Comments | sheltiesong: Random thoughts

sheltiesong

Random thoughts

Nov 19, 2010 11:18

Saw HP7.1 yesterday. So good, but OMGsotired! Glad I took today off. :)

( On a more serious note, I keep seeing all this angst about the new airport security measures ... )

thinky-thoughts

Comments 8

bandgeek01 November 19 2010, 20:08:55 UTC

Alternative right there.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother

sheltiesong November 20 2010, 02:41:34 UTC

Back in 2002, I took a class on terrorism, and wrote a paper on legislative and societal responses to domestic terrorism. I had the very same idea, that applying El Al standards might be a way to make our airports more secure. But a talk with my professor brought up a very good point: logistically, it's just not likely possible for the US to do this, because we have so much more air traffic than Israel does. I just did a little research, and was pretty shocked at just how much busier the US is ( ... )

bandgeek01 November 20 2010, 03:10:56 UTC

Then why mention wanting alternatives if you shooting anything down that's a good chance of an alternative.

It would take time, but this most definitely could work in the US, we are just too lazy as a country to admit that we didn't get this TSA stuff right.

I'm actually kind of glad I didn't post my first comment now.

sheltiesong November 20 2010, 04:59:30 UTC

Look, I didn't say "Stupid idea. Go away. It'll never work." I simply said that it seems unlikely that it can work and gave some concrete reasons why I feel that way, based on the research I've quoted and the opinion of a professor I trust whose job it is to teach on this subject matter. Did you miss where I said it was something I had thought had enough merit that I wanted to put it in a paper 8 years ago? I'm for it in theory, I only explained why I didn't think it would work. I'm sorry it offended you so much; that certainly wasn't my intention.

alliwantisanelf November 19 2010, 21:45:26 UTC

I agree. Even though I still think if there's a will (to get something harmful on a plane with a mass of people), there's a way. And somebody will figure it out.

Sometimes we also overlook other means of transportation, for those folks who object so strenuously to the TSA scanning and pat downs. Sure, it'll take longer, but cars and buses and trains and boats and all sorts of other ways of getting there do exist. And it's a little harder to run a boat into a building, so might be just a little safer as well.

We take breathing for granted, don't we? The world's a dangerous place out there, Frodo Baggins....

sheltiesong November 20 2010, 02:44:53 UTC

Great point, Al! We very often forget that flying is a convenience more than it is a right.

In a perfect world, there's be an answer that suits everyone. But in a perfect world, this wouldn't even have to be talked about, huh? :)

robi_travels November 20 2010, 04:11:31 UTC

Agree with you I like ot be safe, but frankly the security does nothing. And the measures being taken are over the top. They amount to sexual battery, which if done by anyone other than a TSA agent would have the person arrested and on a sex offender list. It was boarderline when they used the back of the hand, but now hand up, palms and fingers are all in play. So basically we are allowing the government to molest everyone because we refuse to profile some. I have said it before and will again, when short, overweight, middle age american women of Mediterranean decent start killing people en-mass, feel free to profile away. We need to focus our resources and that means behavior profiling and target profiling of those groups committing these crimes. When a police scan goes out saying shots were just fired by a bald white guy age 60 driving a van you don't waste time stopping girls in mustangs or ethnic youths in bmws. Let's use some common sense. And, if TSA agents cross a line in how they treat those they question, handle ( ... )

sheltiesong November 20 2010, 05:23:21 UTC

No flames coming from me. :)

I like your analogy about the police scanner. I think it also illustrates the need for multiple systems in play, not just profiling but scans as well, just as we do background checks to try to prevent criminals from getting guns. But I wouldn't want to see the requirement for some sort of scanner to go away, since there are always outliers. I also worry about how it could be implemented with the sheer magnitude of people traveling in the US alone.

I just hope some compromise is found soon. We all have a right to safety, both physical and mental. There's gotta be a way to get the latter without compromising the former.