Congress: The TSA Is Wasting Hundreds of Millions In Taxpayer Dollars 199
TheGift73 writes with a Techdirt story about a House Oversight Committee report that is very critical of the TSA's handling of money. "The House Oversight Committee has come out with a report slamming the TSA for tremendous amounts of waste, specifically in the 'deployment and storage' of its scanning equipment. Basically, it sounds like the TSA likes to go on giant spending sprees, buying up security equipment and then never, ever using it." Earlier this month Rand Paul laid out his plan for dealing with the TSA.
That was Rand Paul. (Score:5, Informative)
That was Rand Paul in that article you linked, by the way. They are not the same person.
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Given that Rand Paul frequently lumps so many things that are disconnected together(i.e Fed employees make more than the average American)....I don't think it is too bad that they got him confused with his Dad.
Note: The error with the Federal Employee comparison is that it would be more apt to compare Federal employment to a large company like 3M(with a large number of professional employees) than to compare it with the entire population of the country which has a high number of minimum wage employees and
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Yeah, except that both the link he posted and the title of the article clearly say "Rand" instead of "Ron". Anyone with 1/10th a brain would have gotten it right. The Slashdot editors seem to be lacking even that much mental prowess.
Re:That was Rand Paul. (Score:5, Insightful)
Federal employees in professional jobs also make more than their private-sector counterparts these days (if you measure total comp, critically pension benefits), is the thing. It used to be that public sector meant lower pay but stable job and short hours, but that just hasn't been the case for a while now.
Oh well, eventually we'll either make cuts or the government will collapse under its own weight, and either way the comp issue will be corrected.
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I suspect that has more to do with the private sector getting shittier, than with the public sector getting better. Why not raise private wages and benefits to match or exceed those in the public sector instead?
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Remind me why we allow them to move jobs overseas? Free markets are fine if they produce a greater benefit to the people than any alternative, but if they don't, we shouldn't pause for a moment to intervene to ensure a more useful outcome. A variety of options present themselves, including strengthening unions (whilst keeping out corruption), limiting the freedom of movement of capital (and perhaps the accumulation of over large amounts of the same), weakening the dollar, taxing imports from countries that
Re:That was Rand Paul. (Score:4, Interesting)
Government does produce wealth, by tackling matters of public good which the private sector is unwilling or unable to handle, and by dealing with market failures, and by regulating private entities that are unwilling or unable to act in a restrained manner. However, government should not act for its own benefit, but instead for the benefit of its citizenry, residents, and others, somewhat like a non-profit organization, so this might not be apparent to you.
Re:That was Rand Paul. (Score:5, Insightful)
If you think about it part of the reason why the private sector is doing worse is because the public sector is doing better. Since the government doesn't produce wealth just consumes it, the private sector's wealth is being transferred to the public sector.
So when the government builds the interstate highway system or a new bridge, hiring contractors to do the actual paving, etc, that is not producing wealth? If that's just "transfer of wealth" in your book, then no activity private or public produces wealth.
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The myth of the "average" gov't worker (Score:3, Interesting)
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All politicians are the same.
..Again. (Score:4, Informative)
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Note, the politicians will spin this either way for their own benefit...
But in the end, TSA's mission was something no one knew how to figure out.
And much like the Space Program, which had a lot of failures before Apollo, if you don't know what the solution is, it's going to cost a lot. Ask any researcher, it's going to be wasteful and big budget. If TSA knew how to solve it's mission beforehand everything would be peachy: e.g. standard gov't waste.
Also, that's why Linux is cheap, we knew what needed to be
Re:..Again. (Score:4, Funny)
We could achieve the same economic effect with much less fuss if we'd just pay all the TSA inspectors to stay home and dress up as Barney Fife while we groped ourselves. Probably be a better economic stimulus in other ways, too, if y'know what I mean.
Of course (Score:5, Informative)
The purpose of the body scanners was to make Michael Chertoff very rich.
And in that goal they have been a smashing success. And they still are.
Re:Of course (Score:5, Insightful)
Indeed. "Waste" is a polite, or innocent, synonym for corruption rotten to the core.
I feel better. (Score:5, Funny)
I assumed they were wasting billions in taxpayer dollars.
Hundreds of millions is an improvement.
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This is just unused capital costs. I'm sure the total loss is far worse.
Re:I feel better. (Score:5, Funny)
I've developed a handy guide to determining how much taxpayer money the TSA is wasting.
Step 1: Determine the total budget of the TSA.
You are now done.
