Based on early reports, it appears that the TSA resistance is triumphing beyond our wildest dreams. As we have noted everywhere, our primary message has always been to not fly. It’s in our name after all! And it appears that that is what people are doing! There are also reports that the TSA started dialing back its security theater last night. We hear they’re not selecting as many people for the scanners and the gropings are not touching genital areas.
A Zogby poll came out last night. 61% are with us in our opposition to the groping and scanning. 48% are looking to join our boycott – they’re seeking alternatives to flying.
CBS reports that a record number of Thanksgiving travelers have opted to drive:
A record 92 percent, 40 million of the 42.2 million total travelers, are expected to drive, although the number of air travelers is expected to increase from 1.57 million to 1.62 million. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg warns that the much ballyhooed, new, invasive, airport security screening procedures at U.S. airports is expected to significantly slow air travel time.
Correction: ABC reports it’s 94%: “We’re expecting 94 percent of all holiday travelers to go by automobile,” [Troy] Green [AAA national spokesperson] said, up 12 percent from last year.
I caution that these are early reports and the evening rush is yet to transpire. I polled folks on Twitter and Facebook. Here is what they had to say:
“LaGuardia is definitely unusually quiet. Food Court workers remarked they thought it’d be much busier 2day” – lolitapop9
“if the scanners at LAX are off, isnt that because of #wewontfly?” – TheLAPodshow
“on news reports, many talk about walking straight through without a scan.” docsharp
“I made it through security at SJC with no hassle and just a step through the magnetometer.” – Scott B. on Facebook.
“From the people I have talked with, and from a Flyer website I frequent, it seems the TSA was prepared for all the media attention this holiday. I am hearing that even as of yesterday procedures are more relaxed than previously reported, and from my own experience. X-ray machines were not being used except for a very very very small group of the population if at all, the pat downs were very mild, and ‘grand-mother’ type TSA agents were there to greet, smile, and help the public.” – Many S.
“According to MSNBC, reports are coming in that people are getting though the checkpoints in record time.” – Carol B.
“Boston Logan about 8:30 am, 20 minute line, only one person chosen for screenings. He opted out. They are afraid to pull people out for screenings, so in essence the protest has worked. Don’t count on much news coverage, but think they’ll be back to pulling 2 out of 6 tomorrow.” – Marianne S.
“A friend from Orlando went through security today, indicated there was a special ‘protest’ line with nothing more than a metal detector that they’d send people through if they were protesters/opt-outers. He sailed right through security with no issues.” – Jeff R
“IAH was surprisingly empty early this morning.” – Heather M.
“almost everyone is being sent through the metal detectors…also, a huge bank of cameras that wasn’t there 2 weeks ago (also last week, everyone went through the scanners).” – Stephanie H.
“The wait in Atlanta right now is only 15 minutes with 26 opt outs.” – Thais S.
“My mom flew in from Dallas – Love Field and they do NOT have scanners, only metal detectors. Word is that they aren’t getting them because that is where Southwest has their headquarters and doesn’t want them there. Little Rock doesn’t have the scanners either.” – Kerry S.
“Well #TSA security at BWI was uneventful. The lines weren’t long and I just passed through a regular metal detector.” – dsadlosky
“Dulles is a ghost town. No enhanced screening either. Thank you #TSA!” – slickricks
Sooo, all that would seem to constitute an admission that these procedures are NOT necessary for safer air travel after all.
Are you funded by the Republican, terrorist, Saudi, Fox News party?
i posted this on facebook, and now, for your comment’s sake, here you go:
Just want to comment that this is not a political issue, before it becomes one. I am a proud American, and a Democrat, and I REFUSE to fly until this gross invasion of privacy and complete annihilation of the 4th amendment is corrected. I have several friends on all sides of the political spectrum who agree…WE WON’T FLY. Many of us were involved in the mass hiring process that occurred directly after 9/11 to convert airport security to TSA from privatized security, and all of us agree we would not want to be touched by or viewed naked by most of the people who were hired.
Note: since I am predicting your rebuttal,
We were involved in the hiring process in the extent of a portion of the screening. We were not, nor was our company, the decision makers. We did not have power to decide who would be hired, just provided a service that was part of the screening process.
Actually, it is a political issue. If roughly 68 million people travel in the US every month by air, we can see that the government is looking at everyone to find that one terrorist. Those are bad numbers, especially when you consider that the TSA has yet to find one terrorist in our airports since their inception. So why are they doing this? Because politicians are afraid that if one gets in and does something, then he/she will be booted from office. And isn’t so much an individual concern as it is a Party concern. Neither party wants to look week on terrorism, so they both are willing to screw the American people for their own political expediency. What this means is that at the end of the day, the politicians are more concerned about themselves than they are with us. They suck. Term limits for all. Cap every member of elected office to 4, 6 or 8 years. Period. That way, they won’t be in a position to have to worry about themselves, and they will begin to think more about us.
I agree with the tenor of your post, but I think this is all highly political to protect the political class.
For me, it is a personal issue, and a personal choice. I will not fund airports or airlines until this is stopped. I am a survivor of sexual abuse, and cannot see how these scanners or or pat downs are helping the terrorist be caught. Israeli specialists are chiming in, saying this is ridiculous. The inventor of the rapiscan says it would not have detected the shoe bomber’s bomb.
