Originally Posted by
doober
However, that does not address another issue: that these machines are still overkill, no matter what the TSA says is the next emerging threat.
These machines are overkill, yes - but the WTMD are next to useless. I wanted to see a happy medium, using new non-invasive technology (like non-conductive ultrasound) to sample a passenger, detect a wider variety of concealed items, and leverage neural-net learning to aid in rapid identification of known dangerous items - all of which could be done without irradiating someone or looking at their privates.
However, nothing will guarantee or even assure absolute security - and until we're mature enough to accept that everything we do involves a certain amount of risk, we're going to continue these overkill initiatives that don't "solve" the problem, yet create more animosity and angst among the traveling public.
The TSA could have moved away from simple WTMD with a better solution - but chose instead to take the low road, reward a crooked former leader and just ram this crap down everyone's throat. Now we're trying to ram it right back at them - and thankfully, the tide of public and political opinion is turning against these machines.