Re:I feel better. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I feel better. (Score:5, Insightful)
You forgot to include the value of the items stolen by TSA employees, and items confiscated because they are alleged security hazards. Also, if you value the time of travelers as anything greater than zero, the needless delays imposed by TSA practices should be included.
Don't forget:
1. Lost value from people who no longer fly due to the TSA
2. Lost value from International tourism which no longer happens because of the TSA
3. Lost jobs from damage to the tourism industry
4. Projects canceled because of all of the above
And on and on and on and on...
End the TSA!
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Lost lives as a result of cancer from being subjected to the scanners...
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Another BIG one!
All the gasoline burned by those who choose to drive (where possible) instead of fly because of the whole TSA mess in airports.
Not only a huge additional cost which should enrage those on the Right, for those on the Left concerned about AGW, it's also a huge amount of additional CO2 dumped into the air.
One would think there should be broad bipartisan support for ending the TSA based on just those two factors alone, never mind that the TSA does almost nothing to actually increase security.
But
Re:I feel better. (Score:5, Insightful)
The TSA was designed by private interests for the benefit of private interests. Those flying private or charter never need fear. Everyone else, well, ultimately you are the enemy of the 1% and a threat to their existence, a threat that needs to be controlled and taught it's place. You or your family have no right to privacy not of their possessions or of their body. Upon demand you and you family will present themselves naked to be physically molested at will. When the real intent of the TSA is corrupt don't be surprised when the organisation becomes corrupt. Reality want change then demand TSA conduct the same activity for private and charter flights, watch how fast the law changes after that.
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2: not just tourism, transits. I take great care never to connect through the U.S. any more.
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in japan i get groped at the airport security line, but it is by cute girls (the only kind of girls japanese airlines will hire, it seems).
six different girls have stuck their hands down the front of my pants to feel my zipper or something. i dont know, i dont complain. dont have to take my shoes off, either.
wouldnt like for a male TSA agent to do it though.
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if you think visiting is tough (its not), then emigrating (including citizenship to get away from paying US taxes when you dont live in the US) is impossible (in reality it is merely very difficult).
its just one of those (little) things you need to get used to as a foreigner here.
Re:I feel better. (Score:5, Informative)
actually the value of articles confiscated is not entirely wasted as those articles have founded a flourishing "surplus" industry:
http://www.eyeflare.com/article/where-buy-goods-confiscated-tsa/ [eyeflare.com]
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Wow, the sites that page links to have some really interesting things for sale—even children! [imgbox.com] Makes for a great new parental threat: "Bratleigh, don't forget, little boys and girls that misbehave at the airport are confiscated by the TSA and auctioned off to meaner parents..."
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By the way, what happened to the PROPERTY RIGHTS in USA?
How is it possible that a fucking TSA monkey, that is representative of your chimp government can just steal your fucking private property?
How the fuck do you all still look at yourselves in the mirror knowing that you didn't throw the fucking turds out of power yet with an armed revolt?
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Imagine what great and wonderful things could be accomplished if that capital stayed in the hands of its rightful owners (i.e. the taxpayers) where it could be invested or used to buy innovative products and services. Or if the thousands of people, who have died because they'd rather risk the higher fatality rates of the highways than get sexually assaulted at the airport, had lived to be creative and productive.
I'm ok with them not using the equipment.... (Score:5, Insightful)
...it's the buying it part that's problematic.
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You don't seem to realize that one is a subset of the other.
They still could be wasting billions!
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Well ... yeah (Score:4, Informative)
Anyone with a functioning brain should realize that TSA is a giant waste of money, unless you have stock in a nail-clipper supply company.
Every terror plot that has been averted since 9/11, was averted by passengers. Underwear bomber, shoe bomber, etc... all thwarted by civilians who won't tolerate that shit anymore.
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See? The TSA is helping the American economy. If it wasnt for the TSA, bic sales would be lower.
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TSA is a giant waste of money, unless you have stock in a nail-clipper supply company.
Oh, the list goes on! The whole industry formed around the idea of providing
3-oz plastic bottles (took years until something convenient came to the market, btw)
TSA-approved locks on the luggage
The water/soda vendors in the airport almost doubled their prices.
TSA-approved laptop bags that make it easier to flip them open
All we need now is self-removing shoes.
Thank Goodness! (Score:5, Insightful)
Huh. (Score:4, Insightful)
Harassing me, making me miss my flights, rifling through my belongings, grabbing by genitals, bombarding me with carcinogenic rays, infringing upon my human rights, AND wasting my tax dollars? Now that's where I draw the line!
