HawaiiTrvlr

I wish the TSA would follow through with all of the 12 New Year's resolutions listed.

http://www.elliott.org/blog/new-year...nt-do-in-2012/

I would add to the list, quit barking at the passengers in line. Maybe the TSA could use some of their billions each year to send the screeners to some course on how to deal with the public in a calm, respectful manner without the barking.

What would you add?

Jaimito Cartero

Wow, for once, an Elliott article I can fully agree with.

chollie

No, I don't think 'some course' is the answer. It's clear that TSA's 'training' methods aren't particularly effective. Perhaps TSA should start 'disciplining' instead of 're-training' - and each time a TSO pleads poor training for a lapse, discipline both the TSO and the trainer who failed to do her/his job.

If our young men and women in combat zones 'forget' their training (or if their training if inadequate), it can cost lives. They do not have the luxury of 're-training' (again and again). I'm quite sure that if troops did keep screwing up because of faulty training, sooner or later the trainer would be held accountable.

Why is it any different at TSA? I think the likelihood of another terrorist attack on an airplane is statistically very low, but if it does happen, I don't want it to be because some TSO 'forgot' his/her training (again) or because some 'trainer' failed to do his/her job in the first place.

I would add 'no more 're-training' (after screwups) to Chris Elliott's list. Instead, discipline the TSO. If the TSO alleges he/she wasn't trained properly, discipline the trainer. And in all cases, the manager should also be held accountable.

studentff

Abolish the chat-downs. It's only a pilot at a few airports, and yet there are already way too many stories about passengers being asked ridiculously invasive questions like how long they've lived in their house, had their job, questions about family, etc.

This statement from Elliott also bugged me a bit
because it is fundamentally wrong on a lot of levels and oversimplifies the causes of TSA and of TSA overreactions. IMO it would be much more accurate to say TSA exists to attempt to make the traveling public "feel safe," give the appearance that the government is visibly "doing something," and/or provide CYA against security liability for the airlines.

IslandBased

For a long list of reasons, another 9/11 is unlikely to occur. Something different, possibly, another use of commercial aircraft to destroy targets, far from likely. More people will probably die as a result of incidences of texting while driving than terrorism over the next few years.

RadioGirl

Elliott's list is 11 items too long. RadioGirl's list of what the TSA should do in 2012, as early as possible:
1. DIE.

RatherBeOnATrain

I understand what you are saying studentff, but I also like how how Elliott used that line. He took the very talking point that TSA has repeatedly used to justify themselves, turned it around, and used it as a talking point about why TSA should be limited.

mikeef

Yet another "You can't film here." video from the "Don't stop us from taking pictures." portion of the article: http://www.pixiq.com/article/tsa-cal...eckpoint-in-dc

Mike