It may be political to the level of politicians interest in protecting themselves, sure, but for the sake of the argument that this is a choice not to fly, and a choice to civil protest, I believe that it is personal.
My point is that neither party is to blame, both are. And there are people on either and all sides who agree this is a gross practice and malpractice on the part of TSA and Homeland Security. It is neither effective nor should it be legal.
I can see your point. But for me, it isn’t politics. It’s my choice.
“Because politicians are afraid that if one gets in and does something, then he/she will be booted from office. And isn’t so much an individual concern as it is a Party concern.”
What an absurd, partisan statement. The government is worried that “if one gets in and does something”, it could result in THE DEATH OF PERHAPS HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. This is nothing to do with party lines. Still, the TSA must continue to improve both their screening methods as well as their sensitivity to passenger’s concerns. That these two objectives are to a large degree mutually exclusive only illustrates the difficulty of that job.
what are you? twelve years old? or just completely ignorant about the people who “run” your country?
Each one of us is 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning than be injured in an airline terrorist attack. Where’s the GLOBAL WAR ON LIGHTNING, I ask you?!?! I’m pissed off and outraged that somehow people have decided to get so worked up into a panic-stricken frenzy over a potentiality of such infinitesimal likelihood that ANYONE can argue in favor of personal intrusion at this level. It’s not worth it, there’s no proof that it is of ANY help at all, because again, the probabilities are so remote it’s like speculating that the radiation from the machines is somehow preventing a comet from striking the earth.
I’m pissed off because we’ve become such a damn nation of chickenshits we’ll let people in uniform photograph us naked and grope us publicly just because we live in fear of something that in all likelihood is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN TO US. Or maybe it will. Or maybe you’ll contract cancer from one of these machines without ever coming within 100 miles of a terrorist attack. Or maybe not. Maybe you’ll just die in a car accident on the WAY to the airport- who’s gonna save you from that? For my part, it’s not fear of the machines or prudery- I just demand the right to my personal effing space, and you’re not going to see me naked or grope my privates without an express invitation from me (and possibly a couple cocktails…) If I’m not allowed control over my own body, then we have officially allowed things to go too far.
The politicians won’t put their name on anything until the majority of the people approve it.
Now is the prime time to implement Behavioral Profiling, a proven security success.
Political parties are a joke and those who make those laws are laughing at those who consent to them. I am neither a Dem or Repub, and damn proud of it.
My allegiance is to my country and NOT to the corporation “United States”. The issue is mind control. So far people have accepted most of the communistic/fascist/socialist agendas. They will keep implementing as much as they can little by little. That threshold will keep moving until either people give in completely or realize that there is a fence being built around them. What it comes down to is this… do you want to be controlled (a.k.a. a slave), or do you want to be a free-thinking individual who utilizes God given unalienable rights? I choose the latter. Oh, there is a lot more than needs changing, but the change first starts with YOU! All of you!
Why would he be? The Department of Homeland Security, TSA and Patriot Act came from a Republican administration which was heavily backed by Fox (and our buddy GW).
Its interesting to see whats happening in the USA today..reminds me a lot of what happened in Germany back in the late 30′s
Only it’s not. I’m getting really sick of everyone comparing the TSA to Nazis. The situation is 100% different. We have the Constitution, we can protest, we don’t have a totaltarian system, we’re not being led by a washed up painter, we don’t have low morale due to a failed war, we have a problem with profiling, we have the internet.
internet… not for long
https://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/130763-homeland-security-dept-seizes-domain-names-
During my recent protest at Salt Lake International Airport, I carried a sign which draws a comparison between NAZI SS and the TSA. This is historically relevant, as the SS were in charge of Homeland Secuirty during the Third Reich. The TSA are part of the Department of Homeland Security. I’m not saying that the TSA are currently implementing the Final Solution, but we should be wary.
Not misinformed at all, unless you missed the part where the article said “the number of air travelers is expected to increase from 1.57 million to 1.62 million.”
TSA’s new procedures are unconstitutional, reactionary, and ineffective- and now, like Mary said, not even necessary! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This is all BS. I suspected that TSA would ease up on their gestapo-like tactics as the light was shined upon them today and into this weekend. I’m curious to see how things go tonight, and the rest of the weekend, especially upon the return home. But let’s see how they go after the Thanksgiving travel period. We are due to travel at Christmas because of tickets we bought 3 months ago at nearly $2000 – non-refundable of course. The media and government are out there spinning about how great travel is today, and how there are no security hassles. I’m tired of the theater show that people want to put on for us. It’s a farce. We know what is going on. We have the video evidence and testimony from around the country to back it up. I don’t care how anyone spins it or what anyone says, I do not want my wife and children (as well as others in my family among this group and/or with medical implants) going through these machines. And obviously, I don’t want them patted down in the groin, on the buttocks or on the breasts. Eff that. I’m pissed. From where I live, I can drive up to Whistler, BC, over to Banff National Park, out to Yellowstone, Moab, Bryce, Lake Meade, Vegas, AZ, No. Cal., and So. Cal., all without breaking much of a sweat. There is only one place I need to fly to occasionally (the hometown). I’ll put up with the inconvenience to see my family there, but not my wife and kids. Family can drive out here to see them, and they have agreed to do that at a central meeting point once a year.
