Critical Thinking or Waste of Security?
Your Papers Please…
Recently, the authorities in Philadelphia made their recommendations for tightened security at their City Hall. The results of that study – begun after 9-11 and at a cost of $6.5 – are now being implemented.
Visitors to this historic seat of municipal government will now have to sign a logbook, and wear a visitor nametag. Seems innocuous enough. Except when one asks this question: How will this increase security and safety? The answer is: It doesn’t. Just more security theater, and another opportunity to get citizens used to standing in security lines.
One security official, when asked about how these new procedures enhance security, said, “This is not a security measure. This . . . is keeping track of where people are going, which is not security."
Bruce Schneier, an actual security expert, had this to say in response to an e-mail request for a comment: “Waste of security.”