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The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

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Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#11

Post by chevas »

cdooh wrote: post #4

While the TSA is messed up and all that, Americans shouldn't be too quick to turn to private companies. Private companies would be profit focused, this means that any way to minimise costs will be taken which may compromise security. I give you Blackwater in Iraq as a good example

There are good private companies and bad ones. A good company is going to cut costs where costs need to be cut without sacrificing the quality of the product/service. I'm sure there are a number of good security companies that would provide excellent security, and do it cheaper.

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#13

Post by pavel_lishin »

adpowers wrote: post #10

I flew yesterday and found a rifle bullet+cartridge on the "secure" side of the TSA checkpoint. Yet somehow the gift-wrapped paperbacks in my checked luggage were deemed suspicious and unwrapped. Useless fools.

What do you mean "found"? You mean you accidentally left it in your luggage, or you just sort of found it laying outside a book store?

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#14

Post by lostlogin »

smokeyj wrote: post #9
cdooh wrote: post #4

While the TSA is messed up and all that, Americans shouldn't be too quick to turn to private companies. Private companies would be profit focused, this means that any way to minimise costs will be taken which may compromise security. I give you Blackwater in Iraq as a good example

You trust a private corporation to strap you to a flying hunk of metal, but not to ensure your safety? Sounds logical..

Good point, however the regulation imposed on airlines would have to be some of the strictest of any industry.

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#15

Post by codex »

HN has quite an anti-TSA bias. The TSA has problems, but so does every large organization. I suspect HN'ers glare at the TSA because they travel frequently, and it would benefit them disproportionately to cut down on travel time and inconvenience. This is like the trucking lobby arguing for fewer restrictions on driver safety--the perspective is not exactly objective.

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#16

Post by adpowers »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #13
adpowers wrote: post #10

I flew yesterday and found a rifle bullet+cartridge on the "secure" side of the TSA checkpoint. Yet somehow the gift-wrapped paperbacks in my checked luggage were deemed suspicious and unwrapped. Useless fools.

What do you mean "found"? You mean you accidentally left it in your luggage, or you just sort of found it laying outside a book store?

It was sitting on the ground at the end of the table where you collect your belongings and repack your laptop. I showed it to TSA agent and went on my way.

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#18

Post by mikeash »

cdooh wrote: post #4

While the TSA is messed up and all that, Americans shouldn't be too quick to turn to private companies. Private companies would be profit focused, this means that any way to minimise costs will be taken which may compromise security. I give you Blackwater in Iraq as a good example

Security is already highly compromised, and apparently isn't too necessary.

Re: The TSA's True Focus Isn't Safety - It's Self-Preservation

#20

Post by cwp »

codex wrote: post #15

HN has quite an anti-TSA bias. The TSA has problems, but so does every large organization. I suspect HN'ers glare at the TSA because they travel frequently, and it would benefit them disproportionately to cut down on travel time and inconvenience. This is like the trucking lobby arguing for fewer restrictions on driver safety--the perspective is not exactly objective.

That. Or, perhaps, the TSA is objectively awful.

Tell you what. Post an article that sings the praises of the TSA and I'll upvote it. Then we can have a discussion about bias.

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