by Ken Vincent, Featured Contributor
YOU HAVE PROBABLY all seen the latest news about the TSA. That being that up to 95% of the bombs and guns slipped through the security net in recent tests. I would have found that hard to believe except that people working for the TSA have told me the same thing. A recent retiree from that organization said that the entire system is so flawed that he wouldn’t get on an airplane today if he had free tickets.
The man has worked in numerous organizations and categorically says that the TSA is the worst run that he has ever experienced. Moral is in the toilet, employees simply don’t care, supervisors won’t or can’t discipline their reports, and a high percentage of the personnel simply do enough to not get in trouble. The management systems from the top down work against having a cohesive organization. Racism is rampant.
We recently had occasion to fly overseas and back. While the personnel at check points and customs were not rude, they seemed to be working largely in a robotic fashion and were totally disengaged. Anyone that has flown recently would have to agree that the efforts to control weapons is largely useless. One must take off shoes, even if they are flip flops. Now I ask you, what type of weapon can be hidden in a pair of kid’s flip flops? A 90 year old woman with an artificial knee is virtually strip searched even though she carries a doctor’s notice of the surgery. Tons of tooth paste, mouth wash, and makeup are confiscated under the theory that any liquid or gel could be an explosive. Medications are subject to confiscation if the passenger doesn’t have the original container, or a copy of the prescription.
In short, even though we spend billions each year on airport screening and security, there really isn’t a system in place that makes flying any safer than it was before 9/11. Another case proving that big government is simply unable to effectively manage an operating unit no matter how much money is thrown at it.