TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) - (Touchy Sex Ass-ets) has become a bloated federal bureaucratic agency with an estimated budget of $8.1 Billion for 2012. It employs more than 58 thousand employees throughout the United States.
Prior to the formation of TSA, private security companies were responsible for security for individual airlines. They were not the cause of the 911 attack, but rather the restrictions and procedures that were required by the Transportation Safety Board. Congressional milase, Department of Transportation's lack of planning and the Airline Industry were contributors to the lack of security planning.
Converting to the TSA formation as a Governmental Agency has not reduced the risk, but rather just changed the terror plans. One can argue that since the formation of the TSA there have been no incidents as we had seen on 911, we still have the potential for terror attacks, in the air and on the ground.
 |
| Touchy Feeley TSA Don't Touch My Junk! |
Only intelligence gathering, law enforcement profiling, informants and eyes and ears of the average citizen will prevent such activity. In the mean time, the Airlines, who have reinforced the cockpits and airplane security still experience travelers who have various issues when traveling. From unruly passengers, to employees that are overly aggressive or too complacent toward the public. Reaction to the 9-11 tragedy brought Airline Pilot's to demand the right to carry weapons. NO PROBLEM HERE !!!
U.S. Air Marshals program has been re-instituted, after it was cancelled in the early 1970's. But the current safety screening methods are not only intrusive, but considered outdated. The Touchy-Feely method does not reduce the risk of threat or attack. Weapons may not be carried by those who would like to bring down a flight, this does not mean that other methods are not being considered or planned.
 |
| TSA CHILD THREAT? |
 |
| TSA SENIOR CITIZEN THREAT? |
In a 2005 GAO (Government Accountability Office) simulated analysis of budget expenses for passenger Screening by private corporations to the U.S. Airline Industry it was estimated at $334 million in 2000. This included various functions, from baggage screening to physical wanding of passengers. of the $334 million, approximately $119 million was estimated to be used for two line lane traffic of passengers at all 70 airports and for the nations passenger airlines.
"When summed by airport, weighed by the estimated number of screeners employed at each airport, and scaled to a national total, these figures represent the percentages of screeners hours and costs attributed to passengers and non-passengers on a national basis" (GAO Evaluation 2005)
What a difference in costs and staffing since Homeland Security took over Airport passenger screening after 9-11. TSA (U.S. Government) employs more than 58 thousand agents operating within the United States. The airlines, all 230 domestic and international airlines, contribute NO security service fees to the TSA program. Prior to 9-11 the Airlines beared the total cost of the check-points and wanding, along with baggage screening. IATA an airline lobbying organization argues that the secutiry services to the airlines should be the responsiblity of the U.S. Government.
So we went from $334 million in 2000 to $8.1 billion set for the 2012 budget. This includes an agency which initially recruited from the exsisting private security companies as the transition and take over materialized. The $8.1 Billion represents 29 times increase from the original cost of $334 million in less than a ten year evaluation.
WHERE'S THE MONEY? HOW MUCH WASTE?
CAN WE DO IT BETTER?
WHY ARE THE AIRLINES EXEMPT FROM PAYMENTS?
No comments:
Post a Comment