Originally Posted by
oenophilist
I've heard here and on other forums that the TSA should be eliminated. But what I don't understand is, with what do we replace it? Are people suggesting that giving airline security over to private firms is the right approach? In my mind, this would be an unmitigated disaster that would set us back by a decade. Reform the TSA? Absolutely! But replace it? I just don't get the argument.
What argument is there AGAINST having a federal agency that is responsible for airline security, versus putting it into the hands of private companies?
I would prefer either the military, the FBI or local police forces -- I want either trained LEOs or trained soldiers, i.e. professionals whose job it is spotting bad guys. China uses the military and they are efficient, professional and polite. Other nations use, I think, national police (we don't have that, of course).
What I don't want are clerks on power trips.
Note, too, that what I really want is
actual security, balanced against risk. What we have now is strictly a dog-and-pony show. When I want theater I go to Broadway. When I want security, I put professionals in charge.