Joins with Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader, Aviation Consumer Action Project, To Demand 'Voice' In On-going Security Debate

The airline passenger advocacy group Flyers Rights has joined Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader and Paul Hudson from the Aviation Consumer Action Project (ACAP) to demand meetings with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and TSA Administrator John Pistole to discuss the continuing issues regarding Whole Body Scanners & "Enhanced" Pat Downs by TSA personnel.

"Airline Passengers have so far been ignored in this process," said Kate Hanni, Director of Flyers Rights. "Thus far, Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Pistole have taken meetings with Airline Executives, Hotels, Pilots Unions, and Flight Attendant Unions- but Not a Single Meeting with the people who pay the money to Fly. How is that possible or right?"

"Mr. Nader, Mr. Hudson and Flyers Rights represent the passengers that DHS and TSA claim to be trying to protect. DHS or TSA needs to listen to what those passengers have to say," continued Hanni.The groups also want to ensure that the public understands the illogic of current polls being used to defend these security measures.

Hanni said some of the polling data that has been reprinted in the media is either out of date, was improperly administered, or has been taken out of context.

Specifically, Hanni contends:

• A Poll recently published by USA Today was from January 2010 BEFORE any scanners and "Enhanced" Pat Downs were enabled.
• A Poll by CBS only offered people the choices of Yes/No on Body Scanners, and did not give people another choice except "I don't understand."
• More accurate polling can be found if the Right questions are asked:
• An MSNBC poll asked "Do you support 1) Body Scanners, 2) Pat Downs or 3) "I won't fly if these measures are in place." 48% said they would not fly if Body Scanners or Pat Downs were the option – This poll that had 80,000 respondents.
• A Reuters Poll that had 90,000 respondents indicated that 96% would find Alternative means of transportation or Not Fly if given the choice of Body Scanners or Pat Downs.

Kate Hanni

"What is a fact is that the more the public knows about these processes, the more they don't want them affecting their lives. There comes a time when More Security isn't Better Security- More Security is Just More," added Hanni.

Noted Paul Hudson, long time advocate for stronger aviation security, "We are requesting the use of Full Body Scanners and Enhanced Pat Down Process be reduced or suspended pending a public comment period, public hearings, and a full review by outside experts. TSA needs to answer serious questions of intrusiveness, safety, and effectiveness, before subjecting hundreds of millions of airline passengers to such extreme measures."

FMI: http://strandedpassengers.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-to-dhs-secretary.html, www.flyersrights.org