Simple Flight Security
While the federal government jumps to new security measures at the airport (to include frisking, virtual strip searches, restrictions on cabin movement, and other ridiculous and ineffective measures), I suggest two basic solutions and one underlying premise.
The underlying premise is that air travel is not a right. It is not guaranteed by the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. It is not matter of human rights or self-esteem. It is a privilege that can be forfeited for any reason and a service provided by for-profit companies who can serve or not serve whomever they choose.
That said, here are two simple ways to increase security and reduce acts of terror.
First, aggressively engage in ethnic/national profiling. I’m truly sorry if it hurts your feelings that I won’t transport someone from a country, religion, or ethnic group that is identified with extremism and acts of murder. Take that complaint up with the perpetrators of terror not the victims of it.
Second, require a traveler’s license for anyone to fly within the US. It would br like a driver’s license except that instead of passing a “rules of the road” test (although not a bad idea) the licensee would undergo a thorough background search. No pass–no fly. It’s that simple.
Would this address all threats? No. But it would eliminate the degrading searches (technically unconstitutional) that await us in the near future.
What would you do with travelers boarding flights outside the US bound for domestic destinations? Extensive pre-flight screening and sharing of intel seems to be a good start. Individual rights should be carefully weighed against the rights of the many.
Are you sure that this isn’t better?