[harkyns_castle]

Seems to still be a lot being done in the name of security theater in the US, and just wasting dollars on the TSA, for what appears to be very little effect.

Who's really profiting there? Is it just for the employment of people that otherwise wouldn't have a job? Or are the majority of citizens there really made to feel more secure by having them? I'd have to say some defense contractor is getting a bit fatter off this.

Seems like a ridiculous waste of money.

[cryoshon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff#Body_scanners

"Michael Chertoff has been an advocate of enhanced technologies, such as full body scanners.[25] His lobbying firm Chertoff Group (founded 2009) represents manufacturers of the scanners.[26][27]"

"Michael Chertoff (born November 28, 1953) is an American attorney who was the second United States Secretary of Homeland Security under Presidents George W. Bush and (for one day) Barack Obama, and co-author of the USA PATRIOT Act."

It isn't just a defense contractor, it's the former head of the DHS who implemented these policies and gets kickbacks from body scanner use. He set up the nationwide deployment of the scanners, then profited directly. It's corruption to the extreme.

[harkyns_castle]

It's bizarre it can happen. Surely the wheels have to fall off that out of control cart soon.

[Jtsummers]

You'd think, but year after year we get stories like this. Sometimes it catches up with people [1], many times it seems they get away with it [2]. The main difference seems to be how much money they're worth, if they're elected or just "regular" employees, and how good their connections are.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darleen_Druyun

[2] http://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2015/02/17/the-sham-of... - goes into more, but the relevant part is about 2/3 down. Search for "Rick Scott pushed".

[harkyns_castle]

It sucks to watch corruption and violence win the day. We seem to be seeing it. Where an economy can be based on maintaining a military force in other countries, to maintain the petrodollar and central banks. And a lot of good people losing their lives, brought up in the belief, they're helping freedom. What a mindfuck that is.

[MCRed]

After a few years people get acclimated and if you dare to criticize the corrutpion you're seen to be evil.

For instance, try telling the average american that the TSA needs to be shut down.

They'll think that they're keeping us safe, the same way people think that police keep us safe, and will think that without obamacare we wouldn't have health insurance, in a few years.

[mikeash]

I find the sudden mention of Obamacare rather odd. TSA has done jack all to keep us safe in the decade and a half it's been around. Obamacare, while deeply flawed, has done quite a lot to help people access health care.

[coldpie]

> Seems like a ridiculous waste of money.

The people paying for it (US citizens and those who travel into or through the US) would surely see it as a waste. But the people profiting don't, and the people profiting are the same people who make the laws mandating them.

I opt out of the naked scanners every time I fly. Just tell the TSA clown trying to herd you into the naked scanner the magic phrase "I'm opting out." After a 5 minute wait, some other clown will come over and molest you, and then you're free to go.

I do this as a little protest against a system I see as stupid and illegal. If everybody opted out, the system would get so backed up that they would have to change their policies. I'm doing my part, and I encourage you to do yours next time you fly. (Unless you're not white, in which case you should probably just keep your head down :-/ )

[harkyns_castle]

I'd do it if I have cause to fly into the States again, but I can't help but think its not really going to help much. From my youthful experiences at being a knob, I'd say don't piss off food makers/deliverers, or airline staff. I once annoyed a Qantas security lady, and I noticed it for a fair few trips afterwards. Then again, with wealthy interests controlling the US, I can't really see what will help at this stage. Its a descent into corruption and mess, but I can't judge how quickly it'll crumble.

[pcl]

You can opt out politely; I do it all the time. Recently, it's been interesting, since I dislocated my shoulder and can't yet lift my arm as high as they want me to. But it still seems to work out.

[scurvy]

I always opt out of the "rapey-scan", then smile and groan a little whenever they pat me down. I also travel about 30-40 segments a year, so I get my kicks frequently. It's surprising how often that "TSA Precheck is closed" or the TSA Pre metal detector beeps just for me.

[drjesusphd]

I do the same. Keep up the good fight!

[pfooti]

I also opt out every time. At one point the FSM came to me in a dream and told me that I shalt not go through a pornoscanner. And who am I to doubt the word of noodle?

[mangamadaiyan]

I don't know why you're getting downvoted.

Any religion is as good as the other, and you're just going by what your religion's deity told you. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I can see.

[harkyns_castle]

Well, the religion is nonsense. Not that that differentiates itself from others. Love one another, as you would have banks do to you.

[Spooky23]

The upshot of TSA is that because it's a single government organization, it's easy to identify the costs and quality of operations.

Pre-TSA, we were wasting the same or more amount of money on private contractors of dubious quality. But you didn't really know how much, as the cost was spread across thousands of airline/airport authorities/municipal government combinations.

[dragonwriter]

I would be very surprised if the federalized version wasn't much more expensive -- for one thing, because its centralized its a bigger and more profitable target for vendor lobbying for requirements that necessitate the purchase of particular goods and services (whole body scanners, etc.)

[grandalf]

Are you sure it was the same amount of money? Before the TSA, airport security agents were very minimally trained and there were no expensive body scanner machines.

I would not be surprised if the TSA version of airport security cost 10x the previous version.

[Spooky23]

Don't underestimate the cost of bodyshop-style arrangements. The guy fumbling through your luggage may have been making $8/hour, but the billing for it could have easily been 8-15x the salary.

[harkyns_castle]

A good point. It seems to me an increase in people annoying you throughout the flying process is only going to have increased costs, coupled with expensive hardware and presumably billions in software too.

Speaking for Tasmania, there's a desolate looking guy on the Hobart bomb scanner device every time that flags me over. His face says it all, "I know this is a bullshit job, just submit and it will be over with quickly, I collect a paycheck, you feel bad for a little while."

[mindslight]

The true cost dwarfs what any budget says - the time that everyone wastes (getting to the airport needlessly early, waiting in line, being molested, missing flights, obessing over packing the "wrong" thing, and inventorying your luggage immediately after landing). When you add this up, how many human lifespans has the TSA killed?

[harkyns_castle]

Definitely a way to find a silver lining hehe. Maybe we're getting better at shining a light on things, and they'll crawl back into the slime over a generation or two.