I don't think a free market solution would work - airports will cut costs until there's a disaster.
Except this is how airport security was ran before 9/11.
9/11 didn't happen because costs were cut. 9/11 happened because the attackers worked the problem, discovered gaps, exploited them.
Gaps that the government, who set the standards and rules for security, had no idea were there.
Recall that in August, 2011 'everyone' knew that hijackers would jack the plane, hold hostages, make demands.
The idea that anyone use airliners as improvised cruise missiles was so far into looney-tunes land that Tom Clancy used it as a plot device to catapult Jack Ryan into the presidency.
"""The idea that anyone use airliners as improvised cruise missiles was so far into looney-tunes land that Tom Clancy used it as a plot device to catapult Jack Ryan into the presidency."""
And that, IMO, sums up what is wrong with how we handle airport security. We continually focus on fixing what happened last time instead of looking at what could happen. Of course, once you do that, you realize there are too many variables to account for and that it is an intractable problem that needs to be approached differently.
Of course, once you do that, you realize there are too many variables to account for and that it is an intractable problem that needs to be approached differently.
I don't see our government - or any current government being able to do that.
It's like expecting Ford to suddenly decide they want to get into the software business, and stop making cars. It's just not going to happen: not in their DNA.
Take 'a' proposal that would have prevented 9/11: issue every passenger a pistol and frangible ammunition. [1] Can you imagine any government doing that? Trusting their citizens to be adults?
So, no: We're stuck with TSA and the government screwing the pooch by insisting they can control was can't be controlled.
[1] If you want, issue them only to people who can prove competence with firearms, or veterans. Instructional videos: "So you want to use your pistol!"
Except this is how airport security was ran before 9/11.
9/11 didn't happen because costs were cut. 9/11 happened because the attackers worked the problem, discovered gaps, exploited them.
Gaps that the government, who set the standards and rules for security, had no idea were there.
Recall that in August, 2011 'everyone' knew that hijackers would jack the plane, hold hostages, make demands.
The idea that anyone use airliners as improvised cruise missiles was so far into looney-tunes land that Tom Clancy used it as a plot device to catapult Jack Ryan into the presidency.