Do You Think the U.S. Is Too Nice, or Too Worried About Being Fair?

I don't think the lack of armed officers at the airport is due to the US being too nice or too fair. It's about not living in a police state. We don't live in a dictatorship where you could be carted off by an uniform at a moment's notice, we have due process and protection under the law.

I heard a program on NPR the other day talking about airport security and how much of it is theater (just for show) and they referenced the Israeli system. What's admirable about their system is not that there are gunman everywhere, but that the people conducting security are highly trained in behavior and profiles (not stereotypes, but that people hiding something would act a certain way).

I think we would be safer. I also thing we would be safer if we stopped trying to be so dammed PC and profile. Yes there are exceptions to the rule but humans are pretty good at spotting that which is not right. If someone thought I looked shifty I wouldn't have a problem with being searched. I do have a problem with being searched just because I happen to be traveler number three. :(

Um....no. I think I'd like to keep some civil liberties in the USA, wouldn't you?

When I lived in Amsterdam, they have airport guards walking around with guns. They also scan people at the gate as well, not just when you enter the airport. Nothing can happen there, and yes it does make you feel safe.

I think this is not really what makes us fair, but what attributes to us being somewhat of a joke to other countries. There are way too many other things that annoy me about this country worrying too much about others, but this is just icing on the cake =)

I completely agree w/ Jo!

Israel doesn't pat down grannies and 3yo- what a waste of time- they profile. I don't understand why we have to be so PC and not just have Israel show us how to do things the way they do. I'm not sure anywhere has better airline security than they do.

I heard the same NPR program as Kate last weekend. I think Behavior Officers are absolutely the best way to go as well.

With that being said, I think people who take issue with the whole pat-down/x-ray system we've got right now should absolutely just not fly as Manda stated. These things are in place for all of our safety to ensure that nobody is secretly attempting to bring a bomb onto a plane full of innocent people, correct? Why do so many people not understand the whole cause & effect situation we're working with?