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TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance
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."
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
That which is not dead may eternal lie,and in strange aeons even death may die
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. 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.
A US court document that made it to the press might make interesting reading:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131019/02322924936/accidentally-revealed-document-shows-tsa-doesnt-think-terrorists-are-plotting-to-attack-airplanes.shtml
Think of an internal and external papers please checkpoint for any other "legal" issues you have with your nation.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
I'm fine with armed pilots. They should be given frangible bullets suitable for use on aircraft./p
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, 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.
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Everyone should watch 'Please Remove Your Shoes' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600841/ as the Israelis do it MUCH better