2001 marked a dark time in our country’s history, but it was also a time of unity: unity behind the president, against terrorism, and for safer airports. Unfortunately, unity didn’t get us very far. Twenty-one years later, planes are still dangerous.
It’s vacation time, and the family is ready to go; all that’s left is waiting in a long winding line to put shoes and backpacks on a high-tech machine and prove to the intimidating officers in light blue uniforms that you’re safe, not a threat to the plane. However, what if the officers were incompetent, their machines were faulty, and the entire setup was merely acting as one giant placebo effect to calm the fears of Americans? Take away the “what if,” and that’s America’s modern TSA.
The TSA, while repeatedly bragging about the few high-profile stops made in its short history, is atrociously bad at the one job it was incepted by the Bush administration to carry out: make planes safer. This is not exactly breaking news; in 2006, the TSA failed 100% of the time to detect parts for a homemade explosive. All of the parts for the device, which could reportedly obliterate a car trunk and fit in the palm of a hand, were seamlessly smuggled through security twenty-one times. In 2015, the TSA failed again, missing 95% of all potential threats in a DHS evaluation.
All of this begs the question: what are government officials doing to fix this, and are Americans safe? Fortunately, since 9/11, no other major attacks on airplanes have occurred. Malicious groups like the Islamic State and Al Queda have been virtually extinguished by military forces and their own incompetence. Yes, America has made progress, but how can we ensure that security… well… makes things secure?
Plenty of reasonable options exist. More conservative-leaning voices favor privatization of the TSA, which would make profit incentives for creating secure airport environments, much like the military enlists help from private arms companies for supplies to ensure their quality. Those on the other end of the spectrum generally favor an increase in funding to prop up the failing agency, hoping that it will provide more resources for the poorly funded government infrastructure to fix itself.
Endless banter from politicians repeating these same talking points has now gone on for exactly twenty-one years. At this point, any form of action would be better than the status quo. Surely, Congress can put aside their differences and provide a solution to safer traveling.
No matter what side of the aisle sounds attractive, make sure to register to vote in Indiana at https://indianavoters.in.gov/ if you’re 18 or older! Max Upchurch, a senior at NCHS who is registered to vote, says, “I think voting is important because it allows each person to have their own voice in society.” Research the candidates, find out which of them will take this simple matter and other common-sense measures seriously, and use your ballot to vote for the change you want to see!
