Harrassed & Detained For Carrying Cash @ Airport

[Pastor Keith]

There have been a number of studies, you take some joe off the street give them unlimited power, and it corrupts them. Plain and simple once they get it, brings out the worst side of human nature, do something, answer this, etc. just because I say so. Rare is the fruit of meekness found in those that exercise power. When I have a chance I will try and post some case studies of this example.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

This man was carrying legal tender belonging to the United States of America. If you don't believe me....who's name is on the dollar? It's not common to carry that much cash on you while traveling unless you're ignorant, a drug dealer, a money launderer, an arms dealer, or wanted and trying to fly under the radar. These guy should know this. All of you should know this. Airport security agents were probably also wondering how many other men were walking through the airport at that moment carrying only $4,000 dollars. What if the man was part of a network and 10 or 15 guys were all carrying various amounts of cash to get through the airport? Think folks. This is a red flag, big time.

Like I said, if he were detained and it was discovered that he was wanted internationally for arms dealing and that he had just closed a deal with a domestic terror cell we'd be wanting to give these security agents a medal.

Geesh guys.

Are you telling us that the money is not his? Are you saying it belongs to the man who has his face on the bill?
For the uneducated, everything is a trigger for fear and labeled a red flag.

China and several other countries hold a goodly amount of american dollars. currency. I suspect some one needs to tell them it is not theirs.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by coadie

Are you telling us that the money is not his? Are you saying it belongs to the man who has his face on the bill?
For the uneducated, everything is a trigger for fear and labeled a red flag.

China and several other countries hold a goodly amount of american dollars. currency. I suspect some one needs to tell them it is not theirs.

Angry little guy aren't ya. lol

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Angry little guy aren't ya. lol

It is official.

You are a different species.

Wow...

If it weren't an infringement of your constitutional rights I would see about having you studied in a laboratory.

But it is... so I will honor that.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Coadie…without “Googling” the answer… why do you think the turnover rate is so high with TSA? It’s not a cake walk. For example, they get tested 18 times a year by TSIs who attempt to sneak weapons through. Fail one test while you’re on duty and you’re fired. Agents are often stressed to the max. I agree, it’s not a job that the average person off the streets can do. A lot of people who are under qualified and who are not mentally prepared attempt the job and find that it’s not a pleasant experience. I know this, I wouldn’t take a job as checkpoint screener.

Coadie… most government workers are just good old fashioned Americans like you. I work in government. You report to your desk, office, or assignment. Sometimes get some coffee. Talk to a few friends about the news, family, the kids, problems, or the church. In the background Yvonne is playing her radio set to “The Path” (a Christian station) while she tells her daughter goodbye after calling her on her cell to make sure she made it to school on time, the telephones start ringing with citizens and your day begins. You guys are stereo typing government employees. We’re just average Americans like you trying to get the job done. Coadie…we’re not the enemy. We’re your friends and neighbors.

I think you’re just an angry little man with an axe to grind.

The turnover is high because they hire unstable employment people. Why do people with unstable employment histories have unstable employment duration?

Fast food has high turnover.

Don't ask me why people would sacrifice watching Oprah to be baggage screeners.
When I was working an inpatient clinical psych rotation, i dealt with people that carried baggage. Are you still carrying some from the Army?

[Elizabeth]

Come on guys, can we continue this discussion without making it personal-please?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

There have been a number of studies, you take some joe off the street give them unlimited power, and it corrupts them. Plain and simple once they get it, brings out the worst side of human nature, do something, answer this, etc. just because I say so. Rare is the fruit of meekness found in those that exercise power. When I have a chance I will try and post some case studies of this example.

Very true.

It is said that absolute power brings absolute corruption.

Very good post.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Come on guys, can we continue this discussion without making it personal-please?

Excellent point. Going back to the opening post, the cool calm collected travelor was greeted with personal attacks, insults and threats. They were trying personal attacks. Trying to push his buttons when he asked simple and valid questions. Their duty was weapons but their modus operandiwas to mess with him. Since he had money, he had to be a "conservative activist". Surely he was angry and "little"

In the course of law and freedoms. You are innocent until proven guilty.
exceptions are in the following cases.

