Jaunted

Airlines and airline passengers already paid $2.16 billion in security fees last year. Even before the Christmas Day terrorist attack the Obama administration had proposed a $2.50/passenger hike, proposing to bump the amount to $5.21 billion. Airlines pointed out how that would crush them and the whole thing was dropped. But TSA's post-Christmas security theater, which includes 450 advanced imagers that won't work, means that the agency needs more money than ever. Ergo this.

We here at Jaunted have an alternative proposal. Instead of hiking up fees and adding more layers to TSA, how about they hire people who aren't total morons or drug sellers? Instead of spending money on flashy technology that distracts the public from TSA's inefficiency, how about they just become more efficient? Because from our vantage point it seems like lots of money is being wasted on temperamental agents who revel in their arbitrary power while relying on procedures that keep failing.

But maybe we're wrong. Maybe this is a cunning plan to substantially decrease the number of airline passengers. Less people equals more time to check each individual equals more security. Brilliant!

[Photo: Steve Jurvetson / Wiki Commons]

Related Stories:
· Airlines May Face Higher U.S. Security Fee After Terror Attempt [Bloomberg]
· TSA [Jaunted]
· Security [Jaunted]