The philosophical arguments demand an answer from the TSA and the administration, but some of the factual arguments need more support. The charge that a TSA agent planted fake drugs on passengers as a "joke" MUST be hyperlinked; that just speaks of a lack of web savvy on the Washington Times editorial board. However, the Times has a point about the overall process. The TSA should be accountable to elected officials, and if the electorate is opposed to their policies, there should be political recourse.

This opinion piece does a good job defining context, especially as it relates to the future. Most astute is the observation that "Once freedom at airports is 'locked down,' it's inevitable that TSA will next target buses, trains and the Metro. After all, al Qaeda has attacked each of these modes of transportation in other parts of the world. Strict controls on internal travel are the hallmark of a police state." Americans need to remember that surrendering our freedom in exchange for dubious security benefits constitutes a fundamental change in the American psyche--with the passage of time young Americans have already come to consider it normal to submit to intrusive searches that go far beyond those that were required in ... More »

This piece undercuts itself by introducing irrelevant points and straying from the basic issue into partisan politics and economic theory. It's poor writing because even people who agree with the fundamental position taken are likely to be put off by the nonsense.

Opinion piece very short on fact or perspective. Cheerleader fluff, preaching to the choir.