While the plural of Anecdote is not Data:

The plural of "anecdote" may indeed demonstrate a pattern.

Here is another anecdote, and observation about the "security" procedures we have at our airports. As is this. And this.

The Kabuki Theater we have instead of security (performed by the mindless TA workers) does little to enhance our security. It isn't designed to do that. It is designed to discourage people who are security threats, and to force people into compliance. It does little (if not less) to create a secure environment, and it is possible that you are, when you fly today, less secure than you were before 9/11/01.

Look: I have no doubt that this is a tough job. And I have no doubt that many of the TSA folks are doing the best they can. But the system is designed for failure, and the workforce is, I have noticed, not what you might call the highest motivated nor drawn from the least murky gene pool...Not to mention a management pyramid that does not cause the best and brightest to rise to the top.

We have here, a largely poorly trained force that costs a significant amount of money, which inconveniences a large number of people every day for little, if any, gain.



But hey, it employs a lot of people who otherwise might have worked at McDonalds, or Taco Bell, thus making it harder for those establishments to hire, and to make a profit. And it does, no doubt, give them something to do, and probably influences them to vote for the current stars of the DNC. And, of course, provide them with some sort of health care benefits and such....


What it does NOT do is to make you safer.

If you think othersise, then you are a fool.