The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering mandatory use of full-body scanners for examination of passengers boarding at all airports. Here’s one reason: TSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Michael Chertoff, former DHS director, is a shill for a body-scanner manufacturer.
While use of airport body scanners may not actually prevent acts of terrorism, purchasing them is sound public policy. When airports discard the useless machines, they can be re-sold to hospitals and clinics at a discount, which will dramatically reduce the cost of medical imaging.
Civil liberties groups are protesting use of full-body scanners at airports, claiming they are intrusive and produce nude images of passengers which may be sold as pornography. Time for a reality check:
1. Go home.
2. Close the door and window shades.
3. Disrobe.
4. Look in the mirror, and don’t suck in your gut.
5. Would you buy naked photos of that person?
QED.
Plans for airport body scanners are found in the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, along with other visionary aviation-related conceptualizations.
Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
Tags: air travel, airports, Chertoff, full body scanners, satire, terrorism, TSA
NotionsCapital 
January 6, 2010 at 12:06 pm
This article is so porrly written. There is no conclusions that can be drawn from it.
January 6, 2010 at 1:06 pm
freshied wrote: This article is so porrly [sic] written. There is no conclusions [sic] that can be drawn from it.
Conclusion: freshied lacks a sense of humor.
January 7, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Forget DaVinci, let’s look at what Benjamin Franklin said. Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither.
January 7, 2010 at 9:23 pm
…images of myself nude.. Oy vey. I pity the TSA agent that has to see them.. But by God, the TSA agents will REALLY enjoy others.. we really need to think about this before.. .. well.. Janet just ordered 300 for the US!! too late… Strip america in ’10
January 8, 2010 at 9:26 am
TSA=Thousands Standing Around
How many travelers, especially frequent business travelers, and airport guards are going to develop cancer or other ailments due to repeated exposure to Body Scanners?
How long until an image ends up on TMZ or the National Enquirer? What about blackmail schemes, public humilation, political dirty tricks, embarassing activism or just perverted TSA guards?
January 8, 2010 at 10:45 am
Knott wrote: How many travelers, especially frequent business travelers, and airport guards are going to develop cancer
Your concern about our precious busnessmen and TSA guards is understandable, but have no fear. There are two kinds of scanners. The “backscanner” type (pictured above) is relatively harmless unless you take 2,500 international flights a year. Radiation from the other type is much milder that medical imaging technology.
January 14, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Who says you can’t suck in your gut at the airport?
January 15, 2010 at 12:49 am
Anna wrote: Who says you can’t suck in your gut at the airport?
I think a sucked-in gut is considered a behavioral threat sign by the highly-trained TSA personnel.