When Cupcakes Are Security Threats, Something Is Wrong

COMMENTARY | According to the Associated Press, a TSA agent confiscated a woman traveler's frosted cupcake under the theory that the frosting qualified for the prohibition against a liquid or gel, which are forbidden for airline travelers.

One wonders what happened to that cupcake after the woman boarded the plane, bereft of her snack. Perhaps, while on his break, the TSA agent tested the cupcake to make sure that it was not a bomb-by eating it.

This is another obvious example of how the security regime made necessary by the war on terror has made air travel an annoyance. The idea that a cupcake was a threat to the airliner would be laughable on its face, except that there is no appeal from the discretion of a TSA agent when he or she decided one cannot bring something aboard.

It has been written many times before by many people, but the proposition that there has to be a better way bears repeating. Somehow a combination of technology, better security practices, and just plain common sense should be brought to bear to make air travel less of a hassle without compromising security. When one cannot even bring aboard a snack to supplement the awful airline food, something is terribly wrong with the system.

It is surprising that we have not heard more about this from the campaign. Not even Ron Paul, who fancies himself a champion of civil liberties, has been touching a lot on making security more customer friendly. Of course Paul would likely just abolish airline security entirely and either allow airlines to handle the function or else one will fly at one's own risk.

This issue would seem to be tailor made for Newt Gingrich, a man known to be in love with technology solutions to public policy, as well as trying to bring modern management practices to bear on government functions. Indeed, at every opportunity, he should deliver a speech on airline security reform in the departure lobbies of major airports. He would have both a captive and an attentive audience. Gingrich would get plenty of votes just on the strength that he wants to fix something that bothers people every time they fly.

Source: Mass. woman says TSA agent in Vegas confiscated frosted cupcake as possible security threat, Associated Press, Dec 23, 2011