Suppose that there existed some company whose employees managed to repeatedly steal from customers — perhaps a dry cleaning establishment whose workers every now and then made off with nice garments they had just pressed. If that were to come to light, we know that there would be political fireworks, ranging from “centrist” pols who would introduce bills for the regulation of all dry cleaners to protect consumers, to far leftists who would call for a federal takeover of the drycleaning industry on the grounds that nasty old capitalism had once again reared its ugly head and proven that we just can’t trust private ownership.
There is such a “company.” It’s a non-profit enterprise known as the Transportation Security Agency, with branches in every airport. As the indomitable James Bovard writes hereTSA personnel have engaged in widespread theft of personal effects when checking baggage. There will probably be some muted political criticism, but don’t expect anyone (except perhaps Representative Ron Paul) to say that the TSA was a blunder.
If people found out that a dry cleaning establishment didn’t return your garments all the time, they’d start patronizing competitors. Too bad the TSA is a government monopoly. We don’t have an alternative.
