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 hard to get through Congress, even if it's unpopular with the public.
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
#22In the world we live in there is one surefire way to get rid of the TSA: Stop flying. Sad to say but money is a big motivator, and until the airlines get the message that we don't want to deal with this shit, they aren't going to really push for actual change.
The consultants and business class - who fly regularly, provide the bulk of airline revenue, and get work done on the plane and in the terminal - would not give up flying for the sake of ideology. But if their cars can drive them while they focus on work, well...
There are lots of business who fly folks around in a fairly casual way. I have to wonder how much of it is now excessive and un-needed.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#23In my personal experience what slows it all down the most is the actual people flying. Every time I fly I see countless people wearing tons of metal/jewelry/belts/whatever that they have to take off, often not till they are told to do so, the laptap is tucked far away until last moment. They still carry all sorts of lotions and liquids on for some unknown reason. When they then exit the scan they clog up the line by standing right there trying to put everything back on or away.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#24In the world we live in there is one surefire way to get rid of the TSA: Stop flying. Sad to say but money is a big motivator, and until the airlines get the message that we don't want to deal with this shit, they aren't going to really push for actual change.
I don't understand your point about money. Airline costs are the lowest they've ever been, and like the other comment said, from business/first revenue airlines are making plenty of money.
I also don't really see a reason to stop flying. There's nothing wrong with flying itself--if we simply fix the issue with the TSA it'll be as good as it ever was. And it looks like it finally might change, based on what people are saying and articles like these.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#25It's easy to say that TSA sucks (it does), but it's hard to propose a workable alternative. Well alternative 1, stop making us take off our shoes and taking out our laptops, its clear from pre-check that it's not really necessary. You need some security. That was clear before 9-11. Airports had security and it was pretty similar to how TSA does it right now. You put your bags on an Xray machine, show your ID, and wal…
> it's hard to propose a workable alternative No, actually, it's really easy. > You need some security. That was clear before 9-11. No, it was not clear then, and it is not clear now. There are two salient facts: 1. When tested, the TSA misses 90% or so of the weapons people try to smuggle past them 2. Notwithstanding #1, there have been zero successful terrorist attack on aircraft in the U.S. since 9-11. So it is fa…
The problem with the "there have been zero successful terrorist attack on aircraft in the U.S. since 9-11." statement is they use that for their advantage. They say that because of them this is a fact. Ugh.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#26The TSA is a jobs program with a bit of "throw government contracts to your buddies" mixed in. Same with the military to an extent.
A TSA Screener job is about the closest we'll get to Basic Income: stand around in an airport occasionally groping people for $13-18/hr, plus awesome Federal benefits. Qualifications: essentially none.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#27> Airports should kick out the TSA
I'm not American and haven't been there for a long time so forgive my ignorance. TSA is an agency of DHS so I believed that its presence in airports was mandated by the government. Can airports really replace it with anybody they like? If this is the case, why they didn't do it before? Only because TSA is for free and airports have to pay private security companies?
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#28It's easy to say that TSA sucks (it does), but it's hard to propose a workable alternative. Well alternative 1, stop making us take off our shoes and taking out our laptops, its clear from pre-check that it's not really necessary. You need some security. That was clear before 9-11. Airports had security and it was pretty similar to how TSA does it right now. You put your bags on an Xray machine, show your ID, and wal…
All those problems you mention are real, but they're not the main problem. The real problem with the TSA is that it's explicitly unconstitutional, since the 4th amendment explicitly prohibits search and seizure without a warrant.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
This does not at all describe the operation of the TSA's search and seizure. Notably, the statute's language makes no allowance for implicit consent based on location or attempting to use some private transportation system. A sensible compromise is to privatize airline security, since the constitution does not prohibit Delta employees from searching and seizing without a warrant.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#29TSA 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 far the worst traveling experience money can pay for.
If an alternative airport wanted to do things a little different, such as "fly at your own risk" "no lifeguard on duty", aka no TSA b.s., I'd happily take the "at your own risk" option rather than the TSA controlled situation we're subjected to currently.
Re: The TSA is a waste of money that doesn't save lives and might actually cost them
#30> Airports should kick out the TSA I'm not American and haven't been there for a long time so forgive my ignorance. TSA is an agency of DHS so I believed that its presence in airports was mandated by the government. Can airports really replace it with anybody they like? If this is the case, why they didn't do it before? Only because TSA is for free and airports have to pay private security companies?
There's still an option for airports to hire private companies which are overseen in some respects by TSA. I think only two or three airports are doing it; notably at SFO the screening is performed by Covenant Aviation Security (CAS), not TSA.