Right-wing media promote call for private security at airports

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/research/201011170030

November 17, 2010 2:45 pm ET

Right-wing media have recently echoed or promoted Rep. John Mica's (R-FL) call for private firms to replace the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in providing airport security. But experts have said that privatized airport security had previously led to numerous security lapses, and private security firms were regularly criticized over lax hiring and training practices

Mica encourages airports to drop TSA screeners, hire private security

Mica encourages airports to drop TSA screeners, hire private security. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), who is in line to become chair of the House transportation committee, recently sent a letter to more than 150 airports encouraging them to opt out of using TSA screeners and hire private security instead. Mica reportedly wrote: "As TSA has grown larger, more impersonal, and administratively top-heavy, I believe it is important that airports across the country consider utilizing the opt-out provision provided by law."

Right-wing media promote Mica's call for private security

Fund: Israelis use "private contractors," but the U.S. "created this giant bureaucracy." On the November 16 edition of Fox News' Hannity, The Wall Street Journal's John Fund stated: "The Israelis use private contractors and psychological profiling. We decided not to go that way. We went and created this giant bureaucracy called TSA."

[LeftinOH]

1. You'd think that security-obsessed Republicans wouldn't have a problem with the TSA,

especially considering that airport security was performed by private contractors up to (and on) Sept 11, 2001.

[hedgehog]

2. Hmmmmm... what if a Bush appointee burrowed into the TSA

came up with this scheme to e decision to go with scanners? It's a win-win , either Chertoff or Blackwater pockets the money!

[LiberalFighter]

3. When they promote private security we and the media need to ask why it will be better.

And then be ready to shoot them down when they provide stupid responses.

Such as privatizing will increase cutting corners. Such as reduced or no training. Such as reduced or no background checks for hiring allowing sexual perverts and terrorists to be hired. Such as reduced or no maintenance of security cameras, screening machines, and other security devices.

If they want to privatize this operation then they need to take all government funding out of it and let it be a factor in the ticket prices for those flying. No subsidizing by the government.

[malaise]

4. I wouldn't trust an RW security firm

with anything. They may blow up an aircraft or two for political gain.
Fugg it - national security is the Federal government's business.

[KharmaTrain]

5. I Hate To Admit When They're Right...

...or partially. When the TSA's role was upgraded after 9/11 there was a big debate about using private firms to do the job and to keep the unions out of this process. TSA won and it's turned into a monster...zealous to find that one in hundreds of million with a shoe bomb or box cutters. Every attempt...even if its foiled and on foreign soil becomes another amp up of the fear and the regressive "security" tactics. It's humiliating and intrusive...and experts say over and over this system isn't making anyone safe. It's "security theater"...people justifying their jobs for the sake of having the jobs and powers. Our airports now feel like prisons and those who feel this is "safe" or no big deal may think again when the 4th ammendment is all but scrapped to make us "safe".

I definitely don't favor turning this over to private security...it's bad enough we have several hundred thousand mercanaries in Iraq & Afghanistan and the corporate welfare system that supports them. We do need a new, more adult approach to this situation. "Profiling" in the sense of specialized agents speaking with people as they're boarding, undercover agents in the terminals and planes and confirmation of tickets and identity should be all that's necessary. If someone is hellbent on beating the system they will...it's a whack a mole game where our "security" is fighting the last attack instead of working on preventing the next one.

[PADemD]

6. Radiation is radiation whether its run by the TSA or privately.

[spanone]

7. instead of pat downs, we could have instant waterboarding by halliburton goons...i like it

[northoftheborder]

8. Does everyone have Alzheimer's???

Back before 9/ll we HAD private contractors, who did an atrocious job. They did not even enforce the lax rules we had then; poorly trained, poorly paid, bored people doing lack lustre jobs. We don't want to go the private route - remember the private contractor mantra: PROFIT BEFORE PERFORMANCE.

[OHdem10]

9. Mica is heading this. Payback fo Security Company who gave

him Campaign contributions.

The Private Security do the "Feeling Exam". What the
GOP think private companies can "feel" better??
Throw this right back.

Typical Republican Tactic. Get the public all roiled
up over government program and quick use the confusion
to pass legislation in favor of Business.

[grahamhgreen]

10. Every story i have seen has been for it...