More TSA Mission Creep - Searching Cars Parked at Airports

[mikea]

I'm wondering about the above highway patrol analogy, with the hint that we could not do without such a police force, therefore validating the TSA.

How many people are killed on our highways every day...every single day? So we use the abstract argument about how many more would be killed were it not for the highway patrol?
...

Theoretical similar mission creep: The highway patrol just knocked on my door because they want to inspect my cars parked in the driveway. Saving lives, ya know.

 

[Bob Noel]

Theoretical similar mission creep: The highway patrol just knocked on my door because they want to inspect my cars parked in the driveway. Saving lives, ya know.

Do you have your cars properly secured when unattended?

 

[ElPaso Pilot]

Theoretical similar mission creep: The guy from the local lawn mowing service just knocked on my door because highway patrol told him to inspect my cars parked in the driveway. Saving lives, ya know.

Fixed that for you, in the spirit of the original story.

 

[mikea]

Right, which means the FAA (i.e. the government) screwed the pooch, not the airlines.

You mean the airlines that had to pay for the security?

I'm sure the airlines were lobbying and screaming to high heaven that they should be paying more for more intrusive and thorough hassles of the flying public! but FAA/government just wouldn't hear of it!

 

[denverpilot]

And who would you be ok with having certify this security ? What about your local police force as well ? I've never had to call the cops I don't see why I should have pay for them.

You might not like my answer. Cops show up after the crime is over. Except perhaps speeding. And that's a revenue stream in most jurisdictions. It's exceedingly rare for an Officer to stop a violent crime, except for Domestic Violence.

(And don't get me started on that... I know a few ways to demotivate idiots who do that crap, but they're definitely not PC, and probably break a few due-process laws.)

As far as "certifying" security. Ha. I'm up to my eyeballs in that BS at work. The auditors couldn't secure anything if they tried. They're a waste of time.

Security Certification is Bravo Sierra designed to give insurance companies and their lawyers something to argue about after the world blows up.

It bought Stephen Northcutt a nice house in Hawaii though.

 

[ClimbnSink]

Or just get a job as a bag tosser.

Or use a ladder.

Or cut a hole in the fence.

Or use an airplane or an ultralight.

I think we've made some progress in securing airliners, but trying to secure entire airports is a fool's errand.