(My opinion is that the whole system is stupid, pointless and performs some theatre at the windows while the doors are wide open. Someone determined will be ab

(My opinion is that the whole system is stupid, pointless and performs some theatre at the windows while the doors are wide open. Someone determined will be able to get through, or just attack somewhere else. All you want to do is catch the idiots, which pre-911 screening did just fine. The response to terrorism is to not be terrorized and to live well, not to amplify the little things they actually do.) We should be very careful about "common sense" and screeners making their own minds up about things. It is far better that they follow a consistent set of rules. This for example is why the liquids rule is a good one from a screening point of view. There is no discretion left to the screeners and they don't have to entertain arguments about which liquids are harmless and which aren't, types of liquids, size of containers etc. Think carefully - do you really want each screener enforcing their own views? How trivial do you think they would be to outsmart by someone determined? The American political system especially as espoused in the media where trivial things are inflated to make stories, there is relentless hounding of politicians who are rational, it is cheaper to have controversial talking heads instead of research and reporting, someone always has to be to blame, and issues are presented as black or white soundbites means that no politician can reasonably try to rein in the system or have detailed discussions on risks, spending, tradeoffs etc.