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In large organizations, the appearance of risk is much more important than the reality of risk. Big organizations (like governments) will do things that actuall
by beat 13y ago
In large organizations, the appearance of risk is much more important than the reality of risk. Big organizations (like governments) will do things that actually increase risk, so long as the things look on the surface like they will reduce risk.
Saying that TSA security doesn't reduce terrorism risk is a reasonable argument (although I think it's wrong; consider the possibility of gun-toting yahoos wanting to be "safe" with "self-defense" and blowing a hole in the fuselage because they saw a suspicious brown person). But politically, saying to give up TSA security because it doesn't work is basically impossible. Voters will demand that politicians do something about the threat of terrorism.
- gohrt 13y agoIf leaders wanted to improve security, and they knew how, they could do that, while simultaneously adding theatrics and populist talk to create the appearance of security.
- beat 13y agoThey did what seemed obvious. They created a security bureaucracy, and gave it a ton of resources and a free hand. Now, they can't stop it without looking "soft on terror". This is how bureaucracy goes awry (see "War on Drugs" for another example).
- nitrogen 13y agoThen let's figure out a way to demand that political scientists do something about the demand to do something problem.
- VLM 13y agoIf you want theater, you give them theater, not a prison experience. Lets try a Hollywood analogy. The execs tell the director to make a formulaic teen comedy. How long would a film director last if he replied, F those guys I'm making a documentary about the Soviet Gulag system and they're gonna like it because its for their own good. The discussion is being carefully controlled by those in power to make sure that no one steps out of line and considers, maybe just for an instant, that possibly there could exist a form of expensive meaningless security theater that doesn't involve brutalizing the population. No, they're subjecting us to the TSA for a reason that isn't security theater.
- beat 13y agoI kind of agree. But I think it's accidental, not intentional. Stupidity, not malice.