This story is an offshoot of another story I wrote, ‘Homeland Security and Other Tales’. These are times of hysteria and there is plenty we are forced to swallow because of that hysteria. My parents just got back from a trip out West to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Vegas. Due to complications with flying now, they were on separate flights both ways. It reminds me of all the different tax forms and telecommunications today. In an effort to make them accessible and simple, it's simple all right… simply a mess. Want to live simply? Turn off the television, get a horse and start growing your own food. Anyhow back to the original story. My mother opened one of her bags which had been checked and found a document explaining that her bag had been checked. Read on because it is all about YOUR SAFETY. Of course I am being sarcastic because I think it is really about another one of your lost rights which is cleverly packaged for us to believe it is for our safety. After all, most of us have no intelligence whatsoever.
                     “Transportation Security Administration-Notice of Baggage Inspection- To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law* to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection. 
                    During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.
If the TSA security officer was unable to open your bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution.
                    For packing tips and suggestions on how to secure your baggage during your next trip, please visit: www.tsa.gov . We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact the TSA Contact Center: phone 866-289-9673 (toll free) or email TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov 
                    Explanation of * above:      * Section 110(b) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001,  49 U.S.C. 44901 (c)-(e)”  Also on the back of the document was the Spanish version of the same message.
                    Now, I am wondering why a dog cannot perform the same task as the TSA for all these folks who are checking in and who are also retrieving their baggage? We are so obedient that we fall for such nonsense when we know this was all after the fact of 9/11. Everything life –altering that happens results in the loss of more of our rights. The people responsible for flying into the towers, certainly never believed they would topple both towers, is my own belief. Our anger should be directed at the lack of national security our own leaders did not bother to conform to and we are paying the price. Before you know it, we will have to leave our teeth in the conveyor belt to be x-rayed and we will be flying naked. We will be safe alright in our new police state. Thanks for tuning in today.