You hear all of the horror stories about the TSA. You've watched the video where they search tiny kids. You've shaken your head over their "Naked Machines" used to screen you for contraband. You've probably put up with their rudeness if you've flown many times. And yet they haven't caught even one terrorist? They can't report the interruption of one terrorist activity? 

And yet we  - the American public - justify their presence and the enormous budget it takes to feed this unionized peacekeeper. And we say that, in general, we think they are doing a good job. We don't mind taking off our shoes, jackets, belts, etc.  We rarely talk about the thefts and inappropriate behaviors for which TSA agents have been convicted.  But we also haven't really thought about what it means to be detained by the TSA. They are not officers of the law, so you have no rights when detained - no right to make a phone call, no right to counsel, no right to any of your Constitutional rights. This has never felt so bothersome before reading this article. It is written by a young man who was recently detained. 

Follow the link to the article and see if it doesn't make you think a bit about rights we have willingly handed over in the name of national security and how people are treated at airports by TSA despite the fact that no terrorists have ever been caught.