While a new poll shows that Americans stand squarely behind new airport search procedures in principle, those inspections in the flesh are pissing off more and more people.

First to come to wide attention was Mr. "Don't Touch My Junk", John Tyner, who had the audacity to point out that these same moves by someone not in the government would constitute sexual assault. The TSA says it's investigating.

Less prominent but to my soul more wrenching is this story of a woman who'd already endured rape, only to have those memories set loose by an intrusive TSA search. I know nothing of the Pagan News Collective, and I've not yet confirmed this report. But it's valuable even if only for its links to this piece in The Atlantic and this even more enraging one from Consumer Travel. Read that whole story. Not only does the TSA reportedly admit publicly humiliating travelers who request the pat-down search as examples to others in line; it links to yet another story about the badges that give TSA officers the illusion of law enforcement authority. Wheels within wheels.

But wait - there's more. In this notable case, the TSA overstepped its bounds with exactly the wrong person: comedian and social commentator Penn Jillette. Note the date of the entry. Well before the distribution of toy badges, the agency and its workers apparently already practiced overstepping the bounds of decency and personal dignity. The efforts of the TSA to blow off first Jillette, then the officer who responded to the scene with Godlike declarations that everything was fine are almost funny. Almost. Except that eight years later, people are still being treated like criminals for the sin of wanting to get on an airplane, and the Godlike attitude hasn't changed a bit.

If you doubt that - watch this. Three-year-old Mandy shrieks "Stop touching me!" while she's thoroughly onced-over by the TSA employee. Unfortunately for said employee and cohorts, Mandy's daddy is a news reporter who taped the bulk of the examination. 

Does any of this make you feel safer in the air?

(Please use the comments to link to any tales from the front lines I may have missed.)