"Common sense from the government?" dept.

If you're not already familiar with Steve Kirsch's web page of ideas for increasing airline security that:

• Would have frustrated the methods used in the 9/11 attacks so that we can't have a repeat
• Make the plane a less attractive target to hijackers or screen passengers in a new way
• Do not inconvenience passengers, free trade, or damage our economy
• Can be implemented immediately or soon
• Are low cost to implement
• Have minimal "unintended consequences"

...then why are you still here?  Get over there now and read.

Money quote:

A few of these techniques (suggested by readers) would have stopped the 9/11 hijackers, would cost next to nothing to implement, could be implemented virtually immediately, and result in a much higher confidence of safety than ever before. Yet they are not being considered by anyone that I'm aware of. This is unfortunate because the repercussions are huge-- layoffs at Boeing, huge layoffs at major airlines, major federal expense bailing out the airlines ($24B) ....all (possibly) completely unnecessary. Not only that, but those layoffs will have a domino effect on other industries, putting more downward pressure on the economy.

The changes that have been implemented by the FAA would not have stopped the 9/11 hijackers. Any group could use the exact same technique as used by the 9/11 terrorists tomorrow and the new security measures wouldn't stop them. Many of suggestions on this page would have had a high likelihood of having prevented this tragedy [emphasis mine]. Why we continue to implement measures that we know wouldn't have worked when there are cheaper, more effective, and more convenient methods is beyond me. Why we don't try some of the simpler ideas below is beyond me. What are we afraid of? Let's try it on a controlled situation first, and if that works, on a few planes. Now!

This stuff is exactly the sort of common-sense thing you read every now and then that seems to have no chance of being implemented.

It's past time to change the paradigm that makes "government" and "common-sense" mutually exclusive realms.

Comments

[Best regards]

hello !