Raise your arms and smile

Invasion of the body scanners:

Body scanners that look under airline passengers’ clothing for hidden weapons could be in nearly half the nation’s airport checkpoints by late 2011, according to an Obama administration plan announced Monday.

The $215 million proposal to acquire 500 scanners next year, combined with the 450 to be bought this year, marks the largest addition of airport-security equipment since immediately after the 9/11 attacks. There are only 40 body scanners in a total of 19 airports now. - USA TODAY

And, chillingly, a USA Today/Gallup poll says 78% of respondents are “OK with TSA full-body scanners.”

Comments

[Buzz]

The USA Today/Gallop poll proves my theory that the majority of people are so scared of terrorism they are willing to do anything they think, or are told, will protect them.Even if it's security theater. And when some of our lobbyist-owned politicians want to deflect their ill deeds, they yell terrorism and everything else is forgotten.

I wonder how much money the company that makes these full body scanners has given to politicians? .

[qhartman]

Also, consider that the poll questioned fewer than 600 people. That's hardly a useful sample size. Sure makes a for a good headline though...

[Monte L. Steiger]

The "78%" figure tells me that the previous administration did a very good job of making paranoia a characteristic of our culture. They also showed us how easy it is to blame someone else for one's human condition, real or perceived. In my estimation it will take fifty years to revese the trend, if it can be reversed.

[Monte L. Steiger]

After looking at the picture I would also say that it might be a good idea to make one finger on each hand more prominent than the rest. Picture that!

[Till]

The "smart check" feature of the machine is interesting. The test person doesn't look like they could pass that test. :)

Till