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By 2011, there had already been a lot of pushback against the TSA, so I'm sure part of the rationale for the cuts was to force TSA to stop growing out of contro

By 2011, there had already been a lot of pushback against the TSA, so I'm sure part of the rationale for the cuts was to force TSA to stop growing out of control like it had been. A leaner budget could force the TSA to become leaner, which in a rational world would mean it would have to become more efficient to do its job. Of course this is government, so the TSA just did its job less. The flip side, redirecting increases in TSA fares away from the TSA and towards the general budget, is also typical government behavior: can't raise taxes, so raise "fees" instead and use the proceeds like a tax.

dragontamer 10y ago
Starve the beast has literally never worked. I wonder why people believe that cutting budgets will somehow lead to better results. It never happens.
- aianus 10y ago
  > I wonder why people believe that cutting budgets will somehow lead to better results. It never happens. Poor results are easier to stomach when they're cheap. See: any cheap product ever.
- mikeash 10y ago
  It works all the time, you just have to realize that the goal isn't better results, the goal is getting elected by convincing people that government doesn't work.
  - newjersey 10y ago
    It is so frustrating. Even if people believe in small government, the problem to tackle would be to cut government spending, not taxes. :( When you boil down a conversation though the result is usually people want lower taxes for themselves and the idea of a small government is usually just a smokescreen.
dalke 10y ago
You say "typical government behavior". Please note that the problems you point out are limited to the US. At least, it's not been my experience when at airports in Europe. Perhaps you think they are "typical" because you've been on the receiving end of decades of propaganda to convince you the government is incompetent, there's nothing you can do about it, and the only solution is the "free market"? To start with, why can't the government raise taxes?
- DougWebb 10y ago
  You're making huge assumptions about me and my political beliefs. Incorrect assumptions. The US federal government is bad about this, but they're not the only ones that do it: effective tax rates here are just as high as in many European countries, but most of the taxes aren't called 'tax'. There are fees and tolls and surcharges on many living expenses, and more that get hidden in higher prices for many products. That's why I said that adding a TSA fee to airline tickets, but not using the money for the TSA, is typical behavior. I wish the taxation system was honest and transparent. I wish the money was used competently and efficiently. But the political system here is screwed up I don't think those are achievable goals. And unfortunatly it's led to having an incompent fascist as a leading presidential candidate.
  - dalke 10y ago
    I believe my assumptions are neither bigger nor more incorrect than your assumption that the government can't raise taxes.
    - DougWebb 10y ago
      I didn't mean that the government can't raise taxes the way you're assuming I meant. I was describing typical government behavior, where lawmakers have to decide how to describe the act of collecting more money. Calling it "raising taxes" makes it harder for them to get re-elected, so they call it "collecting a fee" instead.

dragontamer 10y ago

Starve the beast has literally never worked. I wonder why people believe that cutting budgets will somehow lead to better results. It never happens.

aianus 10y ago
> I wonder why people believe that cutting budgets will somehow lead to better results. It never happens. Poor results are easier to stomach when they're cheap. See: any cheap product ever.
mikeash 10y ago
It works all the time, you just have to realize that the goal isn't better results, the goal is getting elected by convincing people that government doesn't work.
- newjersey 10y ago
  It is so frustrating. Even if people believe in small government, the problem to tackle would be to cut government spending, not taxes. :( When you boil down a conversation though the result is usually people want lower taxes for themselves and the idea of a small government is usually just a smokescreen.

dalke 10y ago

You say "typical government behavior". Please note that the problems you point out are limited to the US. At least, it's not been my experience when at airports in Europe. Perhaps you think they are "typical" because you've been on the receiving end of decades of propaganda to convince you the government is incompetent, there's nothing you can do about it, and the only solution is the "free market"? To start with, why can't the government raise taxes?

DougWebb 10y ago
You're making huge assumptions about me and my political beliefs. Incorrect assumptions. The US federal government is bad about this, but they're not the only ones that do it: effective tax rates here are just as high as in many European countries, but most of the taxes aren't called 'tax'. There are fees and tolls and surcharges on many living expenses, and more that get hidden in higher prices for many products. That's why I said that adding a TSA fee to airline tickets, but not using the money for the TSA, is typical behavior. I wish the taxation system was honest and transparent. I wish the money was used competently and efficiently. But the political system here is screwed up I don't think those are achievable goals. And unfortunatly it's led to having an incompent fascist as a leading presidential candidate.
- dalke 10y ago
  I believe my assumptions are neither bigger nor more incorrect than your assumption that the government can't raise taxes.
  - DougWebb 10y ago
    I didn't mean that the government can't raise taxes the way you're assuming I meant. I was describing typical government behavior, where lawmakers have to decide how to describe the act of collecting more money. Calling it "raising taxes" makes it harder for them to get re-elected, so they call it "collecting a fee" instead.