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I think that the public has moved beyond being comforted by security theater. Now, two other forces are propping up the absurdities: (1) bureaucratic self-pres
by kjhughes 14y ago
I think that the public has moved beyond being comforted by security theater. Now, two other forces are propping up the absurdities: (1) bureaucratic self-preservation, and (2) leadership irrationality along the lines of "man, will I look bad if I support revoking [stupid TSA rule #1039237] and a terrorist then uses the opening in an attack."
- mseebach 14y ago> leadership irrationality Narrowly considering the rules of the game, it's not an irrational stance at all.
- kjhughes 14y agoSure, and narrowly considering the rules of the game, winning a pawn may appear to be rational ahead of being checkmated next move.
- daenz 14y agoSounds like the rules of the game are a problem. The desire to stay "in power" outweighs the desire to actually represent constituents accurately.
- rhizome 14y agoIron Law of Institutions: http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001705.html http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001705.html (ignore the partisan aspects)
- daenz 14y agoGood read. I wish this kind of thing was taught and discussed in schools, but it seems like that would be "breaking the 4th wall"
- glesica 14y agoDoesn't hurt that quite a few politically connected companies seem to be making a boatload of cash from security theater.
- rhizome 14y agoMaybe all government contractors should be required to be 501(c) registered. Nonprofits always when there are tax dollars being spent.
- anamax 14y ago> Nonprofits always when there are tax dollars being spent. What makes you think that non-profits cost less? The only thing "special" about non-profits is that they don't return money to investors. There are lots of other places for money to go.
- rhizome 14y agoAre you kidding? The tax-reporting requirements alone would be a benefit.
- anamax 14y ago> Are you kidding? Nope. > The tax-reporting requirements alone would be a benefit. But is it a significant benefit? Non-profits have to do significant reporting as well even though their tax rate is 0%. They also have all of the reporting for being an employer. One interesting question is whether a non-profit is at a disadvantage because it doesn't pay taxes. For example, GE pays negative taxes at times. (Their tax accounting is actually a profit center.) I don't know if a non-profit can is eligible. I'll bet that Lockheed spends more money on compliance accounting, which a non-profit defense contractor will have to do, than it does on tax accounting.
- rhizome 14y agoWhether it's significant or not is a value judgement for the reader.