Homeland Security

Nothing pisses me off more than having to go through security to get to work. The people standing by the metal detectors are mostly the same incompetent morons that were there pre 9/11. Except now they are Federal employees making about 6 times as much and, please don't let me forget the benefits. Because we most definitely need more federal employees.

I'm going through security in Newark. I'm in uniform with my id properly displayed. You cannot get this id without a thorough background check by the FBI.

This is how the conversation goes between me and the Nice Security Boy.

NSB: "Please take off your shoes before entering the metal detector".

Me: "These shoes are security friendly. There are no metals in them. I go through security all the time and the never set off the machine".

NSB: "Your soles are too thick. You will need to take them off."

I now have what I think is ace in the hole. I have a TSA badge. I'm a Federal Officer. I'm allowed to carry a deadly weapon on the a/c.
I had to go through extensive checks by both TSA, and the FBI to qualify for this. They called everyone I've ever worked for. My neighbors, etc. "Is he a responsible person? Does he have a temper? etc....
Then I had to sit down with a shrink to see if I fit the mold. Do I have what it takes?

After all that I had to go to NM for training. You know: Hong Kong phooey and shit. Plus I had to shoot off a gazillion rounds at the range.

So I show the Nice Security Boy my badge.

Me: "Is there any way we can have some common sense here, and let me keep my shoes on?"

There have been about 1000 people through this checkpoint today and at least 5 of them have some kinda nasty foot fungus.

NSC: "Are you belittling me in front of my people?"

Me: "No. I'm just asking for a little common sense. I can carry a gun on the a/c, but you want my shoes off? "

This whole idiotic episode still ended up with me barefoot.

2 weeks earlier going through the same checkpoint. I had 4 bottles of wine that I bought in Germany. The bag goes through and nada. They did not want me to open it or anything. Those bottles could have been filled with gasoline, or worse, if I was crazy enough, nitroglycerine.

In Boston last month I walked right through security without my id. In uniform, but no id. I had managed to forget it in Bolivia. Don't ask.

Anyone can buy a uniform, that's why we have id's.

They are just as incompetent as always, but now they have a much higher ego's and more power than people with their IQ should have.

Fedup

Have you ever noticed that all the the companies in Chapter 11 are now dumping their employees retirement plans into PBGC.

This means that I now pay for all these people to have security in their later years, and I still have to take care of my own retirement. Because I, like most people don't have retirement plan. I have to pay into my 401K, IRA etc. This combined with the fact that I probably will not get a social security check, really gets my goat.

Coming from a socialized country I believe that we should all be taken care of in old age. However, I pay about 40% in taxes a year, and what do I get for that money?
Will my kids education be taken care of? No.
Will my health insurance be taken care of? No.
Will they take of me when I get old age? No.

By 2015 my entire tax contribution will go to paying for government employees and their benefits. Where is the rest of the money coming from? Whatever happened to shrinking the government? It is now bigger than ever.

I'm getting really tired of paying for nothing.