The TSA provides the illusion of security, but they are actually worse than useless. Any terrorist with half a brain could get by them. But if you want a police state where old white ladies are humiliated by high school dropouts with metal detector wands, you’ll love the TSA. They cant search Arabs though - that would be profiling!
The last time I flew, I bought 3 pounds of fudge at an airport gift shop just before I went through security. The fudge was so dense it set off alarms at the x-ray station, and I was still only 12 feet from the gift shop.
Even the TSA guard could only shake his head. At least he was polite about it. I've never had any trouble at the small airport in Eugene, Oregon. I pay extra to pass through there, and avoid Portland. Portland has got to be among the worst. The security area is in the middle of a large concourse, and there are always TSA uniforms standing around doing nothing.