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I've always wondered about the true value of "for show" security measures. Requiring millions of passengers to spend 5 minutes more going through security to un

I've always wondered about the true value of "for show" security measures. Requiring millions of passengers to spend 5 minutes more going through security to undergo procedures that wouldn't stop a determined terrorist definitely seems like a huge waste. However, if the government didn't do "something", it's pretty likely that trust in the US air transportation system would shrink. Wouldn't crush it, but maybe 3 of 100 passengers would forgo air travel because they didn't feel comfortable or that their government isn't on top of it. And maybe that 3% decrease corresponds in $XXX Million in lost revenue for airlines. So I'd believe that "for show" security measures don't actually increase security, but I'd also bet that they increase airline ridership. The moral of the story is that it's an economic response, not a security one.

noja 8y ago
Sure, but it's also dishonest. It only happens and works because there is no honest conversation between the money spender (the government) and the voters. Wasting money and theater is a tax on the 97% who still would have flown.
thunfischbrot 8y ago
The opposite effect happens as well: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/09/excess_automobi.html https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/09/excess_automo... > The inconvenience of extra passenger screening and added costs at airports after 9/11 cause many short-haul passengers to drive to their destination instead, and, since airline travel is far safer than car travel, this has led to an increase of 500 U.S. traffic fatalities per year. Using DHS-mandated value of statistical life at $6.5 million, this equates to a loss of $3.2 billion per year, or $32 billion over the period 2002 to 2011 (Blalock et al. 2007).
- mindslight 8y ago
  Don't forget the direct time waste of people getting to the scareport early and waiting in line to get molested. The average lifespan is 79. 700M passengers * 1hr / 79yrs --> every year, over 1000 babies are killed by the TSA.

noja 8y ago

Sure, but it's also dishonest. It only happens and works because there is no honest conversation between the money spender (the government) and the voters. Wasting money and theater is a tax on the 97% who still would have flown.

thunfischbrot 8y ago

The opposite effect happens as well: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/09/excess_automobi.html https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/09/excess_automo... > The inconvenience of extra passenger screening and added costs at airports after 9/11 cause many short-haul passengers to drive to their destination instead, and, since airline travel is far safer than car travel, this has led to an increase of 500 U.S. traffic fatalities per year. Using DHS-mandated value of statistical life at $6.5 million, this equates to a loss of $3.2 billion per year, or $32 billion over the period 2002 to 2011 (Blalock et al. 2007).

mindslight 8y ago
Don't forget the direct time waste of people getting to the scareport early and waiting in line to get molested. The average lifespan is 79. 700M passengers * 1hr / 79yrs --> every year, over 1000 babies are killed by the TSA.