The 9/11 scare made everyone wary of airplanes but airport security so far has failed to catch mock explosives and weapons[1]. When they were tested again, they failed again[2]. They picked up their game when nothing less than a TV crew tried to repeat the experiment[3], but a whistleblower warned that flight security as of now is "hopelessly inadequate"[4] to prevent a second 9/11.

So, as far as security goes, they're not that good. For this mediocre protection, travelers pay in theft[5], sexual assault[6][7] and racism[8].

I think the goal of the TSA is noble and just, but as it functions right now, the system is broken. There is the potential for the TSA to protect the US from terrorists, but the truth is that terrorism targeting the West isn't that common in airplanes anymore. If the TSA cannot or will not be fixed, I'd say yes, the world is better off without the TSA. The price to pay for protection is too steep.

[1]: https://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-undercover-dhs-tests-fin...

[2]: https://abcnews.go.com/US/tsa-fails-tests-latest-undercover-...

[3]: https://fortune.com/2018/01/19/fake-bomb-newark-airport/

[4]: https://www.ocregister.com/2019/12/13/flight-security-hopele...

[5]: https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/the-tsa-stole-over-2-bill...

[6]: https://filtermag.org/tsa-sexual-assault/

[7]: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/24/tsa-agent-adams-county...

[8]: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/tsa-employees-vent-...