I'd be curious to know what you found liberating about commercial jet liners pre 9/11. The food wasn't any better. The planes were just as cramped. Security was less of a hassle, but honestly not much less. There were still an endless number of slow-moving lines. Parking sucked. All the shops in the terminal were extremely expensive. The actual sensation of flying hasn't really changed though - I mean you still get that sensation when the wheels leave the ground, there is still turbulence, and landings continue to be an adventure.

Regardless, I think you miss my point. If you are upset because you can no longer feel liberation by flying commercially then you must look for that elsewhere. It is not the job of the government to grant you this liberation at the expense of security. Honestly, we can't just NOT have security, no matter how inconvenient it is. The 'do nothing' approach is, in many ways, how we got in to this mess in the first place.

And by the way, and on a slight different topic you touched on earlier. The 'terrorists' may hate us for this or that or the other thing, but at the end of the day, they hate, and there is no existing on this planet with them peacefully. If you think dropping our support of Israel will stop the violence you are wrong. If you think they are mad because we bomb them, well, probably, but we aren't bombing them arbitrarily. They are displaying their hate against more than just the United States.

If it were up to me I'll kill the whole lot and let God sort them out...but that's just me. In the mean time, I'm happy to endure a bit of security-induced displeasure...at the expense of liberation or anything else.

Saintfan... I think you need to re-read what I wrote. pre-9/11, I [I]did[/I] find flying to be a liberating experience, and as I already mentioned, the private pilot license thing is somethiing I have already shown more than a passing interest in.

Im a yellodog here me bark...lol

Cash, I don't want you to take offense with what I'm about to say, because I'm not taking at shot at you in any way, but I think you bring about a good point.

Flying in a commercial airliner is not a 'liberating' experience. The airlines may have once billed it that way when it was new, but it is far from liberating, and it hasn't been (if it every was) for decades. 9/11 didn't make it any less liberating.

If you want liberating, scrape up 5 large and head down to your local air strip. You can get your private license in a Cesna and get liberated (although helicopters are more challenging to fly).

Let me ask this question: If I invite 100 people over to my house and charge them 10 bucks at the door because, lets say, I've got Zooey inside signing autographs, do I have the right to pat you down at the door before I let you in?

And I also want to point out- in the TSA's defense- (which I know makes no sense, considering my position on this issue)- that the two examples above are inverted images; they are not what the TSA is actually looking at.


I do plan to fly at some point in the future; it's just become like I said more of a chore than the liberating experience I once found it to be.

I can see why you'd think that, Mark, but it's not true.


And I really do have serious issues with the way the "War on Terrorism" is being waged.

I loved watching CNN coverage of the advancing troops in 2003. But it's 7 years later, and we've still accomplished nothing; we're still being told that a terror threat is imminent, and being asked to sacrifice our rights.

I know that flying isn't my god-given right, but it's something I used to love doing- I wanted to be a pilot at one time, and even went so far as some preliminary lessons. However, I just find the whole experience to be more of a chore than anything now. So yeah, I choose not to fly.

I've done the M16 drill Strato. 1985 in Luxembourg headed home. I've also lived on a closed military base - home of the 5th infantry at the time - circa the 1970's where you had to state your purpose to a soldier with an M16 at the ready just to pass through the gate.

People don't have a concept, and people seem to be eager to protest at the drop of a dime. Everybody want to feel violated so they can start up a website and get themselves on Oprah I guess.

I maintain the following for all those whose panties are currently in a wad over airport security: It isn't your plane. If you're raising hell about scans and pat downs you are in the minority because people who fly regularly, while no happier about long lines than you, appreciate the extra security. In my humble opinion, the airline should have the right to ask you to pee in a cup before they let you on THEIR plane with THEIR other paying customers, and they should be able to do so for ANY reason they see fit.

Like you said, if you don't like it, become a rock star so you can own your own jet, otherwise do as you are told. The government isn't trying to feel you up, they're trying to keep you safe.

Seems so far the scanners are working....people just want to get through the lines....Only about 70 airports worldwide have them and only have one...so most people might not even have to deal with them...

Dude, who knows. That CashAndFlash is a drunk. He's a drunkard.

The kid's drunk all the time, so who knows.

Cash I think you agree ..im principle..im all for protecting people...

Im out

Who Dat

That's where I disagree Strat. I think human nature is unchanging and, as such, times don't change.

In other words, bomb a guy's family to smithereens and he'll find a way to kill a few citizens of the country responsible.

All this stuff is just too 1984-ish for my tastes.

Airports suck..is that thought provoking enough....Ive flown all over the world.. which im sure a lot of you have...and i hate most that ive encountered ...if you want to see how when the millitary gets involved ..fly to El Salvadore...your greeted by M16s..and forget about exiting unless you have buisness there...

I had to pay 20 bucks to a cleaning guy to go have a smoke..
I can see where some people will whine over this and thats their god givin right ,,,but if your going to fly just know in advance of what to expect...

I flew back from Paris to N.Y once and went thru living hell to get back into our country ,,my country!..i was singled out for where i had been in Europe.. and for having a guitar ,,which they assumed had something hid.....Times have changed and we are headed for more and more security...I know it sucks ...but just be ready for it and if its that big of a deal ....make other arrangments for your travels..

Thats why i wanted to be a rock star ...where i could own the airplane..

Peace

All I have to say is thanks for writing the darn Blogs... to everyone. Here we have a football website that has grown into something thought provoking. Never in all my years working with the website that I would see intelligent questions of economics, policy, and national security mixed in with good "fart" humor found in some of my blogs. It keeps me glued here.

Thanks Saintfan for writing!!! Thanks cashandflash for adding more thought provoking questions in the comments!!!

"meant for and all"

Yeah, I found that second one yesterday...

honest question...

John Malkovich- "In the Line of Fire"- made a gun out of plastic.

Doesn't anyone else think this is a wild goose chase?

I mean, I understand what the scanners are meant for all, but the whole "war on terror" thing smacks of what I recently heard described in the Economist as "an autistic notion of verisimilitude". These guys want to kill us, and nothing will quell their anger short of stopping the bombing and occupation of their countries, along with placing reasonable conditions that Israel must follow if they are to maintain their status as a de facto protectorate of the US.

I think this is a better demonstration....

Skymike's avatar for demonstration purposes...

Gooood blog!

I agree with both of you.

i could have not said it better. it took me a few minutes to control myself after watching them dance in disbelief near the injured player over a flag. leading with the helmet was a nobrainer for the official. in 1977 they changed the rule in high school in la. on spearing. its 2010