The word "security" is starting to sound like newspeak.
Ironically few people oppose reasonable measures, yet even in a post-911 world of extreme paranoia, we find that many of the overwrought systems so urgently put in place are worthless.
Most notably the TSA has been proven to be worthless, in spite of having wasted billions of dollars worth of productive time and on track to waste billions more.
It's unfortunate that these things are run by the government. We're getting the prison food version of security and it's horrible.
> It's unfortunate that these things are run by the government. We're getting the prison food version of security and it's horrible.
Amusing that you're mentioning prisons, that precisely come as a nice example of things going awry after government handed back management to private contractors. The same thing applies to disasters such as Blackwater military activities in Iraq, etc.
I think you are attempting to argue that in fact my complaint is against so-called "privatization".
My complaint here is about the corruption of government. And yes, corrupt officials arrange deals with "private" firms that exist only to get such deals and which hire retired officials as lobbyists, etc.
In the prison example, corruption exists across the arbitrary public/private line that you are drawing. In California, the prison guards union is a lobbying group that supports criminalizing nearly anything, in hopes that stricter laws will lead to more inmates and more job security for guards.
I wish they would open a parallel set of airports that had no security at all. Just police for typical "don't openly display firearms", etc. I bet the incidents of terrorism would, at most, be the same in both systems. But I bet most people on the security-less one would enjoy flying more.
I would pay extra to fly at the no-security airport. I miss the days when you could walk right out to the gate with your friends who are leaving until it's time for them to board the plane. When you would be there at the gate when your grandparents or grandkids arrive so they can see you the minute they get off the plane and you can help them with their carry-on bags.
Oh, and getting at the airport a half hour before the flight leaves, but still making the flight. I miss that the most. :-)
Ironically few people oppose reasonable measures, yet even in a post-911 world of extreme paranoia, we find that many of the overwrought systems so urgently put in place are worthless.
Most notably the TSA has been proven to be worthless, in spite of having wasted billions of dollars worth of productive time and on track to waste billions more.
It's unfortunate that these things are run by the government. We're getting the prison food version of security and it's horrible.