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TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

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Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#121
post #85
post #63

Tea Party conservatives are not necessarily neo-cons.

Wasn't the Tea Party movement started because of their disgust with neo-cons?

No, it was started because a Black Guy got into the White House. Don't fool yourself, the Tea Party is simply a racist reaction to non-White person being in the White House. Budget wise, Bush was much worse than Obama and there was no Tea Party telling him not to invade Iraq and blow 2 trillion dollars on pointless wars. The Tea Party only came about when Obama took office.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#122
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep the sheeple thinking that something is being done while providing low wage jobs for what is being promoted as critical safety personnel? Orwell would just look at this, shrug and say "I was trying to say..."

You've lost when you start saying words like "sheeple" and "Orwell" in these conversations, you realize that right?

I took zentiggr's comment to be sarcastic with a hint of truth. I don't think his choice to use "sheeple"¹ or bring up Orwell detracts from his point.

¹ And let's be realistic, anyone who thinks the TSA actually improves security is basically just listening to what the TSA itself says. As mentioned in this thread, the TSA 1) hasn't stopped known terrorist attacks and 2) isn't hard to sneak weapons past. Blindly listening to the TSA saying they're important for security is, well, sheeplish.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#123
post #103
post #92

Can we just get rid of the TSA? Current estimates are that hundreds of people die each year in car accidents because they chose to drive rather than deal with TSA lines. This means that every few years the TSA manages to inflict more casualties than 9/11 did. In addition to inconvenience, economic inefficiency, and a demonstrably ineffective screening process that weapons can easily get through. (As many have shown.)…

This is naive. Why would you assume the same number of successful attacks on air travel would occur without the security? You can't argue that the current system hasn't done well, it has performed fantastically, based on the number of successful attacks within the US. That said, they need a lot more screeners, and to be much more polite. And get rid of incompetent management.

How many attacks were there pre-9/11 (and thus TSA)?

We went quite a good long while without it and things were fine. This is fear-mongering bullshit, used to line pockets of politicians and lobbyists, pure and simple.

I don't see how anyone can claim otherwise when the guy in charge of "Homeland Security" (a name that sounds a bit too much like things you'd read about in fascist countries like the former USSR or one of the Axis powers, but I'm getting off script) at the time starts installing x-ray scanners and... OH LOOK AT THAT he has a huge ownership stake in the company that makes them.

And really the best way to "get rid of incompetent management" would be to shut it down. Otherwise it'll just be a revolving door of incompetent managers.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#124
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But appointments are available only two weeks from now. Sometimes people have urgent issues that they cannot prepare for two weeks ahead. And even if it's their own fault, why should they be punished for it?

Waiting for a service isn't punishment.

Get in line at the DMV before they open! My local DMV opens at 8:00a and I got in line at 7:10a. By 8:20a, I was done and out the door.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your own article contradicts your suggestion that my claim is "baseless." > As Lia Tarachansky wrote back in 2010 for Mondoweiss, while a one rating "is awesome," a six indicates that "you're f-----." It appears to be reserved for Palestinians, Muslims, and hostile internationals. Palestinians and Muslims? That's ethnic and religious profiling, and together I think you could call it racial as well. And yes, Israeli A…

You don't "like" the fact that Israel's airport security works? And is the best in the world? Sucks to be you. I'd rather live in a safe world, than in a politically correct one. And guess what. I'll bet 3,000 people who died on 9/11 would agree with me. Those guys were tagged by Mossad and German intelligence, yet the U.S. agencies all but ignored them. Maybe they were concerned about singling out Arabs, maybe they…

Seriously? Invoking 9/11? As though Israeli airport security has anything at all to do with American intelligence failures? Don't cheapen people's deaths by using them for your political points.

I don't like that we live in a world where it saves lives to do something that involves judging people by the color of their skin or their religion. I can not like that, and also accept that it happens and works. The world is not black and white; no amount of paranoia or denigration of political correctness on your part will change that. It is okay to say "this is not something we're proud of" and also "this is something that is necessary." Not every action a nation takes need be 100% laudable, even if the goals are.

But it doesn't seem like you can accept that, and you're contorting my words past any point of recognition, so I think we're done here.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#126
post #92

Can we just get rid of the TSA? Current estimates are that hundreds of people die each year in car accidents because they chose to drive rather than deal with TSA lines. This means that every few years the TSA manages to inflict more casualties than 9/11 did. In addition to inconvenience, economic inefficiency, and a demonstrably ineffective screening process that weapons can easily get through. (As many have shown.)…

Add up the hours spent by people waiting in security lines and divide by the number of hours in an average life. How many person lives have been wasted by this bullshit?

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#127
post #85
post #63

Tea Party conservatives are not necessarily neo-cons.

Wasn't the Tea Party movement started because of their disgust with neo-cons?

The original tea party was a Ron Paul (2007 pre Obama) movement. Unfortunalty it was co-opted by the Fox News tea party.

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#128
post #67
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eliminate the TSA and give the $8B to Nasa. A much better investment.

The TSA provides value, security theater has its place.

Okay. How many man-hours does it cost in wasted time? Is its supposed "value" worth that?

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My personal experience is just the opposite. I always see the nudie scanners languishing for 30 seconds or more between people. The delay seems to be the baggage x-ray. If that's true, then some other things fit neatly into place. The airline escalation of baggage check fees has driven people to carrying more stuff. That, in turn, means that more stuff needs to go through the x-ray conveyor, which slows down that pro…

To be fair, some people were only carrying more things because they didn't want their stuff stolen out of their checked baggage, or for it to be otherwise lost in transit. Stealing stuff right out of the security checkpoint ought to make those folks think twice, right?

I made the switch to carry-on only last year for all my travel. Too much waiting around at baggage claim, too much risk of luggage being lost (especially with transfers), etc. Checked baggage fees weren't the motivator, as most carriers allow one piece for free and I've never needed more than that.

With cameras, laptops, and other expensive items, I have to carry on at least one bag regardless. Now, it's one or two bags (roller luggage, plus laptop case, usually).

Re: TSA's Head of Security 'Removed' from Office

#130
post #103
post #92

Can we just get rid of the TSA? Current estimates are that hundreds of people die each year in car accidents because they chose to drive rather than deal with TSA lines. This means that every few years the TSA manages to inflict more casualties than 9/11 did. In addition to inconvenience, economic inefficiency, and a demonstrably ineffective screening process that weapons can easily get through. (As many have shown.)…

This is naive. Why would you assume the same number of successful attacks on air travel would occur without the security? You can't argue that the current system hasn't done well, it has performed fantastically, based on the number of successful attacks within the US. That said, they need a lot more screeners, and to be much more polite. And get rid of incompetent management.

I've got this tiger repelling rock to sell you. Only $2B per year!
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