On "Airport Insecurity"

So, yeah, what's the deal with airport security these days? It seems like all sorts of little rules have been established to make it look like something is being done, but in reality, I wonder how much is actually being achieved, except for a big headache for all concerned.

Here is an excerpt from "Airport Insecurity" by Burt Prelutsky.

[...]

What was not provided at either airport was an explanation. If toothpaste and deodorant in the wrong hands somehow form a dangerous combination, what possible difference does the size of the container make? And why is it important to place them in plastic? Are Islamic terrorists reporting back to Osama bin Laden that the Great Satan has stymied their sabotage efforts with the baggy defense?

I'd also like to know who's making all the money providing the airlines with these millions of plastic baggies. Call me a cynic, but I'm smelling political pay-offs.

[...]

So...if toothpaste and deodorant are dangerous in large quantities, but you can carry on small quantities, what is to prevent would be terrorists from all taking the same flight and combining their otherwise insufficient quantities of toiletries into a super bomb? Also, as long as we're on the subject, maybe these toiletries should be banned from high school locker rooms too. If there's a way to make a bomb out of it, some punk kid will try it. Maybe these toiletries should be confiscated at the doors to all public buildings, just to be safe.