An Economist On Why It's Time To Get Rid Of The TSA
Mercatus economist Veronique de Rugy writes at the Wash Ex:
So what is the TSA good at? In 2011, the TSA proudly thwarted birds, turtles, science projects, and Chinese throwing stars -- but no terrorists. Embarrassing, but perhaps not surprising: Research from the RAND Corp. suggests that cockpit security, passenger vigilance and passport verification are the most effective security procedures. Given that the TSA spends two-thirds of its budget on ineffective, expensive passenger- and baggage-screening procedures, it is easy to see why the agency is better at catching turtles than terrorists.TSA incompetency is an easy target for late-night talk shows but the agency's troubles are no laughing matter. Not only is it ineffective, it is incredibly wasteful and expensive. Since its creation, TSA's budget increased from $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2002 to $7.9 billion in fiscal year 2013. To that amount, we need to add the $606 billion in estimated lost tourism revenue from unreasonable procedures over past decade. What's more, many TSA agents have been caught stealing travelers' personal items and squandering budget money. Waste is rampant: another GAO report shows that agents intentionally lower productivity to raise wages -- and ultimately increase costs on taxpayers.
It is also a lot of money for an agency whose main role -- preventing attacks in the style of Sept. 11 -- has already been generally accomplished. Cockpit barricades, passenger vigilance, and passport screening are already implemented and effective at lower cost. What about baggage screening? If the TSA prevents terrorists from bringing explosives onto planes, wouldn't this be worth the cost? Even here, the TSA fails; there is evidence TSA agents do not systematically check bags for explosives.
Indications of the TSA's wild incompetency and runaway spending have grown so numerous that they cannot be ignored. It is time to de-nationalize airline screening and turn it over to private companies motivated by profit.
As Chris Edwards at the Cato Institute writes: "Studies have found that TSA's screening results have been no better, and possibly worse, than that of the private screeners. And a House report in 2011 found that private screeners at San Francisco International Airport were far more efficient than the federal screeners at the Los Angeles International Airport."
She notes that private screeners are used at all Canadian airports and in 80 percent of European ones.
The problem is who is going to make change. Unfortunately, her "if/then" statement at the end reveals the problem:
If politicians care more about security than they do about power, they will privatize airport screening.
I wonder if that start small idea could work here. They could try just getting rid of one TSA agent per day until they couldn't resist getting rid of them all.
Pricklypear at December 6, 2013 7:40 AM
Yup. Strangle one per day with dental floss, and pretty soon...
Grey Ghost at December 6, 2013 9:14 AM
Crap. That probably got me on some list.
Grey Ghost at December 6, 2013 9:15 AM
Yep, Ghost, the folks at Jezebel are trying to find a way to make that comment sexist.
Pricklypear at December 6, 2013 10:17 AM
The government shutdown ended before most people concluded just how much of it we could do without, permanently.
MarkD at December 6, 2013 11:19 AM
Damn, but that sounds like an argument that has been made here before but was dismissed pretty much out of hand.
Jim P. at December 6, 2013 2:29 PM
But paying attention to economic rationality is painful for America.
Best video on American money I've seen this afternoon.
Train's a-comin', Zeke.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at December 6, 2013 4:27 PM
Soon, the economists will be saying it's time to get rid of Obamacare.
Joe at December 6, 2013 6:22 PM
It all depends if they are Keynesian or Austrian and who they work for.
Jim P. at December 6, 2013 8:32 PM
So you'd like to carry a badge while you sell heroin, commit rape, traffic in pharmaceuticals, or worse?
Follow the instructions on the pizza box.
Mmmm. Smell the steaming pile of Federal benefits.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at December 7, 2013 11:35 AM
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