Ron Paul Calls for Privatizing TSA: ‘These Are Not the Most Reputable People’
- Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:10pm by
Buck Sexton
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Rep. Ron Paul fired off a rhetorical salvo at the TSA Tuesday, decrying its air travel security policies and calling for TSA’s replacement by private security forces. It‘s a position he’s come to champion over the last few weeks.
Rep. Paul made his case while on the Tom Sullivan Show that the TSA is invasive, unnecessary, and ineffective. He rejected the underlying premise of the TSA wholesale- that federal bureaucrats will keep us safer than private enterprises with direct interest in the safety (and satisfaction) of their customers.
On the heavy pat-down policies implemented over the past year, Paul said “these are not the most reputable people…we would be arrested if we did this.”
The Congressman went on to catalog the long history of federal failures to avert terrorist attacks, even going as far to state that federal policies — no guns on the plane, no resistance to hijackers — created an atmosphere that encouraged terrorists to target planes. He cited an overall big government tendency to demand “submissiveness” as the root cause of our troubles with the TSA, as well as a host of other federal overreaches.
After unleashing fierce criticisms of the current TSA-controlled system, Paul suggested a privatized security framework for airports and planes. Citing chemical plants and armored car services, contended that federal bureaucrats are less able to provide intelligent security than private owners.
Watch the full interview below:
Paul first mentioned the idea over the Fourth of July weekend, using strong language then to make his point clear.
“The press reports are horrifying,” Paul said, according to The Hill. “Ninety-five-year-old women humiliated, children molested, disabled people abused. Men and women subjected to unwarranted groping and touching of their most private areas, and involuntary radiation exposure.
“If the perpetrators were a gang of criminals, their headquarters would be raided by SWAT teams and armed federal agents,” he continued. “Unfortunately in this case, the perpetrators are armed federal agents.”
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Comments (109)
SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:09pmAs another poster said, “you might not want to hear it, but at least Paul speaks the truth.”
Report Post »19RANDY59
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:25pmYou’re right, nobody wants to here the truth. Because the truth hurts. They don’t mind hearing that someone else is going to lose their entitlements, but whoa to those who would take anything from them.
Report Post »Orion the truth hunter
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:58pmThe truth is that there are people at the TSA willing to do what they are told to do for a paycheck, even if their job can be unwarranted groping, humiliation of woman, children molested and disabled people abused. We will not get rid of the TSA but we can TRAIN the workers what it means to treat people with respect. Why should only the victums be named in the press? NAME the abusers in the press (or set up a website) so that their family, neighbors and friends know how they behave and can pressure them to act properly. They chose the job, let them choose to face the public or to reform the TSA by refusing to act improperly.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:59pmYeah, he’s like Noah !
Report Post »Orion the truth hunter
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:00pmcorrection for any word Nazis: Victims
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:16pmExcellent idea!
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:55pmRon “The REAL Tea Party” Paul IS THE TRUTH!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:59pmYeah, let’s hire Blackwater to take over.
Report Post »faithkills
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:57amThe point is you are not competent to decide. The airlines are and the passengers are. Those are the only two parties who have a clear interest in passenger safety. Unsafe airlines have no passengers and no profits and cease to exist.
The government has no interest, the government in fact needs accidents to justify their intervention.
So yes if United wanted to hire Blackwater and passengers thought United was thus safer, sure, why not blackwater. If they screw up United will fire them. When the TSA screws up, they demand a bigger budget. Who do you think cares more about their job performance?
Report Post »nptden
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 2:10amWho authorized the hiring of ‘ex-felons’ on the TSA? Is this another left-wing ‘affirmative action’ program? They also hire ex-felons in other Federal jobs, why? Was this agency approved by Congress?
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:01pmRon Paul’s plan for economy
Report Post »1) cut military oversea, secure our borders;
2) saved money goes to support health care for elderly and children;
3) cut the rest overblown government programs equally if we cannot agree on priorities;
4) do not pay FED $1.6T borrowed, they are nobody, cancel that debt.
