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Aneirin -> Damned if you do, Damned if you don't (3/22/2011 5:47:25 AM)
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Just as a point of interest, since the atrocities of 9/11, the vast security theatre that has grown up to disrupt world air travel has actually resulted in more fatalities than there was before the terrorist reason, according to a 2007 Cornell study. This loss of life was caused by people choosing to take less safe forms of travel to avoid the security hassles, as a result, a net loss of lives, some 130 people get killed every three months, the equivalent of four fully loaded Boeing 737's crashing every year ;
Abstract
Full paper ;
The Impact of Post-9/11 Airport Security Measures on the Demand for Air Travel
So, the increased security, what has it in effect achieved ?
Going on the premise that terrorism is designed to cause fear, and a nation's security establishments are there to protect their countrymen is it in fact correct to think that the terrorists, any terrorist that has acted, has succeeded in their aim, and any other that comes will also succeed, because they know full well the often knee jerk response to their threat will cause more problems for people in the long run, by activating the security mechanism in a target area ?
World air travel is down, many are choosing not to fly and although the terrorist is the cause, the end result, is the security hassles the traveller has to experience in order to travel by air and if the increased, some would say excessive security screenings is the reason, then the increased security according to the Cornell study is not saving lives, but losing them.
Could it be a terrorist needn't commit another act of terrorism, for the fear has already been created and the self censure is in place, people's freedom to move is hindered and in hindered, that can also be described as a loss of freedom.
Of those that (still) fly, what is the thing that annoys you the most about air travel, the foreboding as you approach the airport, the prospect of a terrorist bringing your plane down, or the airport security hassles ?
( I know for myself, it is the ever changing security hassles, for every time, every airport, I seem to be picked out for enhanced shit from security operatives, the result of which, I no longer fly if I can help it, if there is an alternative, I will take my chances with that, holidays abroad, forget it, not worth the stress).
So, what is it, jobs for the boys and increased population control, or very necessary for protection, the more the better?
What is the way forward on this ?
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