Poll Finds Americans Think the TSA Is 'Doing a Good Job' 523
OverTheGeicoE writes "Why is it that airport security never seems to change in the United States? Perhaps it's because most Americans think the TSA is doing a 'good job,' according to a surprise Gallup poll, allegedly commissioned by no one but the kind editors at Gallup. The poll found that 54% of Americans believe the TSA is doing a good or excellent job, and that 57% have a good or excellent opinion of the agency. So why all the criticism? According to the article, criticism of the TSA comes primarily from 'Internet sites, where reporting standards are generally not at the same level as newspapers, where reporters are taught to consider what is told to them with skepticism and to seek responses to charges.' Furthermore, 'the TSA is put into a difficult situation when such charges are posted with little or no fact checking by reporters.' Other sources, of course, have different interpretations of Gallup's results, including questions about whether the poll was biased. If Americans secretly do love the TSA, that could explain why the recent whitehouse.gov petition failed to gather enough signatures for a 'response.' In fact, you'll find so little information about the petition remains on whitehouse.gov that you'll wonder if my link is correct. And these are not the droids you're looking for. Move along."
advertisement (Score:5, Informative)
how do you prove to potential clients that you can skew every public opinion survey?
release one saying TSA is loved!
Re:Real reason (Score:4, Informative)
I swore off air travel before the rape scans were ever considered. Being treated worse than cattle by the airlines was enough for me. There is absolutely nothing that could ever happen that would get me on an airplane again. The airlines can fuck off and die as far as I'm concerned.
Re:TSA (Score:4, Informative)
I would like to see some evidence that the TSA is doing a horrible job
Easily done [go.com].
How Many Terrorists Have They Caught? (Score:4, Informative)
You think that they are doing a good job? Many people beg to differ:
Adam Savage from Mythbusters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqoiifBZD4E
Chidren in Wheelchairs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNO-AzPxS4U
Molested Women: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwvcpS5iLjI
Lactating Mothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwvcpS5iLjI
Drug Dealers: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/26/news/la-trb-tsa-drugs-20120426
TSA Agents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZZeBpZAnM
The TSA Itself: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-01-28/us/tsa.bombtest_1_airport-screeners-airport-security-fake-bombs?_s=PM:US
Exactly how many "Shoe Bombers", "Underwear Bombers","Chemical Terrorists", and "TSA Screeners" have they caught?
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
Intimidation (Score:4, Informative)
"I've been asked to respond to this post in order to clarify misunderstandings that some people may have.
The TSA properly exempted itself from the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Sunshine Act. The TSA granted itself the exemption for valid reasons that must remain classified for National Security reasons, so you'll have to trust us on that.
The TSA also had a valid grounds for respectfully refusing to comply with both court orders. The reasons are also classified for National Security reasons, so again you'll have to trust us the refusal was appropriate and necessary. But I can tell you that the decision was based on thorough analysis of the latest robust intelligence pertaining to the current threat environment.
In both cases, TSA Counsel determined that any form of notice and comment rulemaking regarding the deployment of AIT would be detrimental to National Security, based on the classified determinations I referenced above. TSA Counsel prepared a classified memorandum exempting the agency from notice and comment requirements. TSA Counsel believes that the National Security determinations set forth in the classified memorandum give the TSA full authority to disregard any court orders requiring notice and comment rulemaking.
You are, of course, free to sign the petition. But it will have no more effect than the lawsuit or the court order. And do be aware that pursuant to classified TSA procedures, any names on the petition will be forwarded to the Terrorist Screening Center for possible inclusion on appropriate watch lists.
Thank you for allowing me to address your concerns about this matter."
Posted by: Blogger Bob at August 2, 2012 6:39 PM
Perhaps the poll was conducted with a stick. But then again, we are a libidinous culture.
Re:Not Applicable to all. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
1) The wands and metal detectors did not irradiate you.
2) You did not have to undress at all.
3) You were never grouped.
4) Your "shaving kit" could include after shave.
5) You could bring a beverage.
6) You could arrive at the airport 15 minutes before departure and still make your flight.
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
Pay attention on the next long flight. At some point the pilots will need a stretch and a piss. The cabin crew will make some announcement that the forward lav is closed and to use the aft lav. A stewardess will block the aisles to the forward lav with a drink cart and essentially stand guard. Then you'll see the pilots come out for a tinkle one at a time.
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
There have been several that were known to be terrorists who, under a sting operation, the TSA were waiting for.
But there has not been a SINGLE confirmed terrorist that the TSA did not know was a terrorist the day before they showed up, that the TSA caught.
Of course, the TSA is a relatively new agency.
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
Other way around. If my experience chatting with Amtrak passengers is any indication, about 80% of them are there because of the TSA, or at least agreed with me that they're a bunch of bozos on a power trip.
No, in reality, the people who like the TSA tend to be the people who fly, but infrequently. The people who fly frequently are fed up with it and wouldn't give them a good score even if what they are doing were useful. The people who don't fly, or fly infrequently, have very little to go on, and so they make the best call based on their limited information coupled with their limited understanding of what actually makes people safe.
That last part is key. You see, for people who do not actually understand security—your typical person, as opposed to those of us here on Slashdot, most of whom have to maintain at least some understanding of security principles as part of our jobs—anything you do under the guise of security makes them feel like you're doing a good job.
That's why if you ask your average person what they think of a screen where a company is asking you security questions, they'll tell you that because the company wants more information about you, it must mean the company is serious about security. If you ask a security researcher what they think of the screen, they'll immediately tell you that the security questions almost always weaken security, not strengthen it.
Public opinion is useless for this sort of thing. You want useful information about how good a job the TSA is doing, ask security researchers. You want information about how mad the public is, ask a random sampling of air travelers, and only air travelers. Asking the public as a whole is a worthless metric. It's like asking the public, "Does this guy look like a murderer?" without presenting any of the facts of the case. It's a great way of seeing how much the general public is paying attention and how much their confirmation bias gets in the way of them learning new information, but not much else apart from psychology research. Heck, all you really have to do is show them a picture, and you'll get answers that are heavily skewed towards yes [slashdot.org].
Re:Real reason (Score:5, Informative)
There have been several that were known to be terrorists who, under a sting operation, the TSA were waiting for.
I think you're thinking of the FBI [rollingstone.com].