Today’s lesson: incentives and unintended consequences

by TrogloPundit | November 27, 2010 10:12 am

The background: a woman named Corinne Theile had a unique and…let’s just call it interesting…idea for getting through airport security:[1]

“Every time I go through security I always say, ‘I don’t even know why I got dressed this morning.’ I end up taking off belts, jewelry and everything else off anyway,” Theile said.

“I don’t want to do a body scan, and I’m hoping by wearing a bikini they will see everything they need to see and we can avoid a pat-down, as well,” she said.

And it seems to have worked:

After arriving at her destination, Theile told NBCLA over the phone that the TSA agents got a laugh out of her outfit.

“The woman looked at me and said, ‘Girl, you wearing a bikini. Come right through.’ She had a big smile on her face,” Theile said. “I think this might be the way I travel from here on out. So, we’ll see.”

Video of her interview at the link[2]. Video of her going through with her plan on YouTube:

The upside: this is a woman wearing a bikini – and wearing it well – in a place where one does not normally see such things. We can all appreciate that.

The downside: this is exactly the wrong incentive.

Theile’s idea was (is) aimed at avoiding inconvenient, embarrassing, offensive and sometimes invasive security procedures. It worked – good for her – but she didn’t solve any problem: she only found a quicker way around it.

A way that will require her to continue wearing her bikini in public places where such things are not normally done.

Wouldn’t it be better if the TSA would change their procedures, to provide security while still protecting our modesty and dignity? Indeed, it would. It would be better if we could all just dress the way we normally do, without resorting to revealing clothing that may or may not be pleasing to our fellow travelers.

But what would you do if you were a TSA agent? Recommend making those changes? Or leave them as they are, and maybe incentivize more bikinis?

So while I’m all for Miss Theile giving this a try, and while I’m perfectly fine with others looking to emulate her, we also have to recognize: this is exactly the wrong way to make a change at TSA.

Just sayin’.

More at The TrogloPundit: Roxi Copland sings “I’ll Be Groped for Christmas.”[3]

Endnotes:
  1. for getting through airport security:: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/traffic/transit/Traffic-LAX-holiday-travel-thanksgiving-110384004.html?dr
  2. at the link: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/traffic/transit/Traffic-LAX-holiday-travel-thanksgiving-110384004.html?dr
  3. The TrogloPundit: Roxi Copland sings “I’ll Be Groped for Christmas.”: http://troglopundit.wordpress.com/?p=18069

Source URL: https://rightwingnews.com/uncategorized/todays-lesson-incentives-and-unintended-consequences/