The latest issue of Forbes magazine includes Steve Forbescomparison of security measures in two large California airports.

A vivid example of the stark difference between Big Government and free markets can be seen in–of all places–the Transportation Security Administration.

International Airport (SFO) employs a private contractor for screening passengers and luggage. It’s one of only 16 airports (out of 450 in this country) allowed to do this. Last year the House Transportation & Infrastructure committee conducted a study of how screening at Los Angeles chief airport (LAX) compared with SFO’s. The astonishing finding: SFO screeners processed 65% more passengers per screener than did their counterparts at LAX. That’s not a typo: 65%. SFO screeners receive the same wages and benefits as those hired and managed by the TSA, and SFO uses virtually identical procedures and equipment. The difference is that the private contractor in San Francisco has no sense of entitlement or feeling of permanency. Competition works. There is far less turnover of screeners at SFO, and the contractor saves money by using part-timers (all fully trained, of course) to meet peak periods rather than keeping full-timers waiting around for periodic surges.