5) allow young people to opt out from ALL government programs for just 10% in taxes.
6) allow free market and competing currencies to stabilize the economy and bring CAPITAL back.
Only capital (working in free-market profitable framework) creates lasting jobs – not spending, not labor, not trade unions, not debt, not commands of able/honest neo-con/progressive politicians from state control apparatus, not central planners at the FED.
Caniac Steve
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:17pmHey Blue_Sky i agree with many of your points and like the person after you,I’d would totally disban or do away with the “private” security force then candidate obama was talking about. Heck many of our troops serving in Iraq & Afghanistan could so a better job then those clowns at TSA…but i’m an old guy (all but 63) retired and stuff what would i know ?
Report Post »neidermeyer
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:19pmI like #4 , when you add up all the bailouts that is approx. what the taxpayers have given the banks that make up the fed since 2008.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:26pm@Caniac
@Blue Sky
I like both of your plans; and Caniac, you know a lot more than most of us here youngsters do; it appears you have a good deal of common sense, something of a rarity down in the DC Congress area of the nation.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:29pmIf you like Ron Paul, make sure to register with GOP PRIMARIES. Many states require GOP membership to vote in their closed primaries. Call your state GOP. If Ron Paul is nominated, he will easily beat Obama.
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:08pmAdd to this list NO national ID and NO to the patriot act.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:57pmGet rid of TSA altogether.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:01pmJust abolish it, and abolish DHS. Nobody needs the Big Government sold to us with a Fear Theme.
Be Free
TEA
Report Post »cosmic dogma
Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:46amTSA discourages travel by flight. We are going to drive 12 hours to avoid going to the airport. In the past, we would have flown, no question.
Report Post »Ever wonder if this is a way to put the hurt on the air industry, just like the auto, and housing industries? Are the Feds this incredibly stupid, or are the powers achieving their goal of destroying our society and economy?
Our beautiful 25 year old daughter is ALWAYS chosen for either groping or porn rays… How ironic?
If it makes sense to profile in all areas of criminal investigations, and air hijacking is a crime, why does it not make sense to profile passengers to determine likelihood of murderous or suicidal tendencies ?
blue_sky
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:57pmToday is money bomb at RonPaul2012.
Report Post »CNN NEWS: More active duty soldiers donate to Ron Paul than to other candidates combined.
Support our troops, donate to Dr. Ron Paul now!
oneshiner
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:26pmIf there is only one person I believe, It’s Ron Paul. Never dreamed I’d support him, but look at the ones running, they all have so much baggage or problems haunting them.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:30amRon Paul… IS the man for this job.
I wish the democrats and republicans didn’t come up with that slogan years ago… “throwing your vote away”, pertaining to voting for a 3rd party… because in truth… if you don’t vote for someone who you would want as president, then you truly are “throwing your vote away” … ALWAYS vote for the person you know, with your whole being, to be true. i should have voted for Ron Paul a long time ago… he’s the only person in congress that has ever stood by their words and is for the people to govern themselves as our constitution has laid out.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:56pmI love Ron Paul, but he really needs to be working on more important things then TSA.. Some of our Congress and Senate seem to be doing things that really could be worked on after the debt crisis is over??
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:00pmCheck youtube “Ron Paul – Conviction”, his first TV ad.
We do not need government central planners to “work”, “manipulate”, “run” the economy, money, people lives. Individual freedom and free-market choices will do the job. Shrink the government to the constitutional size. Bring troops home and secure OUR borders. Ron Paul all the way!
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:03pmThe TRILLION dollar post-911 Government Reorganization and Growth was never paid for – and helped increase the Debt.
Just say no to endless Big Government.
TEA
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:09pm@AbbyGirl1994
And, may I ask, just what is more important than attempting to rid an agency that makes a living subjecting airline customers to government-sponsored molestation and unwarranted searches and seizures?