If you want to avoid the hassle of air travel for you and your family, I wish you godspeed and all the best. But I hope you also realize that this “opt out day” protest fizzled because the majority of the traveling public does not share your unwarranted paranoia about these screening machines.
You are wrong.
This “fizzled” because the TSA switched the machines off and ceased being as intrusive with regards to their procedures. They dialed everything back just so the government and the media shills can turn around and say, “look, see! it isn’t as bad as people say it is”. They are engaging in tactics to make this protest as ineffective as possible because you are going to like your body scanners and gropings because that is what they are rolling out.
This is a key instrument in their police-state grid of control. Soon enough biometrics will be required for everything. In a free society I choose what happens to my body, not the system, simple as that. The only illegal things I do are j-walk and smoke weed. I pay my taxes but I don’t see the point of being productive if they are just going to play head games with everyone, get them to work their whole lives, only to turn around and make all of that money representing all of that work disappear in the blink of an eye. Sounds like the sort of game only an idiot would play.
The solution to shrinking big government is to make it’s failures spin the system out of control. Stop contributing to the system, make it spend money wherever possible. It no longer has a bottomless pit of money and if the people notice the system is spending them into a debt where their entire incomes does not pay even the interest, there will definitely be a serious rebellion against the tyrannical state. It’s simple, make community projects to grow food. It’s time to convert your lawns into gardens. It’s time to do what you have to do to provide for yourselves.
How can the working classes of america allow corporations to kick them all out on to the streets as bums, which is exactly what is going to happen when the economy finally destabilizes. In order to stop you from taking back what is rightfully yours and was fraudulently stolen from you, your government plans on ramming everything through their dog and pony show. These scanners are the foundation for a police-state dragnet on the american population.
Soon everybody in america will be a renter. Corporations will control the very places in which you live and will begin to dictate how you live. You will spend your time away from work doing menial things to keep you busy complying with their rules and regulations on how to live. There are actually people around here that are so daft as to think these scanners and other forms of biometrics is not a problem?
If I can’t work to one day live truely free of the invasive policies government has set fourth for me to adhere to, then what the hell am I working for? One day I would like to live off the grid — in a bunker somewhere, and have big brother just mind it’s own goddamned business and let me live my life in peace, without their meddling and manipulation. That is what I really would call retirement.
The Government’s right hand airport security man, the TSA, is bent on intimidation. Taking advantage of the unaware and uninformed. Using scare tactics with threats of jail and hefty fines as a way to coerce people into these multi-million dollar XXX-rayp scanners. It’s all part of their plan, intimidate and humiliate if we refuse to radiate. Unfortunately the opt out alternative isn’t any more user-friendly either, flying the friendly skies wasn’t supposed to mean join the mile high club before we get in the air.
Opting out, IS a healthy alternative to full body radiation exposure, this choice gives us something positive to occupy our minds with while the love gloves size us up and at least we’ll know we weren’t pumped full of cancer causing radiation. Better to be safe than to discover you might be fighting cancer sometime in your near future. Why do you think dentists and doctors cover your chest and groin area and then leave the room during x-rays? Hmmmm, well it ain’t because your deodorant ran out. Yet still, people, not unlike cattle, are herded toward likely impending doom, arms raised to the sky exposing themselves in the name of security?
No one believes these TSA agents look forward to something so inconceivably wrong. They’re only doing their job; although many of us may not understand why they presently choose to keep such a job, besides the obvious, but we all know, as well as they do, this wasn’t originally part of their job description.
This is all taking place because our government refuses to admit that there is a proven and better alternative, namely; Behavioral Profiling. Some say this method of keeping us safe is immoral or invasive and violates our privacy, Really???? And the current humiliating, molesting like groping and full body radiation exposures our children and elderly are currently being subjected to AREN’T invasive, or immoral or in violation of our privacy????
Behavioral Profiling isn’t about treating the innocent guilty or falsely accusing someone or invading their privacy. It is not something to take personal. It is about protecting all of us by questioning EVERYONE, NO discrimination and it’s designed to eliminate and diffuse the possible threat, AKA, Mr. or Mrs. Terrorist.
It’s a human’s natural reaction to be agitated or nervous or scared and under duress if one is guilty while being questioned, terrorists know it’s futile to challenge this type of security. Israels Gurion Airport has used Behavioral Profiling for years.
No one is disputing that we need to be safe and not blown to bits, excluding the terrorist of course but, this can be accomplished with Behavioral Profiling.
It’s a proven fact that scanners and dogs cannot detect certain explosives but with Behavioral Profiling, a nervous bomb toting terrorist with such undetectable explosives on his/her person, is easily revealed through a series of simple, normal, routine questions. If he or she is packing a load of under garment explosives, then with the use of behavioral profiling procedures, their reaction to the questioning will be an obvious indicator and a successful tragedy thwarting capture will ensue. If someone is not guilty, suspicious or up to no good and their underwear isn’t full of C-4, then there’s not a problem we’re cool, we’re good to go. Behavioral profiling sure beats what they’re forcing down our pants now, and there’s no fondling or radiation exposure to fear.
