How about the same security standards that I encounter when I enter: Federal courthouses, military bases, CENTCOM, the Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon.

At these locations the most "hassle" I've had to deal with was having my briefcase x-rayed and walking through a metal detector. All of this supervised by trained professionals who were extremely laid-back and friendly. No barking orders, no threats. If anything, they seemed almost apologetic that they were taking some of my precious time. Most of the time these security professionals aren't wearing cheap tin stars nor are they wearing fake police uniforms. Instead they're usually dressed in crisp black suits with equally crisp dress shirts.

At some of these locations I've been asked to present an ID, where they used it to verify I was on THEIR list of people to be admitted, not just verifying it against a document I brought with me. Anyone with a computer can fake a boarding pass these days.

Oh, and yes, each of these screenings happens with leaving my shoes on, drinks and liquids in my bags, and I leave the checkpoint without losing my dignity nor civil rights.

If the TSA went away (I can always dream, right?) or changes its tune/attitude back to something reasonable, I might actually stop avoiding flying.

The facts still remain: If we removed ALL security from the airports, air travel is still vastly safer than the taxi ride I took to the airport this morning.

Just thing of all the good the billions we've wasted on security theater could have done if spent on infrastructure, healthcare, kittens, etc.