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The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

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Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My comment is in reply to a comment that says exactly that you don't need any security at all. It quotes "You need some security" and replies with "No, it was not clear then, and it is not clear now." If you think we need some security but only at pre-9/11 levels, then you and I are on the same page there.

I think we are on the same page, then, I think I misunderstood what you were saying. Carry on! (But only one carry on, everything else must be checked.)

OK, but only if I can pack my carryon full of ammunition for the gun I'm hiding in my pocket.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#152
post #29

TSA is the number one reason why I don't fly and drive instead. From my POV most of the world's industries have progressed positively, but not air travel. I took a train a couple of years ago and it was a beautiful example of old merging with new. Walking through an antique of a train station, iPhone in hand, with my digital ticket ready to board; so easy and pleasant. At that point I realized that air travel is by f…

A term I have coined: "TSA Radius" -- the distance below which you would rather drive than fly. For me this is currently about 600 miles, but may increase with the news about spectacularly long security lines.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#153
post #35

I wonder how autonomous driving will affect shorter flight commutes. I'll probably never take a car from Philadelphia to LA, but I might prefer to travel by car from Philadelphia to Chicago if I know that I can sleep throughout the car ride (as well as leave whenever is most convenient). When you take into account driving to the airport, checking bags, security, flight delays, baggage claim, and rental cars/driving t…

I wonder why so many people immediately jump to thinking about a car as an alternative to short distance air travel. Would people in the US never even consider a fast train system as a good option between Philadelphia and Chicago? (If it were built, of course. But self-driving cars need to be built too. But I guess they're easier; I'm just dreaming)

In the US, rail freight is king. Passenger rail only has priority to the extent that the trains can run on schedule. And they do not run on schedule.

Express service between Philly and Chicago would probably require new, dedicated, above-grade track, and would not be competitive with any of airline, automobile, or bus travel for decades. Existing passenger trains in the US (other than the Acela) just can't get from A to B fast enough--or even just arriving at a predictable time!--to be worth the fare.

It is definitely easier to build a self-driving car than fix passenger rail in the US, probably by two orders of magnitude.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#154
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you don't live in USA or you don't pay your taxes, you already pay for it -- a.k.a Norad. Besides, since 911 the doors of plane cockpits are almost like a bank vault.

Yes, even to the point of locking out the co-pilot for a suicide mission. :(

Europe didn't (doesn't?) have the 2 person rule like the US does.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. I am at the gate in 5 minutes. I like how trains basically let you show up last minute, and a 3 hour train ride actually means a 3 hour train rid…

>I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. That costs money. Many people take the train or a shuttle or lean on a friend. >I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. You paid for that TSA PreCheck privilege which, while not in the…

would you rather die with privacy or live without

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#156
post #29

TSA is the number one reason why I don't fly and drive instead. From my POV most of the world's industries have progressed positively, but not air travel. I took a train a couple of years ago and it was a beautiful example of old merging with new. Walking through an antique of a train station, iPhone in hand, with my digital ticket ready to board; so easy and pleasant. At that point I realized that air travel is by f…

I assume you didn't take Amtrak? My last straw with them was arriving at my destination nearly 24 hours late, after two separate breakdowns, and an accident involving a car at a crossing.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#157
Air travel should be the same as motor vehicle travel. The only reason there aren't small air taxi companies that offer regional trips for affordable prices is because government has been involved in airplanes since day 1, and it is illegal for private pilots to charge.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#158

In my opinion, the TSA is basically a very expensive jobs program rather than an actual security organization. This is a big part of why it's going to be hard to get rid of now. According to Wikipedia, the TSA employs over 55,000 people, many of whom would probably have difficulty getting a similar level job if we reverted to a more sane security screening program. Anything that kills thousands of government jobs is…

So is HN turning into a copy/paste of Reddit comment threads now? https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueReddit/comments/4jr1td/the_tsa_...

I never read that thread, so consider this another voice in favor of the opinion it expresses.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. I am at the gate in 5 minutes. I like how trains basically let you show up last minute, and a 3 hour train ride actually means a 3 hour train rid…

>I arrive at the airport in a Lyft. That costs money. Many people take the train or a shuttle or lean on a friend. >I walk up to the security checkpoint checkpoint, where I show the agent my phone. They see my boarding pass with the green checkmark and send me to the empty TSA Pre line. I walk through the metal detector with no adjustments to my attire. You paid for that TSA PreCheck privilege which, while not in the…

You forgot to add having all the personal data and fingerprints that you provide for PreCheck being divulged in a data exposure incident.

Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them

#160
post #51
post #29

TSA is the number one reason why I don't fly and drive instead. From my POV most of the world's industries have progressed positively, but not air travel. I took a train a couple of years ago and it was a beautiful example of old merging with new. Walking through an antique of a train station, iPhone in hand, with my digital ticket ready to board; so easy and pleasant. At that point I realized that air travel is by f…

I like the idea of an "at your own risk" option, but it'll never happen. Since 9/11, a large part of the purpose of airport security is to protect uninvolved people on the ground (or at least in tall buildings), not just passengers. We can certainly debate whether that's necessary or useful (I'd argue that we could do far less than we currently do), but I don't think you'll ever get the public to agree to allowing ai…

a large part of the purpose of airport security is to protect uninvolved people on the ground

This was solved when they locked the cockpit doors. Every other airport security restriction has been an overreaction in my opinion.

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