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:53pmI agree whole heartedly that they’re mostly not “reputable” ppl , all smoke and mirrors, not effective and we need to get rid of the TSA. Unfortunately, too many of civilian Govn’t employees are incompetent & not the most “quality”, bright types. No doubt some are perverts & who knows what else. Plus George Soros was involved in these machines, etc. – he had a lot of shares but dumped them when it became controversial. ???? What’s up with that? They do NOT keep us safer — the answer is to do what Israel does but they refuse that route….too “pc”. We should fight this as much as possible. Those x-ray machines show everything & cannot guarantee what happens to them, etc. – who looks at them – whatever. It’s beyond ridiculous. As for me, I do refuse to fly.
Report Post »neidermeyer
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:28pmThe TSA is a joke agency … It’s exactly like when you visit city hall or a courthouse and 90% of the people (employees and lawyers) go around security while you must go through and give up a photo id to be scanned. What I mean is that the ones that are entitled to bypass are the ones that generally cause trouble… When someone “goes Postal” is it a postal customer or an employee? answer: employee … When it comes to airport security there are a million holes ,,, foodservice , cleaning crew , fuelers , anyone can pay the air freight “next flight out service” and put a bomb on your plane ,, they screen NOTHING at most air cargo terminals… so just remember that the next time you’re being gate raped. They’re just doing their job (stealing your stuff) and making you feel all warm and fuzzy..
Report Post »TX_45_ACP
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:53pmRight on! I doubt it will happen, but make it happen Ron!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:47pmI have been saying this for a long time; privatize TSA. In fact, privatize the whole damn government wherever feasible. And please, make these entities “for profit” ONLY. Companies that have to show a profit will do A MUCH BETTER JOB of keeping costs down and quality of services up in order to thrive. If they fail to do so, just like in the real world of capitalist free markets, some other company will. GO PRIVATE!
Report Post »19RANDY59
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:45pmI’m not em barest to be an American, just em barest by the majority of people in this country who claim to be. 44% voted in the last presidential election, which means 56% don’t care about their country.53% of the 44% voted for a Marxist, after just going through 50 years of cold war, Korean conflict, and Vietnam. Check my numbers, they could be off a little. My point is that close to 80% of our proud citizenry are buffoons.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:42pmGet rid of all the planes and then you wouldn’t need the TSA.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:39pmRON PAUL is the most common sense candidate I have seen, so far !!!
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 1:41amYeah, privatizing fixes everything. Have you ever heard of Blackwater?
Report Post »auntmoxie.com
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:36pmYou don’t have to agree with EVERYTHING a candidate espouses, and I certainly don’t agree with Ron Paul on EVERYTHING; however, he makes some great, free-market points. It kills me that this guy isn’t getting more play.
Report Post »Bullwinkle
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:28pmYou are so right. Too many people will pick apart some of his views while voting for someone like McCain. We want people of conviction but we seem so willing to give up our own to vote for whomever the party leaders present us.
I see nobody else running that has the proven track record of Ron Paul. I‘ve followed his career for almost as long as he’s been representing Texans. He has never wavered over any major issue that I’m aware of. The same can’t be said for any of the other GOP hopefuls.
Report Post »GUT_CHECK
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:49amHE’S BEEN GETTING QUITE A BIT OF PLAY. 2-3 NEWS programs each day. check most stuff at DailyPaulDotCom
he raised close to 600,000 just yesterday
c‘mon y’all, lets make him President
it is our country, remember?
talk him up to everyone you meet.
a Paul Presidency would be so much fun, like we have never experienced
Report Post »ecurbyy
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:50amI agree about Dr. Paul being censored by the media, both left and right. If I had to guess, it may be because they’ve been unable to dig up any dirt on him. He’s boring to the media. And he speaks with common sense, which is almost extinct in this country. The people are so used to being lied to, they don’t know what to do with the truth. So: Ron Paul in 2012!