Behavioral Profiling is a team effort, a pool of understanding cooperation by all and no one gets x-rayed and ogled in the nude or fondled by a dude.
It will definitely be something to see or be a part of when so many in line at the airports praisingly applaud those who opt out while simultaneously showing their lack of support for the present useless overpriced and under garments security threat currently in use
More power to you who opt out, it’s good to know there are those who won’t stand for this sort of humiliation and mistreatment.
Hopefully this won’t just be yet another deceptive stunt by the TSA and go back to business as usual afterwards. Either way, we must keep doing what we’re doing. The TSA must be held accountable for its actions and must be reined in. We cannot allow government agencies that feel they are completely above the law and, chiefest of all, above the people they victimise.
Of course it will! That’s all it was, and some dupes were actually fooled by it, as you can see by reading the comments. BUT, you are absolutely correct — all that means is we must be even more resolute and press on in the fight against government intrusion in our lives, on ALL fronts, not just this one.
Let see 12% increase in driving…12% of 40 million is 4.80 million more folks in the car…times at least a $100 ticket the airlines didn’t get for each of the 4.80 million let’s-drive-instead-of-fly folks, or about at least $480 million loss for the airlines!!! Good flippin’ work, WEWONTFLY! That may catch some folks attention. Now there may be a few problems with this analysis but it’s a good first rough estimate of something that happened.
Regards
Bruce
As much as I agree with wewontfly, I can’t agree with your math. You cannot assume that all 4.8 million extra people who drove would have flown otherwise. THIS is whats wrong with our public school system…
Don’t put words in my mouth. I didn’t say that.
Hi George,
No, George, I said it. The analysis was nothing more the a crude, quick estimated of events and I said as much, and carefully laid out my assumptions. Of course, all of 4.8 million additional drivers may not have been fliers who switched and of course the estimate of every ticket being no more the $100 is likely on the low side, and if the number for the airline loss is not roughly .5 billion dollars, I would be interested to discover what it was. I would bet that the airlines did experience a significant loss based on my estimate.
Regards
Bruce
Thank god you all decided to opt out and not fly today. This was absolutely the best day of flying I have had. No more whiners, criers and people who rarely if ever fly, trying to jam 400 lb carryons on board while wondering where they should sit. No more waiting behind less than intelligent people repeatedly being re-scanned as they do not understand or know what a scanner does or is. For all of us opt-in fliers, this was a very very pleasant day of flying with no worries about security (we all passed!) of our fellow passengers. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep the “wewon’tfly” campaign going by all means!!! Doing so saves air travel to the all of us secure and professional passengers, everyone else can take a car or ride the bus. We frequent fliers love your campaign! Thank you thank you again, this was an absolutely glorious flying day!
Jaime- you keep on flying and taking whatever they choose to dish out to you. As soon as someone makes it through with a suppository-bomb and they institute mandatory cavity searches “just so we can all be safe,” then you can come back and let us know how great it was that you all passed!
Will do gladly!!! If that means I and others fly we are all checked out, probed etc, that is fine with me. I and countless others will enjoy our probes and will sit back and relax.
If others prefer to trudge along in 35 mph traffic for endless hours never knowing if the weaving oncoming driver is just drunk or stoned or if that smoking semitruck right next to them is really carrying radioactive waste, or if that Ryder rental truck behind them with the angry looking driver, is full of ANFO then more power to them!
How about wondering if your plane is carrying unscreened cargo that is hiding a bomb?
Well, I can’t really argue with a person who lives in such abject fear that he would consent to having a stranger look up his rectum to “protect” him from a risk that is over 100 times LESS likely than getting struck by lightning, even though there is no valid data proving the efficacy of this so-called “protection.”
Sorry you’re terrified. I’ll travel Amtrak, thanks.
Does AMTRAK go to Europe?
Terrified? I am not terrified of anything. I do not see where I said I was terrifed of anything on here. If you want to come probe me I will point you int he right direction. Doesn’t bother me. If a TSA wants to scan me, go ahead. The only terror I see on here, are the people screaming and running for the hills from the TSA and flying. Like I say, I and other frequent fliers love the “wewontfly” program, leave the flying to the pros and those of us who don’t mind and fully accept scans and probes. Keep the wewontfly program active and alive!!!! Save the skies for the pros!!!!
“Will do gladly!!! If that means I and others fly we are all checked out, probed etc, that is fine with me. I and countless others will enjoy our probes and will sit back and relax.”
6/10. Your first post was trolling gold but this part is absurdly obvious. Work harder next time.
I’m kind of curious as to why you even bother leaving your house?
BTW, how about if you get arrested for something, they decide you don’t need a lawyer. I mean, you could be a terrorist, and it’s for the common good, right?
So, jaime, you wouldn’t mind if the TSA agent checks people’s rectums for anything suspicious, and saves on gloves by not changing them from one person to the next. Oh and maybe to save a few bucks the TSA can do a lubeless examination. It is a security check, it needs to be rugged.
It will also inflate the cost of flying because planes will be half-empty and there will be fewer flights available… a smaller selection and longer layovers. It’s wonderful that the fliers are feeling it, but the airlines will be.
