[berkle4455]

Dissolve the TSA. Biggest fucking waste of tax payer money and aggregate loss of GDP ever invented.

[lostlogin]

There was a thread here that touched on this recently. The number of TSA defenders here surprised me.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37624112

[Aloha]

I mean what do you replace it with, return to the prior status quo of private security? I don't think that's even a good idea, and I dislike the TSA as much as everyone else - nor do I think having Local LE do it makes sense, because then you end up with 900 policies.

[P_I_Staker]

Based on my experience travelling abroad, the security measures are pretty similar. Some of it could be due to international travel, but I don't think that explains departure security.

In the US, there's basically nothing different. I did fly NL to Germany, and back, and it was the same (obviously still international, but within EU). It seems not that many people fly domestic in NL, and there's little reason for relaxed security (who cares if they got stabbed in NL instead of Germany?)

So I don't understand what would be cut. If the freaking dutch are doing most of the same B.S., are we really out of order? Sure we can't have liquids, but isn't this only mildly bizarre and annoying?

[jghn]

I hate the TSA. But one thing to consider is it's effectively a jobs program, just like the US military. For better or worse these are people to whom we'd likely be funneling money in one fashion or another, at least the security theater makes it more palatable to the masses :shrug:

[Alupis]

> it's effectively a jobs program

Then build roads, infrastructure, etc. Don't put a "jobs program" in charge of banning citizens from flying ever again, violating citizen's rights and more.

[WillPostForFood]

For better or worse these are people to whom we'd likely be funneling money in one fashion or another

Not a fan of TSA, but the people working there seem like normal, employable people. If we got rid of TSA, ~20% could probably stay working security at the Airports, and the other 80% could move on to actual productive jobs, and instead of us funneling money to them they'd be generating money.

[mindslight]

Fix potholes? Pick up litter? Clean up subway stations and bus stops? Maintain trails? Education and youth programs? Learning new skills? Building benches, lean-tos, monuments, and other simple structures? Creating new national parks to cover the recent extreme demand? Planting flowers on the side of highways? Spelling out words for aerial photos?

There are many better ways to productively create low skill jobs than hassling and molesting travelers while on a petty power trip.

[dragonwriter]

> I hate the TSA. But one thing to consider is it’s effectively a jobs program

How was transferring the security function from private industry to the federal government a jobs program? Its an airline-industry subsidy (and it was lobbied for by the industry for exactly that reason in the wake of 9/11), both by making the government responsible for the direct cost of the function and by the government absorbing (or, via sovereign immunity, eliminating) legal liability for both abuses in carrying the function out and failures resulting in harms to travelers and third parties.

[AYBABTME]

They could clean the streets instead, that'd be a better use of money and everyone's time.

[rurp]

But the "work" they do at the TSA wastes immense amounts of time and property, as well as causing untold amounts of stress on people who do actually productive things. Putting them to work planting trees or some other useful activity would be far better for everyone.

[MichaelDickens]

I would much rather the government paid people money to dig ditches and fill them back in, or even just give them the money for free, rather than paying people to actively make others' lives worse.

[bagels]

Give them jobs fixing roads then.

[Aloha]

Also the job still needs to be done, be it TSA or something else.

[nyc_data_geek1]

We could have jobs programs to green our economy, planet and lives, instead of glorified daycare for adults.

[flenserboy]

& those are the people we force the rest of the populace to interact with? Perhaps not the best idea.

[DesiLurker]

well then we should fund other jobs programs too like gas station attendants & lift button pushers.

[xenospn]

I'm all for creating jobs for people who need them, but can they at least do that where they're not as bothersome and won't go through my luggage because I packed a gel sleep mask? every single time :/