While at work today during some downtime I was reading through an article on CNN pertaining to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and their recent failures on tests performed by undercover officials. A shocking factoid was learned during said downtime that made lunch go down that much harder: " in tests conducted in 2006 and disclosed to USA Today last year, investigators successfully smuggled 75 percent of fake bombs through checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport, 60 percent through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and 20 percent at San Francisco International Airport".

Now most of us have been in this setting recently - you're at the airport - waiting to get go through security and you see a little old lady who can barely walk getting padded down by security - thus thwarting her trip to Minnesota to see her grandson because she might be a bomb wielding terrorist in disguise.

My questions is simply: when is the TSA finally going to address this issue? It's been 6+ years since 9/11 and still to this day failure rates on these tests are that high? It's not only embarrassing but for a sports guy like myself in the most simplistic of analogies I see our Administration as a failed sports franchise such as the New York Jets - a team who lost all but one game this past season after dismal performances in years past. Like the Jets the US Administration is not addressing needs - and in continuing with the sports analogy it is imperative that we address our defensive needs. The administration talks a big game about protecting our borders - start by finally protecting our airports.

So here's my solution: 1) TSA agents must stop their cultural sensitivity; meaning if someone complains of a bad knee or back and has a brace - they must be thoroughly checked anyway - it's then the responsibility of said person to show up earlier before pre-boarding; 2) stop wasting time and energy on searching the elderly - this makes me and I'm sure many other feel less safe because, well let's be honest, if grandma Mabel blows up a 747 well than hell, might as well lock your doors and call it a night folks. 3) Hire qualified, professional, serious people and I say this because again, I don't know about you, but the times I've seen the people working security at airports I thought I was watching an episode of MTV's Real World - young, slightly immature, chatty people who don't invoke fear and respect - it's honestly a joke. 4) fire TSA agents who fail tests - after all the training they are supposed to go through if they can't get it right they are a danger to us as a whole - in this economy I'm sure we can find some people out there who are qualified, hard working and determined to do their job right.