TSA looks to Walmart

[Irving]

So I heard on NPR today that the TSA is going to be expanding their "See something, say something" message to Walmart stores, Mall of America, sporting events, etc. I guess in Walmart, there will be videos where Janet Napoliano will be saying how if you see anything suspicious in the parking lot, report something to the Walmart management.

I really wish I was joking about this, or heard this from The Onion, but alas, I am not joking. At first I was angry, but not surprised. I've been thinking about this a lot though. It actually seems fitting. I'd put Walmart employees and TSA employees on about the same level, as far as reporting suspicious things to them. *Excluding our local Walmart employee of course.* Some of the comments of the people in the parking lot were interesting. Others were.....well, I don't know what to say about them.

The comments ranged from stuff like,
"I just can't imagine any people like that shopping at Walmart!"
"People at Walmart are on a mission to buy things, not blow the place up!"
"It's so sad that we have to be on alert even while we're at Walmart." Really? I can't think of many places I'm more on alert than at a Walmart.

to stuff like,
"I don't really think I'd trust anyone at Walmart to care about anything reported to them.
"Is this really necessary?"

Usually, NPR makes me angry because they lean way left and their reporters ask stupid questions that play right into liberal hands and completely miss the point. This time however, I was surprised and felt like the reporter asked some well thought out, pointed questions to Ole Janet, and it felt like the reporter was holding back on ripping into that turd.

I personally find it ironic that the TSA is basically asking the public to do their jobs for them. On one hand they tell everyone how they can't be safe unless the TSA is there to violate people's rights with their brain dead policies and employees that are incompetent in every way possible. On the other hand, they are expanding themselves WAY beyond the sphere of "Travel" and asking the public to basically do their job for them. I'm in utter shock that a government program that was born from a knee jerk reaction to a tragedy has developed in this way. Okay, we all know I'm not surprised.

Lastly, Janet, the head of TSA, cited the example of the "alert New York citizen, who alerted police" to the parked car with smoke coming out of it as her example of how the public can help keep an eye out for terrorism. When the reporter asked for a specific example of what kinds of things the public should keep an eye out for, Janet responded with, Well, smoke coming out of a car for one thing, or something along those lines.

Great. Does that mean that every morning when I go warm up the car before my family gets into it, I'm going to be accosted by some irate, blue-shirted manager from the local 24 Hour Walmart? I sure hope not.

At least there was a decent amount of "the other side" displayed in the news piece. I'm happy about that.

[clublights]

I personally find it ironic that the TSA is basically asking the public to do their jobs for them. On one hand they tell everyone how they can't be safe unless the TSA is there to violate people's rights with their brain dead policies and employees that are incompetent in every way possible. On the other hand, they are expanding themselves WAY beyond the sphere of "Travel" and asking the public to basically do their job for them. I'm in utter shock that a government program that was born from a knee jerk reaction to a tragedy has developed in this way. Okay, we all know I'm not surprised.

Lastly, Janet, the head of TSA, cited the example of the "alert New York citizen, who alerted police" to the parked car with smoke coming out of it as her example of how the public can help keep an eye out for terrorism. When the reporter asked for a specific example of what kinds of things the public should keep an eye out for, Janet responded with, Well, smoke coming out of a car for one thing, or something along those lines.

Great. Does that mean that every morning when I go warm up the car before my family gets into it, I'm going to be accosted by some irate, blue-shirted manager from the local 24 Hour Walmart? I sure hope not.

At least there was a decent amount of "the other side" displayed in the news piece. I'm happy about that.

Would you call the cops for someone breaking into you neighbors house? and / Or do something about it??
If no one speaks up .. the cops have nothing to work with . just like when some gangbanger shoots a child in the face. if no one points him to what do the cops have to work with ?

Sorry if my post is not perfect... I just got home from work after a couple cocktails.

I hope it makes sense.

[clublights]

What about if you saw an obviously drunk driver? ( serving, no headlights.. crossing the lines) or some guy beating his wife or kids?

would you turn a blind eye and say " the cops shoulda seen it "

or would you call it in ?

I pray to god that the TSA/ FBI / CBI/ DPD NEVER get large enough to catch everything all by themselves

If they did I'd never get away with ANYTHING. ( like speeding or maybe not fully stoping that stop sign )

you can't tell me you NEVER EVER EVER break ANY laws Stuart. would you really want the cops big enough to catch EVERYTHING?

[68Charger]

what does Walmart have to do with transportation?

seems like jurisdiction creep...

[brokenscout]

FTF gun deals? Are the police going to become a part off every transaction? I would prefer not to have them called

[SideShow Bob]

Remember the "car bomb" at that federal building in Okie city? Now imagine it in front of your local Wally world on a busy saturday afternoon. That is what terrorists want, maximum damage, preferably people, and maximum psychological effect.
But we do need observant people that are trained a hell of a lot better than the TSA or average Wally world employee.

[Ah Pook]

We should close all Walmarts. That would solve the problem.



The TSA, like any other govt. bureaucracy, is trying to expand it's power and job security. I don't see it as left or right, just the nature of the beast. When will we, as a people, put a stop to these intrusions into our civil rights?

[SA Friday]

We should close all Walmarts. That would solve the problem.



The TSA, like any other govt. bureaucracy, is trying to expand it's power and job security. I don't see it as left or right, just the nature of the beast. When will we, as a people, put a stop to these intrusions into our civil rights?

Ya and the boogie man is in the closet... Reading this an extension of governmental power is like saying your neighbors are too snoopy after they call the cops because they saw someone break into your house while you were away.

The military uses this system of reporting. It works ultimately as a gigantic deterant to the planners when conduction info gathering and pre surveillance of targets. Too many eyes paying attention. It hardens the target.

Although, telling a walmart manager is telling a deaf person to listen to you. I know I've been there. Told a manager about a guy that set off my 'oh shit' alarm big time. She looked at me like I sprouted a third eye. So if followed him and asked him if he needed any help about three times in different places in the store. He left. Hardened target.

[Irving]

Clublights: You are missing the point. The TSA shouldn't even exist in the first place. Now they want to move to Walmart, other retail outlets and sporting events. That is wrong. Terrorism has succeeded in America.

Instead of just facing the small chance that you could be affected by a terrorist act, LESS of a chance than getting into a car accident; we now face that same tiny chance of being blown up by terrorists + 99% chance of our rights being violated by the government anytime we want to travel by air, train, or bus + 99% chance that we will constantly be accosted by bunk government agency messages while we shop, attend sporting events, etc. How long will it be before there are daily messages to "Report your local terror" on the radio and every television and satellite channel? People already call suspicious things in to authorities. I've had more than one person arrested by calling the police for crazy stuff happening around my place.

I can work out what kind of situations need attention from the authorities or not all by myself, without constant fear mongering reminders from an agency that only exists to siphon my tax dollars and leave a slime trail of false fear every where it touches.

[theGinsue]

Well said Stuart. I'm with you on this one 100%.