Report Post »jim
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:35pmThank you, Mr. Paul, for all your public service.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:33pmExcellent lambasting of the TSA, Ron! Now it’s time to make good on dismantling this unconstitutional bureaucracy forever!
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:33pmHow about a middle road? Security functions, yes! Inspection and investigatory functions, no!
Keep them doing what they’ve proved they can, and get them out of what they‘ve proved they can’t.
Report Post »beaker13
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:51pmHow have they proven that they are effective at any part of their job? The best solution would be to let the airlines handle their own security.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:08pmI think they’ve been pretty good at everything except airport security. The only problem with tossing that to the airlines is that ticket prices could soar to allay the potential legal liability to those that flub the job, or on the other hand they might see a financial incentive in doing a superficial job, since shortening waiting times would be good for business. A private security company would be best to avoid conflict of interest. Of course, anyone who has worked for one knows that all private security companies are not created equal. Their hiring practices would have to be thoroughly vetted and their record of competence scrutinized.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:23pm@Chet Hempstead
True, wiping out the Transportation Security Agency will cause the price of plane tickets to rise, but allowing private airports to maintain security means the customers will no longer be subjected to the TSA’s bestial practices. I would much prefer buying an expensive airplane ticket but knowing that my body won’t be subjected to government-approved groping over buying a cheap airplane ticket at the cost of being violated by these impersonal agents.
Report Post »lizaz
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:25pmAbsolutely!! This needs to happen before the union gets their claws into the TSA….they really WILL be insufferable then. And, it will cost us more and more money…..no public employees should be unionized. They work for the public and are paid by the public..taxpayers’ money should not be used for unions negotiating big benefits for union employees….get rid of the TSA so we can go back to at least a partial enjoyment of flying!!!!!
Report Post »Sam Brown
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:23pmJust stop flying and they will quit groping genitals.
Report Post »beaker13
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:54pmThat is an un-intelligent solution: just not to fly. That is allowing this intrusion further limit a great freedom that we have. The TSA (a gov’t agency) doesn’t care if we fly or not. That is not where they get their money. The airlines certainly care whether or not we fly. That is why it is best that they handle their own security. They would do a much better job, and they would do it in a way that both keeps their flights safe and keeps customers happy.
Report Post »Sam Brown
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:03pmIf you want to stop the abuse then you must take the money away. People quit flying and tell them why then the “money will talk”. A slave waits for someone else to free him. Free men take steps to remain free and that is to talk to businesses with your wallet. Socialism will only stop when free mens money can’t be taken for socialist causes.
Report Post »101
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:22pmRon Paul is the only sane person on the hill.
People need to get behind Dr Paul and elect him in 2012
Report Post »19RANDY59
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:26pmThat will never happen. There is too many people on the take in this country. Most in this country confuse capitalism with getting what they want through any means, hence gov. corruption.
Report Post »beaker13
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:58pmThat is a pretty cynical way of looking at things. I believe that, when people truly understand the ideas of liberty, they desire liberty. People ultimately come to understand that, when they trade liberty for supposed “security” they get neither. I believe our best chance is to truly educate people about the ideas of liberty, and people will naturally gravitate towards it…even if they are currently “on the take.” Even if I am wrong about that aspect of it, a society such as we find ourselves in, cannot sustain itself financially. A “day of reckoning” is coming, when the gov’t simply will not be able to provide all it currently promises to provide.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:22pmAbolish the Big Government TRILLION-Dollar Post-911 Fear Apparatus!
The TSA was started by Governor Tom Ridge as his assignment from Bush and Cheney. Judge Michael Chertoff took it over when Ridge showed common sense that was equated with weakness.
The Chertoff Group is today the principal TSA consulting firm for body image scanners at $175,000 a copy without software and maintenance. It turns out sniffer dogs were not profitable enough.
