Originally Posted by essxjay
I'm relieved that someone picked up on the connection and the larger point I'm trying to make: the more resources devoted to fighting imaginary wars and the actions of silly bureacracy, the less that can be spent pursuing legitimate charitable causes, such as the ones Lehava represents.
Let's say the replacement of toiletry articles on a given trip for the average FTer is $30 (plus tax
). From what I understand, $30 dollars is a helluva lot of money to a starving Sudanese family. (Hell, $30 is a lot of money for a starving American.)
That's the economic priniciple at stake here: basic guns vs. butter.
I see your point and agree. No one likes to have to waste their own money to purchase shave cream at every over-night stop. I don't know how many people would donate to relief for poverty, though.
What I was trying to say, though, was that the resources wasted in screening procedures that add nothing to our security could be better used in other protections that might be reasonable: better screening of cargo, etc. etc. etc. In SO many ways, we are headlong in flight from reasonable behavior. It's sad given the dignity and doggedness of other generations in terrible circumstances such as Britons during the Blitz.
Hysteria is a response to successful terrorism and we have been at its effect since 9/11.