Who Trusts/Respects TSA?

I was flying out of Washington Dulles Airport today, and while going through the security checkpoint, I heard someone screaming … not yelling, but screaming … “My name is supervisor Quail.” About three security lanes over, “Supervisor” Quail was screaming at two passengers over something. The passengers were standing there quietly; Quail was screaming.

I wondered what made Quail lose control of his temper in such a shocking manner. Have you ever heard a TSA employee scream at a passenger? They yell at each other but scream? This was a first for me to witness. Quail then shuffled off, into an office.

I admit it, right up front, that I am not a big fan of the federal government’s TSA, the Transportation Security Administration bureaucracy created in theory to make air travel safer. But, is air travel safer? I think TSA is a little too casual.

I’ve always been curious that the TSA security people check your “government issued” photo ID and compare the name with the boarding pass but rarely look at your face to compare your face with the photo. In other countries where I travel, they never fail to look at your face.

And, how careful can the TSA security checkers be with all the self-induced noise and chaos … as they frequently are yelling back and forth about who is supposed to be on lunch break? You and I know they miss stuff all the time in carry-on bags that should be caught.

While TSA has spent billions on important things, like limos for its executives and PR agencies to polish TSA’s image, have they taken a look at our trust in what they are doing? Do they care?

Let me ask you a question — would you leave a nice digital camera, laptop computer, jewelry or cash in the luggage that you check? I certainly would not. And, why not? Has TSA looked into the theft issue?

I am very much in favor of effective airport security but I am not convinced TSA is in that league. Quail sure is not.