Also, pat-downs and scans were reduced percentage-wise, meaning that lines moved faster. You can thank us for that, too.
*fliers aren’t feeling it
Amen! Finally, one rational person here to speak common sense! This, together with Bristol Palin’s loss on DWTS last night, proves there is yet hope for mankind.
The fact that you even brought up Bristol Palin is pathetic. Completely. I don’t watch the show, but find it ridiculous that people like you have been making it an issue. This is ‘We Won’t Fly’ not, ‘We Won’t Dance’.
I’m pleased you had such a great day. I wonder how it will be next year when your ticket cost doubles IF your route of flight is still available.
And what will you do when they start cutting flights since they won’t be full any more???
Yep, I will drive every place I possabily can. I used to fly a couple times a year, but not now!!!
Not only are you frequent fliers being exposed to much higher-than-background levels of radiation while at high altitude, now you are being exposed to ionizing radiation, absorbed solely by your skin, courtesy of your government. IF the scanners are perfectly maintained, a few doses probably wouldn’t hurt you, but there is really NO safe level of exposure to ionizing radiation. The effect is cumulative. Do you trust the government to perfectly maintain the scanners? If so, you are a lot more trusting than I am. Enjoy your cancer.
Then there is that whole Fourth Amendment thing…I remember when lefties screamed about the evil Bush’s warrantless wiretaps…but a warrantless physical search, more intrusive that a search performed of a person who has actually been arrested for cause, is OK with you? I don’t get it. Must be OK because a Democrat President is doing it.
yes it may have been great for you today and you are not whining yet, but when your ticket prices increase and they cancel fights because they just aren’t full enough, you will be the whiner. you confirmed Benjamin Franklin’s Quote: “He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both.” good luck with all your flying.
I’m sure we’ll read back from you on down the road when you are suing the government for cancer from over exposure to radiation as a result of your frequent flier bliss. I hope this doesn’t happen of course but in all probability it will if we don’t get rid of these XXX ray scanners.
You might want to read up.
Even if the numbers report more drivers (I have no idea) than fliers we ought to consider separating out economic effects. Families may opt to drive (which may be less expensive) than fly. Most average people still suffer from a loss of purchasing power, unemployment, etc so financial reasons could sway the numbers rather than an effort to boycott. I hope not but its worth considering.
I did not fly and will not until they disband all these hassles at the airports. Not necessary
********************
When the gentleman from San Diego stripped to his biker shorts to avoid being molested again, he was told he had to put his clothes back on. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Passenger-Chooses-Strip-Down-Over-Pat-Down-109872589.html?dr It is obvious from a visual perusal of his body that he has no explosives or other devices on him. If this was REALLY about security that should have been enough. This is no longer about security it is about sexual assault, molesting and power.
Same story another writeup https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40314284/ns/travel-news/
A pretense of security.
If you require a machine to see someone naked, or sexual assault renamed Enhanced Pat down, then having someone striped down to their biker shorts allows that same view without molestation. IF this was REALLY about security passengers should be allowed to strip down to underwear in order to NOT be molested.
See full article at my website
/updates on
This is a record day for air travel, but the total number of travelers have increased. Since about 90% of travelers are not flying that is being harkened as sucess.
90% of travelers typically do not travel by plane anyway – many people travel within their own state, or not far enough for plane travel. This statistic has always been this way, so how are you claiming success?
Did you miss the part where the number of non-flyers is up 12% this year for T-day?
Maybe the Great Recession has something to do with flier numbers down – no job, no $$$ – no fly
Why can’t you give us your specific /credible measures to keep people who choose to fly safe………..life as a critic is easy – try coming up with workable solutions
Did you even read the article? 94% are traveling by car versus 82% last year. That’s a significant drop in percent traveling by plane.
If you were listening to ABC radio news, everyone is happy to be treated like cattle, And TSA says that all flyers are giving positive feedback.
So who is right?
Lies, lies, lies. Soooo Sick of this.
Did they state that the traffic was as high as it was last year? Higher? Lower? Until we get the number of fliers, we won’t know if We Won’t Fly was the failure you say it is. The number of air travelers is EXPECTED to increase from 1.57 million to 1.62 million… but that’s just a prediction.
Don’t make so many assumptions.
Andrea, you’re right- its not a political issue. Its a human issue- and if the police department was doing this all of the ones agreeing to this search and seizure would be raising hell. I work for an airline and I wouldn’t hire a lot of the TSA agents.
Your a democrat, I’m a republican-
Looks like opposite sides CAN agree!
Statistics and numbers are always an interesting thing. 94% of those who choose to travel, choose not to fly. That’s up 12%, so last year 82% of travelers chose not to fly.
That’s percentages.
Overall, raw numbers show that more people than ever are choosing to travel period. So in terms of the raw numbers of people flying the number is UP. Thus the biggest holiday flying season ever. So big, the airports seem empty. BUT today is ONE day in the travel period.
AND TSA has adjusted their security measures to keep things moving smoothly, even though they claimed they were sooooo necessary.
No TSA procedures were adjusted, it’s a fact that almost every American does not support the losers behind the opt-out/we won’t fly “action”.
