TSA as "Security Theater"?

[Puddle Pirate]

I'm on the road a couple of weeks every month and get to see them in action. It is really sad. The last four flights I took I have had knives in my carry on. The last one I had two lighters,two knives and a multitool. I have had more concern over the mass of chargers (3 cell phones, laptop, ipod) that I carry in my backpack then the actual weapons I had.

I was asked to try to pass through with a fake bomb a couple of months ago and they did swarm all over me. At first the agent that was supposed to meet me on the other side didn't jump in and I was a little nervous, but he stepped in and everything went like it was supposed to.

 

[Blue]

Some guy with a towel on his head asked me to try to pass through a fake bomb once too.....didn't go so well....

 

[SGaynor]

What else do they sell, right there INSIDE the security checkpoint?
Fingernail clippers.
Yep. Those horribly dangerous weapons that are strictly prohibited through TSA security are available for purchase just 10 feet beyond that same checkpoint.
Oh, yeah.
You can buy that very dangerous WATER there, too.

What a fucking joke.
I can strangle someone, but god forbid I get their pants wet.

Actually, you can bring nail clippers through now, but no, not water.

I once had a guy confiscate my saline solution for my contacts because I didn't have a prescription for it.I told him I wear contacts, and that you need a script for those - no dice.

The TSA website specifically says that there is no size limit on contact solutions. I now carry a copy of that in my bag when I travel.

Even where I work, I always wonder about the quality of the security when it's a 20 year old kid making $10/hr...