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typo (Score:3)
RuePaul Rand Paul, they are the same ;)
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Wait, I thought RuPaul, Ron Paul, and Rand Paul were the same guy.
Oh man, I thought for a while the republicans were going to run a drag queen for the presidential candidate.
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Well finally (Score:5, Insightful)
Looks like at least someone in Congress has two brain cells to rub together. Or did they just realize that the prevailing political wind was strongly turning against the TSA and that supporting it would look bad come election time? Actually, come to think of it, I don't care: either way, lets hope it goes past "slamming" and turns into "slamming their doors shut".
Re:Well finally (Score:5, Insightful)
Unfortunately, "wasting" in this case doesn't refer to security theatre. The "wasting" that the oversight committee is complaining about here is that the TSA is lots of props for their theatre, but not putting on a performance.
If the TSA actually used what they bought, regardless of whether that actually made anyone any safer or not, that would entirely satisfy the oversight committee.
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Actually, it does. Buying stuff on the premise that buying and using it will create security and not using it is a form of security theater. (Its a form of security theater directed mostly at Congress rather than travelers, but it is theater nonetheless.)
I don't think the eviden
Fly naked! It's the only way to be sure. (Score:2)
Because after this latest underwear-related threat to our national security, I predict searches will get a LOT more annoying.
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If you have a group of suicide willing sucke
Re:Fly naked! It's the only way to be sure. (Score:5, Funny)
Now what I propose is that I (70) and all other over 65 show up at the airport in a bathrobe and slippers (nothing else) send your belongings ahead via FedEx or UPS, and before entering the screening area, kick off the slippers and take off the bathrobe, REMEMBER, OVER 65 ONLY! Insist on a hand search (I've got some hiding places I want explored)!
Speaking of waste money (Score:3)
End The TNA (Score:2)
http://wh.gov/mCq [wh.gov]
and this is news? (Score:3)
"the tsa is wasting hundreds of millions of dollars"
thank you captain obvious.
O rly? (Score:2)
Congress: The Government Is Wasting Hundreds of Millions In Taxpayer Dollars
FTFY
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The Government Is Wasting Trillions In Taxpayer Dollars Every Year
FTFY
FTFY
A hefty price (Score:3)
The price for freedom is safety and security.
The catch, of course, is that safety and security are just illusions anyway. They can be promised to you but never delivered.
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As in we will sell our freedom for safety and security? Or at least for the illusion of safety and security.
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I thought the price for freedom was a buck-o-five?
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This is but an interesting sideline, however, since I believe what you were trying to say is that the price of safety and security (or at least, "the appearance of...") is freedom, since we seem to have offered our freedom up wholesale for TSA's security theater.
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Can we do a reverse transaction then? I'd like to trade my illusory security for my real freedom.
Perspective (Score:2)
Can it really be considered 'wasting' money given that the function of the TSA is to spend money without constructive purpose?
(Of course it also inconveniences travellers and violates rights, but nothing beats a large government budget for making something look more important than it really is.)
Sewer-cide bombers? (Score:2)
...when the bomb is swallowed and explodes while in the large intestine.
And yes, as a matter of fact, I *do* think that's funny.
TSA lines: the next terror frontier (Score:5, Insightful)
You wanna make an absolute terror scene? Roll a carryon sized bag full of explosives into the middle of a TSA line on the day before Thanksgiving in a major airport. It's likely that you will kill a thousand or more people, will be on the news for weeks, and will absolutely freak out anyone who is going to fly somewhere. It's the soft spot of the target. Coordinate a dozen of these one-man wrecking balls to go off within a minute of so of each other, and you can take out not just 4X as many people as on 9/11 with the same number of "hijackers" but shut down the entire air traffic system of the US on the busiest travel day of the year.
All made possible by the TSA policies and the screening intensity escalation.
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When the "bomb" failed to explode (simply setting the car occupants on fire), a local headbutted one of them to the floor. Official reports he was helping the man stop, drop, and roll.
This is how you deal with terrorists.
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So you're saying we must close Taco Bell for national security?
TSA wastes money? (Score:2)
Wasn't the whole POINT of the TSA to waste taxpayer money doing nothing?
I heard through the grape vine that Homeland Security sends dump-trucks with their offices supplies into the desert at night. You can only use so many post-it notes to write; "#2 in Al Qaeda caught / blowed up!"
Quick -- someone look busy!
