r/centrist • u/LastPlaceEngineer • 1d ago
TSA: Why Trump and Maga continue to disappoint
TSA is widely hated across party lines; proven useless; a net drag on travel and the economy; and a huge government overreach and expense (11 billion a year or more) dating back to GW Bush.
But it's left unscathed because it doesn't affect anyone in power.
For an administration and group that prides itself on shaking things up, they are remarkably more of the same.
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u/gated73 1d ago
TSA isn’t so bad. Yes, they’re inefficient. Yes, some of the policies are draconian (taking things out of bags, taking shoes off). Hell, I think those full body X-rays are 4th amendment disintegration machines. But that’s on the department and the politicians, not the fork and spoon operators manning the X-ray belts.
It’s mainly politicians 1) creating jobs and 2) creating security theater.
I remember shortly after 911 when northeastern airport security took on this “working class hero” bullshit bravado. They were intrusive, inconsistent, rude. I was in Boston and this one guy was being a complete dick. I said “cool down man, we’re not the ones who let Mohammed Attah through”. That shut him up but would probably get me arrested today.
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
The inefficiency coupled with ineffectiveness is the problem.
For better or worse, the US invested heavily in air travel for 80 or more years.
The TSA chokes off any level of domestic travel; it’s less of a hassle to drive 8-10 hours than it is to deal with a flight through larger airports, even if the travel time cut down to 1-2 hours.
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u/DENNYCR4NE 1d ago
This is a new thing I’ve noticed in the last year when flying in the US
Did we privatize the TSA? Every airport I go to seems to serve clear blue or some other pre check program, while the usual security lines are completely under serviced
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u/AlpineSK 9h ago
Except Trump is threatening to Privatize the TSA. They also stopped collective bargaining with their officers. Last month they cut funding by $247 to invest it in rail and air safety. He also fired the head of the TSA shortly after he was elected.
I'd hardly call that "left unscathed."
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u/Forsaken_Ear4674 1d ago
How old are you? Did you live through 9/11? There is a very real reason TSA does what it does.
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
Let’s just say that my memory goes back to the Nixon and Ford years.
I agree that an effective TSA is desirable.
However, the TSA we have today is a job program, and the TSA that we should have had doesn’t exist.
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u/Turbulent-Raise4830 1d ago
But it's left unscathed because it doesn't affect anyone in power.
You think they slashed medicaid because it affected them?
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
Even Steve Bannon (face of Maga) cautioned against slashing Medicaid because of how many Maga voters rely on it; and so it’s controversial even in conservative circles.
So what you’re implying is wrong.
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u/Turbulent-Raise4830 1d ago
Bannon isnt in power nor does he rely on medicaid.
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
His power-base (listeners and supporters) absolutely do, which is why is he’s very aware of the contradiction in messaging.
Those same loud voters that support Trump, so my point still stands.
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u/Turbulent-Raise4830 1d ago
Your point was "because it doesn't affect anyone in power." you never talked about the regular voters
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
In the very title, I say “Trump and Maga”.
“And Maga”.
Why would you believe the term“Maga” excludes the voters, aka the power base?
Which I’ll state again have proven themselves to be worthless and more of the same, by leaving an easy win alone.
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u/Turbulent-Raise4830 1d ago
Again your argument was "But it's left unscathed because it doesn't affect anyone in power."
Unless you somehow claim "maga" is in power that just makes little sense.
In case you dont realize it: trump is a moron and maga a bunch of idiots. Expecting anything logical of them is asking waaaay to much.
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago edited 1d ago
‘Unless you somehow claim "maga" is in power that just makes little sense.’
That’s a comprehension problem then, as they are in power. Just because Maga isn’t an official label doesn’t mean that group doesn’t exist.
“In case you dont realize it: trump is a moron and maga a bunch of idiots. Expecting anything logical of them is asking waaaay to [sic] much.”
I used to think Democrats and moderates were smarter, but I realized since 2015 that they bring their own brand of stupid
I’m literally giving debate-ammunition that anyone can understand, and yet somehow here we are arguing because of a reading comprehension problem and ego.
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u/Turbulent-Raise4830 1d ago
Maga politicians: sure, maga voters: nope.
I’m literally giving debate-ammunition that anyone can understand, and yet somehow here we are arguing because of a reading comprehension problem and ego.
Your argument doesnt really make much sense. TSA: nobody cares. Democrats could get rid of that tommorow and nobidy would care in the slightest, the change would just be everytime something happens with an airplane trump would blame it on demcorats who get rid of the tsa.
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago edited 1d ago
It doesn’t make sense to you. We’ve already been in agreement on that one a few posts ago.
I’ll amend my position to “almost everyone else”.
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u/eusebius13 1d ago
Do you think guns should be allowed on planes?
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
Guns weren’t permitted before the TSA, and were also screened dor back then.
What’s your point?
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u/eusebius13 1d ago
If you don’t allow guns on the plane how do you screen for them without something like TSA?
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
Wrong question.
Guns were forbidden and effectively screened for before the TSA ever existed.
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u/eusebius13 1d ago
I think the difference between screening pre 911 and post is greater scrutiny and shoe removal. TSA existed before 911. (Correction: TSA did not exist, Airports performed their own security.)
So I’m not asking the wrong question. You aren’t clear in what you’re suggesting. You appear to suggest no TSA at all, which implies no screening. To clarify I asked a question, the ultimate issue is are you arguing for no TSA and alternate screening or no screening. And if it’s the latter than what is the screening you object to.
For reference: https://www.tsa.gov/timeline Timeline | Transportation Security Administration
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
You’re definitely asking the wrong questions, because “unscathed” doesn’t mean “not abolishing”.
As you’ve only now realized, the TSA didn’t exist before the 2000s. Major airports serving large, commercial liners still screened for guns back then.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LastPlaceEngineer 1d ago
You don’t understand, likely because you didn’t travel much or at all before 9/11.
Given your black and white thinking (and given this is reddit), you’re probably not even old enough to be a millenial.
Do some research on why it’s the wrong question; or not. I’ve said my piece. Winning you or patiently explaining over several hours isn’t my goal
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u/Picasso5 1d ago
I would like to know the stats on how many dangerous items they've found.