Halliburton has open ended contracts with TSA, that allow no-bid awards for all sorts of cost plus fee construction projects at 20% profit.
TEA
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:14pmWe let TSA exist. We gave up rights for safety. When the politicians can scare you they win, we lose.
Report Post »Just another example of the government running our lives. We have to take back our government, throw all the professional politicians out and elect a citizens legislature with term limits that has to go home and find a job when his term is up. No pensions better than we can expect.
marybethelizabeth
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:21pmLet Me Tell You Something
Report Post »This is the 2nd time the Blaze has run this story this week.
Surrendering our civil liberties to a private company is a bad idea.
Stop Stop
Privatization is in line with Mr. Beck’s dream of establishing an iron -fisted dictatorship to save us from the encroaching chaos. Another bad idea.
joe3
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:46pmcommunism is a filthy form of totalitarianism, yes or no?
Report Post »Bullwinkle
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:39pmSo, it’s a better idea to keep surrendering our liberties to our government? You seem to assume that it’s better if the TSA is run by unaccountable bureaucrats than to have a private company doing the same job.
Remember, counting the next terrorist that TSA catches that will be one in a row. Have they made flying more secure? Anybody ever get by them?
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:19pmTalk about never letting a crisis go to waste. W wanted to use private firms but caved. Democrats wanted a unionized workforce they could count on. Democrats rolled over Bush and got their way. I travel for business and it has not been fun since 9/11 and we put the government in charge and it has gotten worse. Millions in body scanners that don’t do what they are supposed to peddled by the former head of Homeland Security (look it up). I go to airports and see half of these new machines sitting unused. When they are used the lines are 5 times as long as the old metal detectors. If the new stuff is so good, why hasn’t TSA demanded they be used? They know it is all smoke and mirrors to make the public feel better about flying. I opt out every time.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:18pmPrivatize, how about significantly reduce. This was Bush Jr’s job creation plan which does anything but make us safer. We need to adopt the Israel approach of profiling based on behavior and responses to questions. I’m surprised at him buying into the notion that Privatizing fixes everything or anything. There are plenty of private businesses that do a very poor job and are not run efficiently. Cheaply yes, efficiently no.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:17pmJust disband it and go back to pre-911 budget levels- we do not need DHS or TSA, they are just Big Government created by Cheney and Bush. Not Needed. Money Dumps.
Report Post »poorrichardsnews
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:16pmDr. Paul is also voting NO on Cut Cap and Balance today: http://bit.ly/pOS6lS hard to figure him out.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:34pmHe is because he knows it is political grandstanding and a cowardly move by those who don’t want to take the debt situation seriously. To say Cantor is sophomoric in his thought process and strategic approach is to slam sophomores everywhere. Sophomores in HS that is. This is why I like the guy. It really appears he is one of the few in DC that is not owned by the corporations and the wealthy.
Report Post »isis223
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:36pmHard to figure him out?? Did you actually read the article you linked to or just the title of it? If you read the article you will see he has a very sound reason for voting no which is consistent with what he has been saying for thirty years. Doesn’t get any easier to figure out than that.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:59pm@PoorRichardsNews
I’m having a feeling that Ron Paul may have foresaw that the Cut, Cap, and Balancing Act will actually do more harm than good if it were to be enforced, and after having read his rebuttal of this bill, I think he does have a point in saying no to it.
Report Post »poorrichardsnews
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:05pmwhy then did he bother to sign the Cut, Cap, and Balance pledge?
Report Post »Bri guy
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:12pmIt’s because he knows that the balanced budget amendments the congressional bodies are trying to pass are so inflamatorily unconstitutional. They take the purse strings out of the hands of the congress, and put it squarely in the hands of the president. The constitution clearly states that expenditures are for the congress to decide and put into law – not the president.
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on July 19, 2011 at 5:13pmGREAT RON!! ….Make it happen!!!!!
Report Post »