And besides, what mystery land are people living in if they truly believe private industry can be more efficient than the government? The TSA surely needs reform but the process will still be the same whether it's the TSA or a private contractor. Think about the high quality of service from private industry such as health insurance, Comcast or your bank and then let's talk about the glorious service provided by private industry.
Meanwhile, when is the media going to bother to include the full story between Rep. John Mica and Covenant (privatized TSA services) who happen to be based in Mica's home district? Isn't that relevant to the discussion? Let's reform the TSA but privatizing is not the answer.
"The screening partnership program may be a step in the right direction, but ultimately, it doesn’t change the fact that people at the top are idiots. The real problem is that TSA needs to be totally rebuilt," said aviation consultant Michael Boyd, of Colorado-based Boyd Group International.
"Contracting with private screening companies offers staffing flexibility and a few other advantages," said Robert Poole, director of transportation policy for the Reason Foundation, a free market think tank, "but the system is still very centralized and run too much by TSA."
"Regardless of who’s performing security, they’re working with a government process that is generally outdated and less efficient," said Steve Lott of International Air Transport Association (IATA), a group that represents the airline industry. IATA recently unveiled a proposal for a redesigned "security checkpoint of the future" that uses biometric data to speed travelers through the airport experience. "We need to think a little more long term here," Lott said.
