Wow I'm tired! I can't believe how early I had to wake up this morning to catch my flight. Security is so pointless!
How so?
First of all, we're forced to screen all of our personal belongings through a process that can easily miss dangerous items. Also, identifying individuals that are considered "dangerous" is a biased process. What makes an individual dangerous? How is that determined? The screenings simply make the passengers feel safer.
Still, screenings might encourage those dangerous individuals to not bring dangerous items.
The dangerous individuals are not being stopped, it's just more difficult for them to commit dangerous acts.
But even if the screenings don't stop these bad people, they still will be discouraged from committing dangerous acts.
What is the point of securing air travel to this extent? Air travel is significantly safer than driving since commercialization, so there is no need to make it this much safer.
What about terrorists? What about the people who bring things like bombs and guns onto planes?
Those acts of terror are designed to gain media coverage and spread fear. The actual impact of these events is slight, but the public panic that ensues is much greater.
Still, reducing terrorist attacks would then also reduce the public panic.
If that is the case, the psychological benefit of reducing terror events directly conflicts with the psychological detriment of making you need to get up early to catch a flight.