There is an easy fix to all of this. Put an armed Federal Marshall on each and every flight. Post them up in first class near the cockpit. Have him patrol the aisles from time to time.
Would it cost more money for your tickets if the government did that? Sure. Maybe a dollar more per person, per flight, tops?
But then, it always comes down to money, doesn’t it? It’s far less expensive to just have someone groping old ladies and little kids, isn’t it?
Here's a budget idea - train police officers - Sergent's and above - and let them fly free. Same with trained military officers.
When a flight doesn't have a 'freebe' on it, put the paid Federal Marshall on the plane. In addition, passengers who are willing to take defensive training to deal with terrorists and training to assist Federal Marshalls etc. will be given reduced ticket prices.
In short, allow citizens to be adult members of society rather than victims pushed around by TSA goons.
I don't know. "The Grope" has got to cost more than a dollar a head. Course they don't do it to every single passenger. It's still going to be close to the cost of an air marshal though. Or make the marshal an auxiliary stew. You'd have to pay him/her more but you don't lose a salable seat and less bump to the ticket price.