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You know that recently a terrorist tried to use a bomb in his intestine to assassinate a Saudi-Arabian prince (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/qaeda_ass_assin_h...). (I know, not the greatest source).

As soon as one of those is discovered at an airport, according to your reasoning about the TSA's rationales, they would have to and should cavity search every passenger.

The real questions underlying a topic like this are:

Why do the people have so little say in their own security?

Why do people accept being separated, rudely interrogated, strip-searched, subjected to (unconstitutionally) secret laws and regulations, etc.?

Why are expert opinions completely ignored?

Just because it's "rational" for the TSA/US Government to cover their asses doesn't mean people shouldn't make a fuss about it. Democracy and liberty vitally depend on people making a (meaningful) fuss.

You seriously think that reasonable arguments like this are going to get the TSA to stop supporting policies that cost them nothing but mitigate massive possible career risks for themselves? Because I think it would be irrational for this administration to step back even an inch from where security is now. They'd simply get blamed for anything that happened within the next 10 years.

"They'd simply get blamed for anything that happened within the next 10 years."

The administration would get blamed anyway by virtue of being in charge. They've been willing to announce stopping the use of torture (with many in their opposition howling that this will cost American lives), so it's clearly not impossible for them to change policy just because security is the claimed justification for it.

Nobody cares about what the TSA itself supports. The TSA does what it's told to do. The idea is to get enough people annoyed about what the FAA has the TSA do to encourage change in policy. This may or may not be doable, but that's politics for you.

EDIT: emphasis added for the benefit of some poor readers.

They've been willing to announce stopping the use of torture

Good grief.

3 people were waterboarded. The former administration refused to rule in or out any sort of interrogation technique.

They hardly "stopped the use of torture". Made a political statement, sure. Announced what the limits were, sure. But they didn't stop anything of the sort.

I completely agree with your description of the problem, it's an organizational dilemma, and not much can be done about it.

At the same time, reasonable people need to speak up about and work on important issues, because it affects the opportunity cost of those in power. If there is zero (perceived) opposition, it becomes cheaper to create more restrictions.

Thanks. I know (from, you know, rereading) that I sound unhinged.

But can I just suggest that this problem is completely intractable? Given the fact that we've accepted the costs of not having cellphones on planes, or listening to our iPods when the plane is landing, or bringing 6 ounces of fluid onto a flight --- given the fact that society and the economy is still functioning given these meaningless and onerous restrictions --- there is simply nothing in it for the government to removing the restrictions.

I don't know who downvoted you, I voted you back up. I tend to share your pessimism (or its close correlate realism) about this particular situation. Pick your battles so to speak.

As an example of what I was trying to express, in the last German national election, 2% of Germans voted for the Pirate Party, which was running essentially as an interest group for personal freedom and privacy.

The previous grand coalition government had used the specter of child pornography to legislate secret Australia-style black-lists. People stood up by signing a petition against this and risked being labeled "pro-child porn".

The newly formed (more liberal) coalition abandoned this project during their negotiations, with the Chancelor expressly pointing out the surprising 2% success of the Pirate Party.

This is a case where stupidity was being undone, because of civic engagement.

As I said, pick your battles and don't become a cynic. (Not trying to imply you are, just generally speaking). Cheers. :)

Side note: I appreciate a good rant once in a while, so I don't take any issue with your original post.

jokes about airport security are so overdone that there's actually signs at the airport warning you not to make jokes about airport security.

That's not why those signs are there. They're there because it removes the "I was just joking!" defense.

We're discussing the fact that the TSA left the safety of their lair to try to debunk an online comic by a well-known figure in techy circles. This is a remarkable event.

Hence, we are remarking.

The TSA has been blogging for many months now. They don't have a "lair". We just don't like what they have to say.

to quote you: because the TSA people live in an entirely different universe than you do

okay, so they left their universe and entered ours.

You know, I would've thought it evident by now that it's not exactly what any thinking person expects them to say. It's sort of evident from the existence of so many:

- articles, such as: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/18/60minutes/main4675...

- blog posts, such as: http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/12/24/ki...

- web comics, such as the xkcd one

I don't really understand what you're trying to accomplish here, but whatever it is, you're not helping your case by stating that xkcdsucks is funnier than xkcd. Yes, the humor in xkcd might be extremely nerdy at times, but at least it's not hateful trollery.

xkcdsucks is hateful trollery?

(Oh. Sorry. Didn't notice your nick. ;)

You know, it could be my fault. I assumed you were talking about http://www.xkcdsucks.com/

If you were talking about that, I rest my case.

On the other hand, maybe you were talking about http://xkcdsucks.blogspot.com/

The author of that is at least trying to say something. As a matter of fact, he's saying a lot, without contributing much.

As for the nick: brilliant deduction ;)

I'm talking about xkcdsucks.blogspot.com. It is f'ing hilarious. Try starting here:

http://xkcdsucks.blogspot.com/2008/10/frequently-asked-irrit...

Someone piss in your Wheaties?