So, I just got back from a quick trip out to the West Coast. An excellent opportunity to compare the TSA employees at IAD against the contract security team at SFO - you remember them don't you? The ones that routinely detect a far greater percentage of prohibited items than their federalized colleagues?

At both locations, the screening was fairly rapid, but that's because in both instances, it was early in the morning, and not crowded in either location.

ID checkers, Moat dragons and WMTD operators seemed to be working from the same playbook in both locations.

What I found really interesting is the comparative staffing levels. At IAD, immediately beyond the ID checkers and before the Moat, there were FIVE TSO's standing around - conversing with each other. Not observing the passengers in line. Not watching other TSO employees. Basically just shooting the breeze with each other. So this morning when I got to SFO, I looked for a similar gaggle. Couldn't find one on either side of the Moat. What I saw at SFO is every Team SFO security person working. Not BSing with colleagues.

Just one more example of wasteful government spending. Congratulations, TSA, you've managed to created another bloated, inefficient, government bureaucracy.