1 Medical malpractice. A doc has to prvoe beyiound reasonable dout he did not make mistakes and if he did not intentionally
2 sexual harrassment cases
3 IRS claims. You pay what they want unless you can prove beyond doubt all your receipts.

4 TSA. You are at the whim and mercy of the system. It is by their mere grace and mercy you are entitled to board even tho no one deserves it. You aren't even entitled to carry currency without full dosclosure.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Okay...he's an angry little axe with a man to grind. LOL

Airline staff doesn't get by with insults. I do know the TSA bullies in the tape seem to think it is their right and duty to insult. You will fit in.

[Pressing-On]

Digging,
There are a few points that still bother me.

1. Steve Bierfeldt is one of the people responsible for running the Campaign for Liberty. If he is so involved in this, why doesn't he know what is law and not law in regard to airport security? He obviously does some flying. I just think it's a huge oversight, on his part, to say things like - "Am I required by law to answer this question? If they can tell me if I am required by law to answer the question, I will answer the question."

Why doesn't he know if his mission in life is Liberty? He should have covered all of his bases. Airport security is a huge issue and has been for a long time - well, since 911 - so, why isn't he versed on the information he needed in advance?

2. TSA said something like - "You are going to have to prove why you had that much money anyway to the DEA." What is that about? It seems like the TSA knows some rule that Steve will have to follow. Can someone elaborate on that statement?

The TSA guy says, "You are suspicious to me." In truth, IMO, Steve was acting suspicious.

3. In regard to the MIAC report, there was an apology issued by the Missouri Dept of Public Safety saying that they regretted those comments (referencing Ron Paul, et al) were ultimately included in the final report issued by the MIAC. More pointedly the apology says,

“Unfortunately, in the course of preparing this report, some regrettable information was included in the report on militia groups in Missouri,” Britt wrote. “While the intent of the report was only to identify certain traits that are sometimes shared by members of militia organizations, this report is too easily misinterpreted as suggesting that militia members may be identified by no other indicator than support for a particular candidate or political organization.”

“I have ordered that the offending report be edited to excise all reference to Ron Paul, Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin,” the letter concludes, without a promise to retract the report altogether, much to the chagrin of the multitude of other banal groups demonized as potential domestic terrorists.

Steve does mention the "militia members" part of the MIAC report, but, IMO, he is acting very much like he is part of a militia group. I was very turned off by Steve.

Another reason he turned me off was when Napolitano asked him about the money he said, "I'll tell you why I had the money and what I was doing, but don't tell law enforcement." That was really a smart aleck maneuver and only makes him look militia.

The FBI coming in and letting him go speaks of a clear background check during the interrogation coupled with the need to not have more attention drawn to the MIAC report.

4. Going back to Steve not knowing the law, which I find rather strange, it can only appear that he is looking for a fight or attention as someone stated.

"What do you do for a living?"

"Is that relevant, sir?"

He appears to have, IMO, unnecessarily put the TSA guys on defense mode and might be because of the DEA statement I referenced in point 2. Again, could someone elaborate on the DEA remark?

5. Andrew Napolitano makes a ridiculous "profiling" statement of his own when he has Fox put Steve's picture up for the viewers. "Does this look like a terrorist?"

What does a terrorist look like, Napolitano?

6. Napolitano, at the beginning of the clip, says another ridiculous thing - Steve has a "super duper, new cell phone" that you touch to turn it on like you are rubbing your chest" What is that? He doesn't know what kind of cell phone Steve has? Why not? That is also suspicious to me. It's almost like Steve forced this encounter because of the MIAC report and was wanting more coverage to prove the apology wasn't for real. Speculation on my part.

7. Napolitano, again, "Why they would threaten to bring in the Drug Enforcement Admin - Don't know what they would have to do with it?"

Really? Large amounts of money usually mean weapon or drug purchase - usually drugs. Why would that shock him? $4,700 may not seem like a lot, but the average traveler is not going to have that much cash on him.

Anyway, Digging, that's my take. Again, point 2, seems to need some attention. The main TSA guy seemed to know what he was talking about. The others in the background appeared to be wanting to throw their authority and weight around.