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The Issue

There is something Un-American about the Transportation Security Administration: It is heavy handed, it violates at least three Amendments to the US Constitution. It is rigid and inflexible. It is managed by unmotivated career bureaucrats. It is lazy and ineffective. And we're not getting what we paid for.

The Opportunity

One third of the US Senate and the entire House of Representatives must be re-elected in November of 2010.  The “Christmas Bomber” of 2009 revealed the absurd ineffectiveness and complacency of TSA. Through distribution and promotion of Please Remove Your Shoes and its message, we will launch an active effort to lobby congress for realistic change and tighter control of a super agency run amok.

With intense criticism of this agency’s operation and massive sensitivities about government spending in general, the political climate is ideal for curbing abuse and waste by TSA.  Distribution of the movie to Congress and the White House can be expected to at least put this topic on their agenda.

The Effort

Certain congressional groups like The House Transportation Subcommittee will be canvassed as early as possible in an effort to get the subject of air security reform onto their agendas early in the re-election process.

A majority of the effort for the cause will be education of the public to bear pressure on their representatives. In addition to movie screenings nationwide, presentations at organizations like Rotary Club will be held, with tailored edits of Please Remove Your Shoes  in illustration of the problems of current TSA practices.  

The Suggestions to Congress

Reread the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission. Give us a solution that works, is proportionate to the threat, and keep it that way - no more “mission creep.” Clarify the roles of “deterrence” and “interdiction” in aviation security, and see that TSA and the intelligence agencies are properly involved and understand which role they have.

1) Establish and enforce tough proficiency standards.

2) Emphasize results, scrap the PR.

3) Recruit the right people, with intelligence and integrity - train and test them frequently.

4) Promote based on performance.

5) Decentralize decision making - encourage local problem solving.

6) Admit mistakes and shortcomings - then fix them.

7) Keep terrorists off balance with flexible, changing tactics.

8) Identify realistic threats and dangerous people.

9) Design practical and effective countermeasures.

10) Motivate TSA management to set and achieve meaningful goals.

11) Clear out bureaucratic survivors.