Thankful to not be flying over Thanksgiving

Message from John Tate, Campaign for Liberty:

"This season is traditionally one for giving thanks, spending time with friends and family, and reflecting on the past year.

But before they can stuff themselves at the dinner table on Thursday or kick back to catch the game, many Americans must travel by plane to get to their loved ones.

And while I have a lot to give thanks for this year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not be on that list.

Actually, I'm personally thankful NOT to be flying anywhere for Thanksgiving this time around.

I experienced more than my fair share of TSA grope-downs while traveling around the country managing Ron Paul's presidential campaign.

Unfortunately for those flying this holiday season, Congress has yet to find a backbone and outright abolish the TSA for its repeated violations of our constitutional and natural rights.

If this Congress cared one iota about our liberties, they would pass common-sense legislation like Rep. Ron Paul's "American Traveler Dignity Act," or Senator Rand Paul's pair of bills, S. 3302 and S. 3303, to create a passenger bill of rights and replace Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) with private screeners.

Even Rep. Marsha Blackburn's "STRIP Act" to prevent TSOs from using the title "officer" and wearing uniforms and badges that resemble those of a law enforcement officer would demonstrate Congress had some desire to rein in this rogue and unaccountable bureaucracy.

Knowing a federal agency exists that gropes, scans, pokes, and prods Americans - treating us as cattle until they've removed every shred of human dignity we have left - turns my stomach.

And just as we shouldn't give up our liberty for some fleeting promise of "security," we shouldn't trade our dignity as human beings, either.

It's offensive to watch as elderly or disabled individuals and young children are groped in our airports.

And now it's clear the TSA's inefficiency and ineffectiveness will only get worse...

... their employees just unionized under the American Federation of Government Employees union, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

So an agency already rife with corruption will be further solidified into our society, and the misconduct of its employees protected by the full might of the union bosses.

Much has been done to highlight such misconduct, from ABC's investigative report tracking down a stolen iPad to the home of a TSA officer, to a list of 50 of the "Most Dangerous TSOs" compiled by Representative Blackburn.

Sadly, even if you're not flying this year, there is still a chance you might run into the TSA.

Over the past few years, their reach has sprawled far beyond our airports and onto our highways, our train and subway stations, sporting events, and even political rallies through TSA's VIPR teams.

When did the TSA become Big Government's anointed "gatekeeper-in-chief"?

This "mission-creep" reinforces the notion that TSA is "nothing more than a bloated, broken bureaucracy," as Rep. Paul Broun has stated.

Congress must be reminded that Americans do not surrender their Fourth Amendment rights when purchasing an airline ticket.

Now more than ever, the TSA needs to be reined in, and it's up to you and me to make this a top priority in the 113th Congress.

As bad as things are, there is hope!

With the addition of Senator-elect Ted Cruz, a man who made his disdain for the TSA no secret during his campaign, and numerous other liberty-minded representatives, we can push this issue further than it has ever gone before.

But first, all those who care deeply for this country must rise up and loudly proclaim, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"

I know the liberty movement is strong enough to make a difference when we determine to do so.

And we can start this holiday season!

If you find yourself in the TSA queue line, observe other passengers as they're directed into the porno-scanners.

As they hold their hands above their heads like criminals, ask yourself, "Is that the pose of a free man?"

When it comes your turn, I hope you'll choose to opt-out.

The truth is, most TSOs don't enjoy performing the grope-downs any more than passengers enjoy receiving them.

(There is always the exception to the rule, and now they'll be tougher to fire for misconduct thanks to the AFGE union bosses.)

The TSA will never change their disgusting screening tactics until enough public disgust forces them to. "