No TSA procedures were adjusted, it’s a fact that almost every American does not support the losers behind the opt-out/we won’t fly “action”. Losers
william, you make me laugh at the vehement resentment you show towards those who opt out. Are you upset that some of us chose to act like free people rather than cattle? If this is so you should move to China or some other totalitarian country where people are treated like slaves!
Oh really? Explain this, then.
https://gizmodo.com/5698536/fliers-claim-tsa-have-deactivated-body-scanners
SPAM site – Next!!!
Nice head in the sand (or up your butt) there, Seth and William and other lily-livered chickenshits. ABC News had a clip in which a travel industry representative admits that many scanners were not in use and the “enhanced” patdowns weren’t performed. All of you dweebs who want it to progress to the point where the TSA is looking up your asshole every time you fly should move to a communist country and let the REAL Americans have OUR COUNTRY back. Or better yet, go live in the Muslim-dominated countries, since you’re so willing to let them dictate the loss of our freedoms. I have the utmost scorn possible for all of you. You are SCUM.
There are reports coming in now of celebrations/free drinks on board flights today as crews and passengers are very happy and excited about opt-out and wewon’t fly campaign. Air travel has returned back to the professional days: no more screaming meemies,McDonald happy meals spilling over passengers, kids yelling and kicking backs of seats, and wal-martian newby passengers. Flights are serene, quiet, professional as the wewontfly’s trudge along the highways far far below. Love it love it love it!!! Thank you George, again this was the best and most enjoyable flying day forus frequent fliers and air crews imaginable! Please please please keep the “wewontfly” campaign going no matter what others say! Thank you George!!! You are loved by all frequent fliers and aircrews everywhere!!!! Where can I send a donation??
Lame trolling attempts: so pathetic they have to be posted twice!
“Comments must be polite. NO personal attacks. Keep the debate lively but respectful. Comments that violate this rule will be deleted. Overly repetitive comments will also not be published.”
Nice try TSA! Are you ran by a terrorist organization or what?! I would think most people would be happy to know that airport security is doing everything they can to ensure that air travel is much safer, yet you and others still find a way to complain about it. Congrats on your super HUGE failure!
Nice job insulting the TSA.
Of course they are, because they have the time to do so today. After all, waits are shorter and traffic is lower than expected.
Wow. You people who support the TSA really need to open your eyes. Stop begging to be enslaved to the state.
no, those people that support the tsa needs to spread their cheeks and bend over!
CNN reporting American’s support TSA – further describes people behind opt-out / we won’t fly as “losers” and “terrorists hell bent on getting passengers killed”
FOX NEWS – Opt-out EPIC FAILURE – American’s support TSA and critics want “fellow American’s dead”
ZOMG yer supportin the turrists!
/Fox news, all derp all the time.
Sounds about right to me!
OK, maybe I wouldn’t go so far to say critics want Americans dead, but they’re clearly more concerned with their own convenience and modesty than they are the overall safety of fellow passengers. Calling these machines “porno scanners” is simply ludicrous. When I fly, it’s not so much that I WANT the airlines to check MY underwear for a bomb, but I want to know they’ve checked everyone ELSE’S shorts for one. If this makes me “cattle” in your opinion, then that’s YOUR problem and all I can say is … “Mooooooooo”.
You’ve been blinded into thinking that these new procedures improve your safety. How sad. You know nothing about airport security measures or the safer, cheaper, and more dignified options that have been in place in other countries for years.
Get in line, citizen, and leave the debate to the informed.
Passenger traffic “MUCH higher than expected” CNN, MSNBC, and FOX NEWS
Wow William! So because we disagree with you and choose not to have our children and wives molested or bathed in radiation…we are now losers!?! Thanks for your perfect example of the uneducated American who is like cattle and follow whatever they are told to despite spitting upon the 4th Amendment. I have put my money where my mouth is and have sacrificed over a grand to fight these insane and ineffective procedures. Why don’t you take some time and do real research before you make comments. Oh and by the way your mom is calling you up from the basement for dinner.
Nice try George – BTW even if numbers prove to be a bit down, ya think maybe the Great Recession has anything to do with that!!! – no $$$ no fly. Your action is being reported as an EPIC FAILURE by everyone – America supports TSA.
No one cares about your lies, spammer.
@Seth – I find statements that include the word “everyone” as particularly dangerous, along with your assertion that “America supports TSA.” I’m sorry, but when did you become qualified to speak for me? I do not support the latest violation of not only my rights, but my body as well. If a crazy person wants to get a bomb somewhere, they can simply transport it in a car, bus, train, etc. These latest airport security measures do not make me feel safer. No one sees or touches my private parts without dinner and a movie first. And since airlines have eliminated the free meal and now charge for headphones to hear the movie, they’re out of luck.
Oh, you said it, so it must be true, right? The countless people pissed about this are clearly lying.
you’re right everyone does support the tsa, with their tax dollars — they are given no choice but to support it. If they had a choice, they would give nothing to the tsa and it would cease to exist.
You sir, are supported by everyone as well. This man is COINTELPRO, a government shill paid to inhabit various politically hot internet locations and provides disinformation to back the government. It is his job to divide the people, to prevent escallation of initiatives which the government is going to do to the people regardless if the people like it or not.
