I just came through security on a flight home from Flint, Michigan. On the way out of the security zone I said thank you to the TSA agent, and told her I appreciated their work, adding, “It means something good about your work, that it’s been almost ten years since the last incident on a flight that originated in the U.S.”
She answered, “That’s right. Or Detroit.”
I walked away. I don’t tangle with the TSA.
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Love the blog; I’m usually a lurker because I usually just read on my mobile device, but had to comment on this one.
There have been two truly effective measures since 9/11 that have stopped a handful of hijacking attempts: locking cockpit doors, and willingness on the part of bystanders to take part in their own self defense (cf the underwear bomber) — neither of these have anything at all to do with the TSA. TSA intrusiveness and other security theater measures have done absolutely nothing to prevent hijacking attempts. All they do is add significant inconvenience, expense and privacy invasions with absolutely zero payback in return.
I don’t take my disdain for these policies on the ladies and gentlemen in the TSA — they’re just doing their jobs, after all — but I don’t feel the need to thank them for what’s essentially a government make-work program with zero public benefit.
I’m with Masoner on this one. Actually, it’s interesting because not everyone does the kind of security we do here. Just a week ago I flew in from Tokyo to the U.S. Leaving Tokyo, there were several things I did not have to do which I did have to do when I left the States: (1) Take off my shoes (2) Take off my belt (3) Go through the radiation machines.
Keep in mind this was an international flight directly to NYC of all places. And this is nothing new – Japan has not just recently changed its mind about security. They do the standard security that was always done, well before 2001.
So the idea that the TSA is the group somehow making us so much safer to me is simply incorrect. We’re safer because of some basic security measures, and people’s willingness to stand up if necessary.
Meanwhile U.S. intervention in the Middle East is continually making more enemies for us. If we wanted to stop these kinds of horrendous acts, the best way to do it would be to butt out of their business.
But to agree with you on one point – I do think people should be kinder to the TSA folk. They are, as Masoner said, just doing their jobs. The fact that their jobs are what they are is not their fault, and in this economy one can hardly blame them for taking it. I think the hostility some people show is silly. I respect their desire to do the job they do, even though I disagree with its necessity.