I think there are two purposes to the TSA. One is to make people feel safe, as you mentioned. The other is to get people into the habit of having their rights routinely violated by "government agents". It is a form of conditioning, and its pretty effective.
10 year olds at this point have never known a world that was otherwise.
In another 15 years, almost all adults will be completely used to it, and the idea that we don't need the TSA will sound as absurd to them, as to most of us it seems "absurd" that in fact in the past you could fly in the USA while carrying a rifle or shotgun aboard, with ammo. The flight attendants would offer to stow it for you in a coat locker, but otherwise wouldn't bat an eye.
Even today you can fly with firearms (in checked baggage) but a lot of people think that this idea is completely absurd because they've never seen it... and they've been conditioned to being disarmed and the idea that you can't have a gun in an airport. (you walk in and check it at the counter, before going thru security.)
I think there are two purposes to the TSA. One is to make people feel safe, as you mentioned. The other is to get people into the habit of having their rights routinely violated by "government agents".
There's another purpose, politicians must be able to stand up (on the TV, press releases etc.) and say they are doing something. Other people/newspapers/tv shows will ask "Why aren't you doing anything about $TOPIC?" ($TOPIC in this case is 'terrorists', and '$NAME doesn't care about terrorists' is not soemthing politicos want to see)
If it was theater only for those who want to feel more secure, I'd be less aggravated with it. But my forced participation into such theatrics, such as removing shoes, no water bottles, seems that it will only lead to more annoying machinations in the future. Furthermore, this theater only makes the people we are trying to protect against, more creative.
> "10 year olds at this point have never known a world that was otherwise."
It takes 2 generations to completely change the nature of a society. As long as those born before 2000 are still around all hope is not lost. Do not give up.
In the 1920's my Granny was arrested in Germany when she was a teenager because her father sent her to Berlin from Glasgow without a passport because 'he didn't believe in this modern nonsense'. Even passports are pretty new.
The real concern for the 'no-fly list' or 'terrorist watch list' is that it can, and probably is or will be, used as a general shitlist for dissenters (i.e., anyone who voices a problem with their government). That can transition into generalized free-speech quashing and worse faster than people think.
I am actually a little bit afraid to fly now because of numerous comments I have made about the US involvement in forcing the Afghani people to produce heroin etc. I expect I may actually be on this "terrorist watch list" just based on my comments online.
kind of like people can never imagine caring for their elders without having Social Security, or having to pay for doctor's care for their elders without Medicare/Medicaid. We just become more and more dependent on the government to supply what used to be the responsibility of each and every individual. And as that happens, our individual freedoms are slowly diminished and extinguished.
10 year olds at this point have never known a world that was otherwise.
In another 15 years, almost all adults will be completely used to it, and the idea that we don't need the TSA will sound as absurd to them, as to most of us it seems "absurd" that in fact in the past you could fly in the USA while carrying a rifle or shotgun aboard, with ammo. The flight attendants would offer to stow it for you in a coat locker, but otherwise wouldn't bat an eye.
Even today you can fly with firearms (in checked baggage) but a lot of people think that this idea is completely absurd because they've never seen it... and they've been conditioned to being disarmed and the idea that you can't have a gun in an airport. (you walk in and check it at the counter, before going thru security.)