TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance 337
rwise2112 writes "The General Accounting Office (GAO) has completed a study of the TSAs SPOT (Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques) program and found the program is only slightly better than chance at finding criminals. Given that the TSA has spent almost a billion dollars on the program, that's a pretty poor record. As a result, the GAO is requesting that both Congress and the president withhold funding from the program until the TSA can demonstrate its effectiveness."
Israel's airlines globally recognized as safest... (Score:3, Interesting)
for decades, and is a nation that much more frequently faces domestic terrorism. What are the chances they have a better, and cheaper method? Oops, they use common sense. Never mind.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/11/yeffet.air.security.israel/ [cnn.com]
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
as a 7' tall man of german descent, I always get "randomly" chosen as well. I assure you it's not so much the "olive skin" as it is the "different" or "standing out for any reason".. which is also deplorable and ineffective for the task at hand.
And yes, no option to opt out of all the still beta FBS
Re:Purpose of the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
No, it's not. Don't be stupid. There's no grand conspiracy out to get you. The TSA exists because after 9/11 people demanded that the government do something to make us safer. And so the politicians created this security theater, because it's what the voters wanted.
And they still do want it, as the TSA gets excellent approval ratings [gallup.com]. They don't know or care that it's just theater, they just want to feel safe.
It's as simple as that. The people want to feel safe, so an organization was created to help them feel safe, even if it doesn't actually make them safe. And contrary to the ravings of the conspiracy theorists, this IS a democracy. The people get what they want, for better or worse.
Re:Purpose of the TSA (Score:3, Interesting)
No, it's not. Don't be stupid. There's no grand conspiracy out to get you.
You apparently haven't been reading the news.
The TSA exists because after 9/11 people demanded that the government do something to make us safer.
Really?
Who exactly demanded that, other than the usual suspects in government who always want more power?
Re:Purpose of the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131019/02322924936/accidentally-revealed-document-shows-tsa-doesnt-think-terrorists-are-plotting-to-attack-airplanes.shtml [techdirt.com]
Think of an internal and external papers please checkpoint for any other "legal" issues you have with your nation.
Re:I can hear them now... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm fine with armed pilots. They should be given frangible bullets suitable for use on aircraft./p
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, pilots falling asleep at the controls, in some cases both at once, is one of the more genuinely terrifying aspects of modern aviation. It reportedly happens often [reuters.com], and the pilots' unions are vocal about the lack of adequate rest between cockpit hours. The only reason we don't hear more about it is because modern planes are (at the risk of grossly oversimplifying) basically flying themselves for much of their journey, so it's not as if they suddenly fall from the sky if someone dozes off for a couple of minutes mid-journey when there's nothing anywhere nearby.
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:5, Interesting)
Everyone should watch 'Please Remove Your Shoes' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600841/ [imdb.com] as the Israelis do it MUCH better
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:4, Interesting)
Really - I mean if your intent is to destroy a plane you're riding on then why *not* just use an internal explosive, whether fluid or surgically implanted. You'll probably still have one of the less painful deaths associated with the destruction.
Re:Fuck the TSA (Score:2, Interesting)