Renurp, it is worse than a joke. The authorities promise us safety in flying on the airlines if we submit to their control ("You don't accept it, you don't fly"). They KNOW they are ineffective. One example: there is no armed response available in the security area, so that if they ever did apprehend a real terrorist in the security line, they could do nothing about it. Even if there was an odd policeman with a weapon standing around, he could not shoot the terrorist without killing other passengers or provoking the terrorist to unleash his weapons. When this farce started, they at least had the National Guard posted in the security halls, even though their weapons were unloaded. Those guys were totally bored and had to be pulled out because even then they knew there was no chance they would ever be needed, nor could they be effective in such a crowded, chaotic environment. More proof? In LAX a Crazy (not a terrorist or at least not in the definition we use) shot up a lot of passengers at the El Al counter. The only way he was stopped was by private security guards; the authorities had no procedure to stop this type of attack and still don't, hence their bleating now about the "crowds".
And the TSA is complaining about manpower, wanting to fire more of their staff (of course only the security checkers, not the supervisors or off-airport police who get the big bucks). When the available checkers have to use random or computer-generated screening, and be seen to be "doing their job" (ie hassling innocent passengers and crew) it is impossible for them to be effective. They simply don't have time to do what they should be doing, which is identifying the real threats and mounting protections against them. El Al manages to do it quite successfully, while the rest of us simply go through the motions.
And I repeat; if security only applies to the 'front door' (crew and passengers) while the rest of the airport staff and workers get a free pass, it is completely worthless.
Promising us that they are making us safe, while doing nothing effective, is a lie and we are fools if we accept it.