Airport Security Theater goes nude

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I'm going to take the introduction of full body scanners (and subsequent backlash) to re-iterate my contempt for the orgy of airport security theater our in which our government is currently indulging. I am so tired of surrendering my privacy, dignity, tax dollars, and (most precious of all) my time to the enactment of meaningless rituals of humiliation that do nothing to make me safer and keep people in a state of fear and paranoia. Even if these things work like they're supposed to, people wanting to blow up planes will just figure out how to smuggle things in their bags, and all the cost and humiliation will be useless.

And even if these things do make us safer, is it worth it? I'm going to come right out and say it: Let the terrorists blow up a plane or two a year. It's not a big deal. It's only a big deal because people get hysterical about it. People should be concerned about heart disease, stroke, and cancer. And maybe automobile accidents, suicide, and drowning, depending on your demographics. Keep Calm, Carry On. Can we please spend our resources on things that provide a better return on investment? If we took what we're spending on airport security theater and spent it on childhood nutrition, I bet we could save a lot more lives than would be lost due to an increase in successful terrorist attacks. Heck, I'd rather spend the money on tax breaks for multi-millionaires, as repugnant as that is. At least then it wouldn't create a climate of fear and humiliation and clog our air transit network with delays and hassle.

Comments

Pablo said…
This is a scenario where nudity would be an appropriate protest tactic. Clearly, the costs of activism here are quite high -- each protester risks losing a plane fare -- but within the context of a broader resistance strategy, hundreds of travelers stripping in the security line in order to be "helpful" and "speed things up" would get some attention.

An alternative would be to expand on the opt-out day idea and ask all travelers to wear the skimpiest swim suit they can find. Should be no problem in Los Angeles ("Thousand Thong March Descends on LAX").
8:52 AM, November 18, 2010
Anonymous said…
@Zac: http://www.thestar.com/iphone/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother

@Pablo: I love it!
9:26 PM, November 18, 2010
bill in minneapolis said…
How about just designating certain days of the week as 'low search days' so airline passengers could opt for flying on either low or high search flights. Or maybe it would work better if every over flight to a particular desination was a 'low search' flight.

It would be interesting to see which flights get more passengers.
8:05 PM, November 19, 2010
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