It may not be politically correct (and I hope no one is listening) but
someone has to say it. What we've done is a HUGE waste of time,
money, effort and resources. No, don't get me wrong. I firmly
believe that flying is safe and will remain so.
Next time you go to an airport, see how
many TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents there are.
Talk about "feather bedding" in the name of political correctness. Even with
the huge staff, I don't think that the security ticketing charges come close to
covering the actual costs.
If you look at the people who are "selected" for extra screening, you
can see what a big waste it is. It's an insult to
your intelligence. However, no
bureaucrat or government employee will dare to criticize it or start to
dismantle it for fear of being blamed for another September 11th.
Terrorists willing to commit suicide can easily find a way around the
security measures implemented today or go after other types of softer targets.
The majority of the publicly visible security efforts are a
huge waste of time and your money to say nothing of the inconvenience of the
"hassle" factor. I believe that most of the
traveling public agrees thus sees the efforts as "feel good" attempts to
make us all feel safer. If nineteen of nineteen terrorists and
one shoe bomber are all middle aged men, why put females, children, Blacks,
senior citizens etc. through extensive body searches? Has anyone the
gall to examine and calculate the cost of our current efforts on the
economy?
Is someone willing to use the "P" word
(profiling)?
The traveling public does not buy our security efforts and it's a good
thing. A very alert flight attendant and helpful passengers
prevented a tragedy over the Atlantic. If Richard Reid had an IQ in
double digits, he would have locked himself in the bathroom to do his
damage. Yes, the smoke alarm would have sounded but the door is locked
from the inside and it would take a few minutes to open it. That's all
the time he would have needed. I thought a terrorist would be smart
enough to use a credit card and the airlines computers would flag anyone who
didn't. I was wrong on both counts.
The other tragedy is the huge (and negative) impact this security sham is
having on the entire travel industry. Some folks are really afraid to
travel thus Disney, the cruise lines, ski resort, golf resorts, etc. are
really hurting. Many employees will be laid-off as a result.
Airport concessions have gone out of business because only ticketed
passengers are allowed through security.
Do not despair, it's really safe to fly. The best security in the air is an alert traveling public. Keep
your eyes and ears open and be willing to help. Someday the king will
be told that he is not wearing clothes and we will bring logic and sanity back to
airline security. That may happen about the time the temporary tax on
long distance phone calls is repealed. It was implemented for the
Spanish-American war.
Bob Johnson (at Ticked.com) said it very well: http://www.ticked.com/cheapcharlie/2002/test.htm
