Opting In or Out to TSA Security?

I'm all for better security measures in airports; I just don't want to feel as though I should have at least been treated to a nice dinner before I virtually take my clothes off or get felt up. As the TSA rolled out their body scanners, I began to consider how I would feel about my 12-year old's image floating past some (for all I know) pedophile's screen. I understand that the face is supposedly hidden, but really? Unless I'm standing next to the screener to verify this fact, I'd never know, and she wouldn't either. I'm less inclined to allow anyone to touch her body. They can touch mine all they want, I hit, scratch and yell.


The newly designed security measures are so controversial that the head of the TSA is likely to have to answer to Congress. The public outcry has motivated a call to a national day of Civil Disobedience (nod to Henry David Thoreau), whereby anyone using airport travel on November 24, 2010 should refuse to participate in the full body scanning system, as well as the thorough pat-down. This is, of course, designed to bottleneck airport traffic. This is a great idea if you have extra time to monkey around in the airport and arrive three or four hours ahead of departure. 


I fully support anything designed to muck up a very flawed security initiative, but I'm not quite certain what it will accomplish other than people missing a good portion of the holiday. Wouldn't it be easier to opt out of airline travel completely? Train travel is much easier and for 1/3 the cost of a ticket, you can stretch out your legs and even have your own private bathroom. Plus train travel is a little more romantic .... a throwback to less hectic times. I understand that passenger train service is not available in every part of the country, but even if 10% of travelers opt to take a train instead of a plane, this too will send a message to the TSA. We don't like it, we don't want it, we'll find a way to live without you. Wouldn't that be a scary thought for the airlines..... if we found a way to live without them?