I’m not sure which I find more interesting: this practice, or that you know so much about it to be able to comment on a differentiation of trends over several years.

No judgment. It just sounds like there’s a story there.

Frankly, I think the worst part is that TSA agents are far more likely to steal things out of your luggage than any random person on the street. It’s a real problem.

Yes, they also, at a very high rate, miss dangerous items hidden in luggage. The thing is, however, in real life, it is extraordinarily rare that anyone would try to do that. 99% of the time, it’s a TSA agent freaking out over fingernail, clippers, or some silly thing like that.

I’m most concerned about the ridiculous cost of it all, and how much better that money could be spent.

E it’s all just security theater

When I attended a conference at the UN, there was but a tiny fraction of the amount of security required to enter then is required to go through an airport. Yet, I still felt more safe at the UN.