Earlier today, George Will somehow worked William Buckley (?) into a critique of the TSA. He even praised John Tyner — the “don’t touch my junk” guy. Now, criticism of the TSA has been pretty broad, but I never expected Will to break his blood vow to never back up any challenger of authority. I wonder what changed his mind?
What the TSA is doing is mostly security theater, a pageant to reassure passengers that flying is safe. Reassurance is necessary if commerce is going to flourish and if we are going to get to grandma’s house on Thursday to give thanks for the Pilgrims and for freedom. If grandma is coming to our house, she may be wanded while barefoot at the airport because democracy – or the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment; anyway, something – requires the amiable nonsense of pretending that no one has the foggiest idea what an actual potential terrorist might look like. (emphasis mine)
Oh, really? You mean like this?
Or the guy on the right here?
Nah, can’t be. I know what George has in mind:
^^^in case it isn’t obvious, that guy isn’t a suspected terrorist. Yet, if all three were to attempt to board a flight under George Will’s suggested security, guess which one would get searched?