You’ll love the new america, it’ll continue to call itself the land of the free, but everyone will spend their entire incomes on rent and food and have nothing left over. Only in this great recession, both the men and women are working. The government will raise your children for you. This will be the way of life as we offer to pay permanent bondage to the imf and the borderless multinational corporations it empowers to engulf all nation-states of this planet into a single tyrannical global state. Government specializing in controlling things, fortune 500 specializing in working us. What an awesome duo.
They will screw your food supply over with codex alimentarius. Best of luck because from my viewpoint, you are all sold into bondage. You no longer own you. And this isn’t just happening in the united states, this is happening all across the world.
i love how extremists like George will stoop to any level to claim “success.” Over 99% of American’s support TSA and wish not to die because some of you feel terrorism is not a threat.
I would support this fully if I believed it would actually catch terrorists. But as the TSA is molesting children and grandmothers, who are not likely to be terrorists (while letting those who ARE possible terrorists pass for fear of offending them, mind you), our 2000 mile southern border is WIDE OPEN. If you believe no terrorists have waltzed across our border, carrying whatever they wish and often with the aid of the drug cartels, you are a special kind of fool. Hezbollah is known to be in Tijuana, for example.
So forgive me if I don’t believe our government is doing this to stop terrorists. If they truly wanted to defend this country, they would secure our physical borders, don’t you think? Terrorists don’t need to get a bomb on an airplane to attack us. There are literally hundreds of thousands of other, easier targets.
99% of Al’s statistics are made up.
Wanted to swing by and thank the WeWon’tFly and OptoutErs for their efforts. I wasn’t scheduled to do any US travel today, but I’m happy that others who were cared enough to do something about it. Be that changing travel plans, or just opting out. I disagree with the policies too. They’re oddly totalitarian.
That said, I’ll admit to having lower stakes in this. After my next trip, (which sadly, I’m locked into), all I have to do is never vacation in the USA again. Problem solved. But so you know, we interntationals are watching too, trying to decide if it’s worth the increasing levels of humiliation in order to go drop some $5000 USD in the US for a vacation. Increasingly, I bet vacationers are going to say, “No. Let’s go to Cuba, instead! They’re so relaxed and friendly down there!”
Maybe the number of fliers is down because of the economy – no job, no $$$, no fly – think about it.
btw… the recession is over. Just fyi since you want to point to lack of information and you seem so uninformed/misinformed.
Damn – Truth Hurts dude shut you opt-out guy’s up quick.
[...] Record 92% of Travelers Choose to NOT Fly (wewontfly.com) [Predictably, left-wing media spins this as "TSA Opt Out Day: Thanksgiving Travelers Quiet So Far". Yeah, the sound of silence from NOBODY SHOWING UP AT THE AIRPORT! Let this be a lesson to TSA-compliant airlines.] [...]
Interesting comment from a Reddit thread about at TSA agent confiscating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich:
I called the TSA office of civil rights to file a complaint. Thanks you melanarchy for providing the phone number. I gave them the officer in question’s name and badge number, as well as describing the incident. Typically I would get a response within 6-12 business days, however, due to a recent wave of complaints it will likely take longer.
https://www.reddit.com/r/OperationGrabAss/comments/eb1d8/tsa_agent_confiscated_my_pbj_sandwich_saying_it/
I travel all the time for my work and I have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM with the enhanced security. The full-body scanners use minimal radiation, they are not a health risk. As for the pat down, if someone has set off the scanner, I want them well patted down for my safety. I watched an interview with James and all he did was complain about the invasiveness of it all without proposing any kind of suggestions for improvement. He even said “this isn’t about security…” Hello? It is ALL about security! If it bugs you so much to be scanned or patted down, then drive and let the rest of us get where we are going in peace.
Lastly, the TSA folks are not getting their jollies by looking at the scans and or patting you down. If you think that they are, you need to get over yourself.
[...] Check out the latest updates at wewontfly.com. [...]
[...] travel by road is up approximately 12%. A spokesman from AAA says the organization estimates “94 percent of all holiday travelers to go by automobile” this [...]
sounds like a 26% optout rate in LAX based on TSA-reported numbers (which may be underestimates):
- 50K flying from LAX
- TSA claims 1% are selected = 500
- 133 opted out = 26.6%
source: https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/133-lax-passengers-refused-body-scans-and-received-pat-downs-tsa-says.html
Where do you get 1%? Get facts straight.
William, you really are an utter moron. Just keep at it, so everyone can see and reach the same conclusion! LOVE IT when supid people hang themselves. And they ALWAYS do!
Hey, people..whats wrong with you?…if one of your realatives or friends were on a plane that they did not check out the passengers and it was blown up.. I bet you would be the first in line saying how could this happen???
And as far as your freedom in the USA.. if it were not for the military doing their job in these other countries.. you would not have the privilage of having the freedom that you now have.. and if you dont think you have enough freedom in the USA then go to Iraq and Afganistan to live and see how much freedom you have there.
Oh and dont let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of this wonderful country…the USA!
The things you are saying do not correlate. You want them to be able to check us to the point of the 4th Amendment being violated, yet you go off about how our military are our protecting our freedoms. How exactly do you justify them being out and killing people so that we can’t even have privacy in our bodies in our own country?
