3 ms·

TSA is a case where the government nationalized a thing (airport security) that was sufficiently handled by the private sector. A centralized regulating agency

by pram 8y ago

TSA is a case where the government nationalized a thing (airport security) that was sufficiently handled by the private sector. A centralized regulating agency for transportation security makes sense, but heres what I don't get: what was the argument for also creating/hiring a literal army of guards to replace the private force that existed before? It seems unprecedented considering everything else in the post-Reagan political ideology. It was a massive and invasive expansion of Federal policing power, and it seemingly comes under no real scrutiny or opposition (beyond everyone completely hating it)

fein 8y ago
It's just a government jobs program, nothing more. Just a tool to bolster bigger budgets and higher employment numbers.
pfranz 8y ago
I have little sympathy for the TSA as an organization. I also have no idea if the effectiveness is any better or worse, but I feel like the policies and protocols are more consistent between airports or even terminals than they were before they took over. (although, the TSA seemed to struggle with this during the first decade or so of their existence and it's still an ongoing problem...just much smaller). As airport security concerns grew after 9/11 more demands were made of travelers with vary inconsistent application. At least now if I go to most airports I know what the security protocol will be. If I have PreCheck, that is also pretty consistent with how its applied. Given that, I don't see any reason they can't just be standards or policies that private security would adhere to. I'm sure there's a boondoggle story behind it, but I thought some airports had tried replacing TSA with middling success?
Balgair 8y ago
> TSA is a case where the government nationalized a thing (airport security) that was sufficiently handled by the private sector. SFO is still private. Their version of security is not the TSA, they are Covenant Aviation Security. [0] [0] http://covenantsecurity.com/careers.html http://covenantsecurity.com/careers.html
jbob2000 8y ago
The TSA is a funding apparatus. The TSA employees need training and equipment, which is all bought from private companies. If it was truly about security, then it would just be a regulatory and enforcement agency like the EPA. But nope, gotta get those dollars!

by pram 8y ago

fein 8y ago

It's just a government jobs program, nothing more. Just a tool to bolster bigger budgets and higher employment numbers.

pfranz 8y ago

I have little sympathy for the TSA as an organization. I also have no idea if the effectiveness is any better or worse, but I feel like the policies and protocols are more consistent between airports or even terminals than they were before they took over. (although, the TSA seemed to struggle with this during the first decade or so of their existence and it's still an ongoing problem...just much smaller). As airport security concerns grew after 9/11 more demands were made of travelers with vary inconsistent application. At least now if I go to most airports I know what the security protocol will be. If I have PreCheck, that is also pretty consistent with how its applied. Given that, I don't see any reason they can't just be standards or policies that private security would adhere to. I'm sure there's a boondoggle story behind it, but I thought some airports had tried replacing TSA with middling success?

Balgair 8y ago

> TSA is a case where the government nationalized a thing (airport security) that was sufficiently handled by the private sector. SFO is still private. Their version of security is not the TSA, they are Covenant Aviation Security. [0] [0] http://covenantsecurity.com/careers.html http://covenantsecurity.com/careers.html

jbob2000 8y ago

The TSA is a funding apparatus. The TSA employees need training and equipment, which is all bought from private companies. If it was truly about security, then it would just be a regulatory and enforcement agency like the EPA. But nope, gotta get those dollars!