Wrong here. The $2.50 is a new tax that "covers" security costs, just like vehicle registration "covers", amongst all things, DMV costs.

The airlines and private companies have all the incentives to give their best customers (whether they pay more or are very frequent ones) better service. The government, however, has very strong incentives to do exactly the opposite: not to favor one citizen over the other. Any form of preferential lines would be picked up by certain lobby groups and media outlets as being discrimination by the government, of using taxpayers money to treat the "rich" better than the "poor", etc. etc.

Witness the lack of a preferential section on the often extremely long immigration lines; the only discrimination is between Citizens and non-Citizens, and often the $400 transcon passenger (pennyless student but US Citizen) exits the airport well before the $8000 first class (European businessperson about to close a several-million-dollar investment in the US economy).

The only exception that could muster scrutiny is for people working in the terminals and on the outgoing flights. And, of course, Congresspeople will always get better treatment, even if it's not an explicit policy.

We didn't support non-federalization loud enough, and will be very lucky if we will end up with airport security that is any more efficient or effective than immigration, DMV, or public education.

[Edited for poor UBBing]

[This message has been edited by hillrider (edited 11-18-2001).]