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 nleash
the marketplace to strengthen airport security. The socialistic
solution of federalizing airport-security workers will deny us the
creativity we need to fight terrorists. Only by utilizing the constant
competition that the free market provides can we protect America's
skies.
Computer networks
have to endure incessant attacks from hackers. Network providers
have to continually strengthen their defenses to ward off new types
of assaults. Hackers have consequently increased computer security
and have made the U.S. more resistant to terrorist cyber-attacks.
Computer security is not provided by the government, but rather
by a marketplace that punishes any firm that can't protect its electronic
assets. America's airplanes should be protected by a similar free
market approach.
American companies should be created which attempt to smuggle fake
guns, knives, and explosives past airport security. These firms
should be paid by airport-security providers every time they get
their fake weaponry past some checkpoint. If the rewards for fake
smuggling were high enough, some of the best and brightest would
try their hand at smuggling. The ingenuity these Americans would
show in smuggling would almost certainly exceed anything that terrorists
are capable of.
Airport security
should be taken over by private firms not owned by the airlines.
These security companies would directly compete with smuggling firms.
Smuggling firms that didn't thwart airport security would go bankrupt,
as would security providers that couldn't stop smuggling. The constant
competition between the smuggling firms and airport security would
help make America's skies safe. If airport security is forced to
continually battle against professional smugglers then the security
firms will find it easy to defeat the evil terrorists who threaten
our skies.
Obviously,
the government would have to set guidelines about how much successful
smugglers would be paid by airport security and dictate which types
of fake weapons they would be allowed to use. The government should
require that smuggling firms report in detail all successful smuggling
attempts. These reports should be given to all airport-security
firms so that they can learn from others' mistakes. While the manner
in which the smuggling firms foil security should not be made public,
travelers should be told how often security is breached at each
airport. Full disclosure is the best way to eradicate irrational
fears of terrorism or (for insecure airports) encourage rational
avoidance of flying.
This proposal
could be extended to allow ordinary Americans to engage in fake
smuggling. Perhaps at an airport gift shop you could buy a fake
gun which would earn you a free flight if you get it onto your plane.
(But would you still want to fly?)
The Senate
has proposed making all airport workers federal employees. While
this approach will strengthen the government-employee-dependent
base of the Democratic party, it won't strengthen airport security.
The wealth that capitalism produces in America is surely a cause
of the envy that probably motivated the September 11th attacks.
Capitalism produces wealth because it gives those who succeed financial
rewards and encourages those who fail to move on to new ventures.
Since it is difficult to both reward and fire federal employees,
they are shielded from much of the motivating force of capitalism.
Airport-security firms and workers should face the same motivation
that private sector businesses do. Let's have capitalism protect
our skies.
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