Policies devised to protect politicians, not us.

Aviation officials have questioned the need for such a strong permanent police presence at airports, suggesting they were there simply "to make the government look tough on terror". 

One senior executive said in his experience, the officers were expensive window-dressing.

"When you add the body scanners, the ritual humiliation of old ladies with knitting needles and the farcical air marshals, it all adds up to billions of dollars to prevent what? A politician being called soft on terror, that's what," he said.

From this article.

How many other policies, not just anti terrorist ones, are there to protect politicians from political criticism.  In the UK we had a lot during Labours period of office, plus a lot of oppressive new laws.