Not a problem (Score:2)
The TSA figures that if they can slip a few dollars out of each piece of luggage, they can make up that shortfall in no time. Heck, they might even turn a profit.
wasted may be the wrong word (Score:2)
I suspect that the money is more accurately going from taxpayer's pockets into certain individual's pockets, not blindly wasted.
What's the Current TSA Approval Rating? (Score:2)
Like the man said... (Score:2)
"Just be thankful you're not getting all the government you're paying for." --Will Rogers
won't someone think of the pedophiles and voyeurs? (Score:2)
If we abolished the TSA what are all the pedophiles and peeping toms going to do with themselves? They'd probably end up getting in trouble. With the TSA they have a 100% legal outlet for their sexual urges and cravings.
PedoBob's schedule:
9am-12am: Man the peep booth and exercise the fleshlight [wikipedia.org] and anal vibrator.
1pm-3pm: Fondle little boys' dicks and balls and slide your fingers down their ass crack, pausing for a nice feel up of the anus. Don't forget to enjoy the sensual scalp message. Carefully remember
Where are the press conferences (Score:4, Insightful)
Shoe bomber
Underwear bomber
Nutzo pilot on Jet Blue
Clearly passengers and crew can handle a wide range of threats in the air. During this time TSA has had exactly 0 of these kinds of press conferences regarding stoping a plot AT the airport what value is the TSA adding again?
On a side note air-charter (14 CFR Part 135) opperators do not have their passengers screened by the TSA, were never required to install bullet proof doors at the cockpit and can and do opperate the same aircraft types that scheduled air cariers opperate.
Re:It's worth the expense (Score:4, Informative)
Too bad they so far have failed to do that. Why not just light 100 million dollars on fire and call it the same thing?
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Re:It's worth the expense (Score:5, Interesting)
If the government has to spend a bunch of money to make sure that doesn't happen, I'm perfectly okay with that.
What happens when they spend the money and it still happens? Is that cool, too? These guys are fucking criminals, I proctored the TSA testing for 3 years. Believe me, half of them looked like they were either under the influence of narcotics or had more than a passing familiarity with them. You are absolutely no safer with them then you were with the security you had before 9/11.
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1/10 on the troll scale there buddy. The TSA have caught exactly ZERO terrorists since their creation. They refuse to provide any statistics under the guise of "security".
Re:It's worth the expense (Score:5, Insightful)
>>>The TSA's whole job is to keep radical idiots from blowing me and my family up in mid air.
You're worried about the 1 in 700 million odds of death-by-terrorist. And yet you stuff your face with fat & sugar, which WILL kill you through artery blockage. Way to totally invalidate your original argument.
Stop being afraid of unlikely events like death-by-terrorist, death-by-tsunami, or death-by-meteorite, and focus on the REAL killers like heart attack, brain stroke, cancer, or driving to work in your car. Those are the things that kill 99.999% of Americans.
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Those are the things that kill 99.999% of Americans.
DHMO is also a prolific killer. And, it's everywhere.
We're working on that (Score:2)
We're all pooling together to rid this world of pure DHMO.
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(chuckles, setting up a website for banning DHMO and planning how to spend the loot^Fcontributions before they figure out what we wanna ban...)
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Do not mock this tragedy! Not only for our children, for our children's children!
Re:It's worth the expense (Score:5, Funny)
Lisa: That's specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
[Lisa refuses at first, then takes the exchange]
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Alas, the TSA isn't even that good. You'd have to throw in Moe beating a bear with a 2x4 while the Bear Patrol is busy raiding the nursery school for it's stuffed toys to complete the picture (to be on the safe side, show them tazing the babies).
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1.) 'Tis not your money (the government answers to the tax-payers).
2.) 'Tis only an illusion of security. People who believe comforting lies can never be safe.
Re:It's worth the expense (Score:5, Insightful)
The TSA's whole job is to keep radical idiots from blowing me and my family up in mid air. If the government has to spend a bunch of money to make sure that doesn't happen, I'm perfectly okay with that. Seriously, $200M. How many millionaires can't afford to pay a few extra bucks in taxes every year to make sure 300 million plus people can fly safely?
Please list the people the TSA have stopped from blowing you and your family up.
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...that the contractors making bank here are controlled by republicans?
Of course they are. We all know that democrats are saints and only Evil Republicans like Obama would trample all over the Constitution and run up huge deficits. Only Evil Republicans would ever run guns into another country like that evil Republican AG Holder.
Oh.... wait....
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Let's not.