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Airport Security Measures Are Popular, But Pointless

H.L. Mencken once wrote this. The sentiment rings very true, especially when you consider that most of those who suffer from air-travel woes believe that the ritualistic act of waiting to be probed and groped at the Transportation Security Administration is worth it. They could have the experience all to themselves but drag everyone else through what the evidence shows is an ineffective gauntlet. It is an example of how popular policy can be confused with wise, sensible policy.

Many would-be travellers remain Airport purgatory:According to a poll, 79% of Americans believe that security screening should be prioritized at airports over saving time or money. recent pollingYouGov America. Is it possible these folks actually love taking off shoes, sacrificing water bottles and Play-Doh containers and being spread-eagled to electronic scanners?

Nope. Nope. Bill Murray is a passionate dentist patientStarting at Little Shop of Horrors. According to YouGov, more than half the people who went through security over the last five years claim that the experience was somewhat (41%) and very (18%) uncomfortable.  

Americans have a problem. WayThey underestimate the TSA’s ability to protect them from criminals and the airport security effort. They think that the TSA is more effective than making air travel less painful. This shows a disconnect between people’s expectations and reality. Take a look at these ideasThis is a great idea, and it actually makes a difference in the world.

YouGov points out that “Homeland Security carried out an investigation in 2015. It found that undercover agents were able successfully to smuggle banned weapons and mock explosives through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. This was in 95% cases.” “In stark contrast to these findings … More than three in four Americans say it is very (37%) or somewhat (40%) likely that airport security would stop the person” smuggling a weapon onto a plane.

It was evident that the TSA is ineffective and a complete failure at all it does long before this. Its 20th anniversary was mournedThAnniversaryLast year. The TSA was established in order to reassure the public of Something Very Important. This is even while money and effort are wasted on useless activities. Bruce Schneier, security expert and author of Security Theater describes the TSA’s role as being “security theatre” because it’s designed for efficiency rather than public consumption.

Schneier: “The TSA fails to protect us from the threat of terrorist attacks.” NoticedIn 2015. 2015

Schneier’s 2015 departure (despite having been following the matter for many years) was due to the YouGov Homeland Security Test revealing that Schneier had a 95 percent failure rateTSA can detect explosives, weapons. TSA was established in 2002. Similar 95% failure rate in a test at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. That year, national tests were in “the ballpark” for an 80 percent failure rate.

Prior to that, Kip Hawley was the former head of TSA. He called airport security “hopelessly bureaucratic and brittle.” These are the RealitätSecurity improvements made after September 11th were both dynamic and almost invisible.

He said, “A terrorist will not be able again to enter the cockpit with just a box cutter and a knife.” Write2012 2012 

The TSA doesn’t have a mission to keep Americans safe. TSA is in fact there to soothe fears and provide security services at airports.

We can also add security features such as the federal public-health requirementIt is recommended that passengers keep their faces covered at all times, including in public transport, airports and on planes. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly received a lot of criticism for wearing masks.You don’t need to do much in order for the cabin environment to be comfortable.But medical professionals agree.

“Cloth Masks are little more that facial decorations,” CommentCNN Medical Analyst Leana Wen (Visiting Professor of Health Policy and Management at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health) 

The cloth masks are considered ineffective for current protection from SARS COV2 virus. Reckon.Stanley Weiss is an infectious disease epidemiologist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He advises that cloth masks are kept for “masquerade parties.”

Wen or Weiss, however, are not pandemic policy minimalists. Both prefer N95 medical grade masks. These masks are not only uncomfortable, but also require a proper fit. TSA should not encourage further discomfort in the general public. advisesMasks may be made from scratch or manufactured. They should consist of a single piece of material with no slits and exhalation valves.

Anything that can be described as “basically” Just looksLike a mask, it gets big thumbs up. Effectiveness not required. As a way to reassure a scared public, security theater is joined by the public-health theatre.

Mencken noted that practical politics has the sole purpose of keeping people alarmed and thus clamorous for safe passage. This is done by menacing them with endless hobgoblins all imaginary. While terrorists may not be entirely real and COVID-19 too, it is still possible to create panic and keep people clamoring by overstating the dangers, as well as selling snake-oil solutions. 

Hawley, a former head of TSA commented that “Embracing some risk could reduce today’s airport experience and make us safer at all times.” Hawley advocated for a flexible behind-the scenes approach, which would not be as visible or irritating, but could achieve something.

This would not be a visible approach and might not convince the public as effectively as the highly-approved security system. We need to understand that popular policy and effective policy are not the same. Government will always choose the best policy, regardless of whether it wins approval from the public.