure, I hate the current US administration as much as the next guy, but unless I've missed something, it's not actually their fault is it? I mean, they make it very clear that they must inspect baggage and not to lock it.
If one insists on locking it, there is a very easy way to do so. You go to the inspection area, tell them you want to lock it when they are done, let them do their thing, hand them the keys, they lock it, and give you the keys back. Piece of cake.

[omae mona]

I mean, they make it very clear that they must inspect baggage and not to lock it.

I fly in and out of the US at least once every 2 months (most recently 5 days ago), and I can't recall ever seeing a sign to that effect. The airline personnel don't say anything regarding luggage with locks on it (I've tried, out of curiosity, on a lousy old suitcase that I sorta wanted destroyed). The baggage screeners (average IQ 62, 5 points lower than mine) don't say a word either. I will admit (note my IQ) that maybe I'm just missing all the "very clear" signs, though. Where do you think they make this notification?

If one insists on locking it, there is a very easy way to do so. You go to the inspection area, tell them you want to lock it when they are done, let them do their thing, hand them the keys, they lock it, and give you the keys back. Piece of cake.

Agreed, but this procedure is not publicized.

[maraboutslim]

All I know is that at LAX it was pretty darn clear. So clear that I don't even remember how I became aware of it. Most likely the airline counter chick mentioned it and that there were signs about unlocking your luggage at the drop off spot for the inspections.

For what it is worth, my inlaws flew back to Japan out of LAX, they don't even speak or read English really, and they didn't have any problems understanding this law/policy and no trouble getting their luggage locked for them after the fact.

[omae mona]

All I know is that at LAX it was pretty darn clear.

Maybe the lesson is TSA ain't so consistent across airports. It works at JFK like most other east coast signage, I guess. "We don't need no freakin' signs. If you don't already know, you ain't got no business being here".

[ramchop]

"We need to inspect your anal cavity sir, this is in response to the butt bomber on our previous flight"

Isn's that in response to the Samoan Pile Driver Bomber?? (Damn that is just icky, BB!!)

You a league fan Gomi?, or are you referring to something even more obscure? BTW this boy's Tongan:

It was in the anal area. I think I know the difference between a wedgie and someone putting their fingers up my bum.