Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips

I have called for the disbanding of TSA many times for many reasons, including the expense and their ineffectiveness. It's not that we don't need a limited amount of airport security - a carry-on Xray or metal scanner, but that's it.

The latest incident.

It seems that a lady was allowed to board a plane at DFW even though TSA thought that she was carrying a firearm in her carry-on. The TSA Xray operator spotted what looked like a gun in the carry-on, but the woman collected her bag and was off before anyone could make sure.

With all of the uniformed TSA personnel (and payroll) that is present at the inspection areas in airports around the country, how could someone just grab their suspicious bag and walk away?

Did TSA do it's job? Depends. They spotted the article. They didn't keep the bag. They didn't detain the woman. They had to have the plane recalled from the runway to apprehend the woman. Wonder how they determined which person it was and which flight she was taking. No indication of why she had the gun or her intent.

Definitely replace TSA with a less expenssive, more competent local security force.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website or go to my other blog "Steve Hoffacker's Home Sales Insights" for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at "Steve Hoffacker's Happenings."

Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer, Author of Sales Books, Commercial Real Estate Broker, Marketing Consultant, Sales Coach, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Podcaster, and Teacher. - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2012. All Rights Reserved.

Not exactly sure how much of a security risk these were, but at the Miami International Airport (MIA), a man was detained last Thursday by TSA for trying to smuggle 7 snakes through the security scanner - inside his pants. They didn't say if they were venomous or not or how large, but what a place to hide them!

He also has 3 tortoises contained in a nylon bag - also inside his pants.

He was arrested for trafficing in illegal wildlife.

He must have looked a little lumpy, if nothing else.

You can't make this stuff up.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website or go to my other blog "Steve Hoffacker's Home Sales Insights" for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at "Steve Hoffacker's Happenings."

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Podcaster, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2011. All Rights Reserved.  

There has to be a better way of maintaining air safety than the TSA.

I'm sure they have discovered a few weapons, some lighters, and some flammable liquids, but I haven't heard of any failed terrorist acts because of their efforts.

On the other hand, I have heard of so many abuses - including the unspeakable way the elederly woman was treated over the weekend.

TSA announced last week that they were going to ignore kids and the elderly and let them avoid the screening process. That lasted a long time.

What everyone seems to be forgetting is that a terrorist act on an airplane is extremely unlikely. Before 9/11 we were timid. Someone gets up with a gun or a knife and we sit there stunned. Now, that person is immediately attacked, subdued, and pummeled. It is not possible for a would-be terrorist to prevail on a plane for more than a few seconds. We are a much smarter, less tolerant, and angrier public than we were on 9/11 when it comes to flying.

TSA was a bad idea from the start. It was a knee-jerk, over-reaction. Now it has gotten extremely expensive as well. We literally are paying to be abused and inconvenienced at the airport.

There is a better way. There has to be.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other bloghomesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

Add President Obama to the list of clueless people endorsing the TSA voyerism/fondling policy. He says it is "necessarry to keep America safe." Not true. No potential terrorist has been detected and stopped so far by TSA and it isn't likely to change with these egregious procedures.

Vice President Biden calls it a "necessary policy" as do Secretary Napoiltano and TSA head John Piostole. All totally clueless.

Congress is also clueless for allowing it.

The paradigm is wrong. They are looking for stuff. The stuff is being transported by people. They should be profiling and looking for likely potential terrorists. Even at that, if someone really wants to get a substance on the plane on their person, they can do it because they are far more sophisticated than the TSA.

We are supposed to be on the offensive in the War on Terror. These measures clearly injure our own citizens and do nothing to stop those really intent on bringing down an airplane. If memory serves me right, all of the recent terrorist issues involving airplanes originated on flights outside of the US. Why are we putting up with this abuse?

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

In the 9 years that we have had airport screenings - much of that with the TSA - I have encountered only 2 very nice, polite TSA workers. I have encountered many bullies.

America, we didn't sign on for this. The terrorists have won this round.

Consider how many real threats the TSA has thwarted - that we have been told about. I can't think of any. The shoe bomber, the underwear bomber, the toner cartridge bomb - all were aboard. Even the Lockerbie bomb was in checked luggage.

Most of what is done is for show and "peace of mind." All it really does is cause delays in getting to the gate and now is seriously offending people with the body scans and pat-downs. Totally unnecessary and unproductive - and a clear violation of the 4th Amendment.

Scanning checked luggage for explosives is probably a good idea, but now we know that parcels are routinely put aboard that are not scanned.

As far as carryon luggage is concerned, the way we are packed into those seats, you can't get to your carryon even if you need to. Metal detectors are OK for finding guns, knives, or large objects. That doesn't seem too unreasonable.

In reality though, if someone did sneak a gun onto a plane and attempt to use it, it would be a serious mistake for that person. Someone might get shot in the scuffle. but that gunman would have about 20 passengers beating him senseless.

We don't need the TSA and we certainly don't need body scans and pat downs.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.