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I have to agree, the TSA has become nothing more than a political tool that does little to prevent future terrorist attacks. I believe they serve a purpose, bu
by kgermino 17y ago
I have to agree, the TSA has become nothing more than a political tool that does little to prevent future terrorist attacks. I believe they serve a purpose, but that purpose is not to prevent organized terrorist attacks, it is to keep a single crazy guy from bringing a gun or knife on board and attacking people, or hijacking the plane and holding the passengers for ransom. (Keep in mind that this is what hijackings were before 9-11, which is why they were able to crash three planes)
Nowadays they have become more of a "feel-good" terrorist defense. Passengers and pilots are screened for everything and have their bottles of water and toenail clippers taken in the "search for bombs" while cleaning crew and other employees are not screened at all. The TSA does not, and cannot effectively, defend against terrorist attacks. That falls to the FBI and CIA, if an individual intending to attack America makes it to the airport than we have already failed and if the TSA stops them it is nothing but dumb luck. Yet Americans accept all of these intrusions and expenses for a false sense of safety. The T-Shirt vendor had it right "See Something, Say Something" is the single most effective last line of defense.
- psyklic 17y agoIt's a tricky issue. The TSA does seem overdone. However, if terrorists are allowed to pull off the same stunts over and over, then the US will look very foolish and ineffective at protecting its people. So, I don't blame the US for being cautious. It is the terrorist's goal to make people afraid of flying and distrustful of the US government -- so in a way, making the TSA visible (their visibility being a "feel-good" defense) is in fact counter-terrorism. People do seem to trust them (and hence the US government) with their security.
- zefhous 17y ago"The TSA does not, and cannot effectively, defend against terrorist attacks." Very true. I know someone who has carried a box cutter on every flight he's been on since 9/11 - over 100 flights, just because he can.
- zackattack 17y agoSolutions perpetuate the problems they are set up to solve.
- stcredzero 17y agoWhat does that say about programming languages?
- zackattack 17y agoAh, I think the pithy one liner perhaps applies more to institutions.
- stcredzero 17y agoProgramming languages are institutions.
- kgermino 17y agoVery true and I think that applies in a wide variety of cases too. To me its telling that the recession of 1938 came shortly after FDR came out with a new plan to help "fix" the economy.