According to AAA 39.7 million Americans will be driving this Thanksgiving weekend, that’s a 17% increase over last year
What an impotent bust your wannabe protest was.
shut up shill, everybody who’s paying attention knows the dial got turned down so that trailor trash like you can sit back and say that opt-out day was a non-event. Even when people spell it out for you— you are truely one of those who are unawake to reality and painfully ignorant to the end. You won’t be satisfied till the system is putting you into a concentration camp, for your own good and security and to keep everyone safe. You’ll love the fema camp.
If you do support this type of screening, and truly believe you are now safe, please answer me this. No attacks, just need to understand how you are justifying this in your own mind.
Drug smugglers commonly mule various kinds of drugs and contraband inside their rectums. Any passenger can walk right on through TSA screenings with a 1 quart bag containing several 3oz bottles. In fact, I just did this and the bottles were not examined, sniffed, nothing. So, what is to stop a terrorist from simply rolling up some C4 and inserting it into his/her rectum and get right on through? The scanners can only see what is on the surface. In addition, why not just put your materials into several 3oz bottles spread amongst 3-5 guys and then mix the contents inside the lav or airport bathroom once you are through?
Try to resist the urge to simply insult, and truly think it over. Inform all of us how these measures will stop someone from doing these things.
Thanks.
I live near a rural stretch of I-77 in WV.
. I had to get on at ~4PM today and was shocked by the amount of traffic. I have never seen it so crowded. Lots of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio plates going south and North and South Carolina plates heading north.
Could it be from people opting out of flying?
i am sorry but we did little today. the manipulating media made us into fools and cranks, people who went to the airports saw no problems so therefore there are no problems. the TSA will quietly move to restart everything within days if not weeks. this was our first brief skirmish and was a rout and we must come back stronger tomorrow. it will not end until we stand up and show them why this policy is wrong.
Here’s my question for you: Were you just as concerned about privacy issues when the Bush administration passed the Patriot Act, which allowed for wiretaps on American Citizens? This “We Won’t Fly” campaign seems to be very politically motivated. If you have any questions about why the TSA is using full-body scans and aggresive pat downs, I recommend you go to your local Blockbuster over the holiday and rent “The Hurt Locker”. Then maybe you’ll drop your political grandstanding and realize that TSA agents are truly not interested in touching – nor seeing – your junk.
Yes, I WAS just as concerned. Unfortunately, others did not seem to be, THEN. Now they do. Yay!!!!!
So, where’s your “We Won’t Be Wiretapped” website?
You are barking up the wrong tree here with your phony left-right, big d, big r paradigm.
Do a google search for George, he is a true-up libertarian, an anarcho-capitalist who could not care less which head of the hydra currently sits in the Emperor’s chair.
And really, feel OK with having your natural rights shredded because come bit of movie fiction says brown people are scary?
[...] whatever. A record 94% of travelers hitting the roads instead of the skies seems like a big message to [...]
This AP story seemed to cover the situation pretty well:
https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hpuwwvITu2ij5a2KBQ6kuyL7jhbw?docId=13325376ce064ba3a3025ed651495c09
Included in the story are the following tidbits:
1. “The full body scan, I am worried about it because of the radiation,” he said. “They claim it’s safe, but who knows?”
2. [Referring to the road travel and flying statistics:] AAA conducted its travel survey before many groups began organizing protests at airports against additional security procedures, including the body scan machines and a more rigorous, intrusive pat-down process.
3. Brian McClure, 22, chose to drive from Virginia to his hometown of Paducah, Ky., with his wife, Amber, 21. While cost and convenience were the main reasons to drive, he was relieved he would be avoiding the new screening policies.
“May God have mercy on the first person that does that to us,” said McClure, while stopping for a rest outside Richmond, Va., a few hours into his 12-hour road trip. “I don’t care if it’s $10 a gallon, I’m not going through that.”
[...] Source: https://wewontfly.com/record-92-of-travelers-choose-to-not-fly [...]
It’s not even about the potential health risks. Cats are a carcinogen. We will all die from cancer. It’s not even about someone seeing my nude body. I have a huge penis, so I’m not shy there. What eats my grape is the notion that body scanners perform virtual strip searches. This is no different than a TSA agent requesting you to bend over and spread your cheeks, all for a .000000001% chance of being blown up in an airplane. Frankly, I’m more than comfortable taking that “risk.”
Oh, and by the way, within a month or so, hundreds of facially recognizable virtual strip search images will “appear” on the internet.
We’ll see who has the last laugh.
[...] of We Won’t Fly and Opt Out Day Campaigns Posted on November 25, 2010 by Stephen VanDyke Record 92% of Travelers Chose to NOT Fly George Donnelly reports: TSA Blinks in Face of We Won’t Fly and Opt Out Day Campaigns [...]
Why has your great Opt-Out leader never posted on this site what he would do to keep passengers who choose to fly safe from being blown up? Being a critic is for simpletons – experts however actually have to look for solutions.
Think about it!!!
How many alts do you have? It’s pretty sad that you spend your days spamming a website.
[...] intended to cause traffic jams. I agree with the cause, but not the method. Far better to really Opt Out. Many Americans did, and I was one of them. No Napo-Chertoff cattle chute for me. There is nothing [...]