Joe......you do know how to get yourself into......and luckily and more importantly, out of, a pickle.....
The TSA "member" as you put it, are carefully, hand selected, vetted and groomed for the role.
For instance, if they smile or pass a pleasantry to any passenger or crew member at anytime during the interview, inductions or training and on-boarding process, they are summarily removed and deemed not fit for duty. If they break that cardinal rule, they are demoted to a desk job at best......but are open offered jobs as United Airlines check in staff.
So reading the above......it sounds like the TSA members at least retained their reputation......
I have never been singled out, although I know a first officer who was strip searched upon arrival at LAX.....primarily because he made a retort to a smart ass comment from the Immigration Officer. The lady who wanted to search him was border control personified.....350 pounds and had her sense of humor surgically removed......believe me....no one could get past her......perhaps that could be Mr Trumps solution......clone her and sit them shoulder to shoulder at the border.....and if they try to tunnel.....the ground would give way.....
So my strip searches were purely recreational.........wait.....strike that as TMI
On a serious note, for a long time I have been critical of airport and airline safety and the safety of passengers needs to be the priority for all stakeholders. The problem with that is all too often ill-informed parties have made calls on safety....ie. knee-jerk decisions are made that do little to actually improve safety. Then effective solutions are overlooked.....that would directly improve the safety of passengers. But they are not obvious to the public eye, so it boils down to perception.......
So please remove your shoes, take out your electronic equipment is seen to be doing something......but pysch testing of the flight crew consists of..."How are things at home"..........surely that is sufficient?