<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
I completely disagree. We are not at war and trying to justify these un-American Gestapo tactics currently used by the TSA by saying that "extraordinary measures for extraordinary times" are justified is ludicrous. Until Congress declares War, we are not justified in using "extraordinary measures", especially not against our own citizens. The TSA lost all credibility and respect the moment they started acting like thugs.
And I must also disagree with your point that the "hassle factor" is playing a minor role in the economic hardships that US airlines are experiencing. Even if the estimated 3.8 billion dollars per year that the airlines are losing to the "hassle factor" is overestimated by a factor of two, that would still leave nearly 2 billion dollars worth of losses to the airlines. These losses persist because we insist upon making airline travel a miserable, intrusive experience. Hardly a minor role in the overall loss picture. The nearly-criminal thing is that we, the US, are accomplishing the terrorists' mission for them with these un-American and economically suicidal measures.</font>
Well, we are at war, if not technically, then effectively. That's the reality. You can also deny the sun will rise tomorrow, to the same effect.
Your statistics about losses of 3.8 billion to the "hassle factor" was provided from a single source, the airline industry group, hardly an uninterested group. I have seen that statistic nowhere else, and I don't believe it. They are losing money hand over fist because people are afraid of flying, and also because of excessive executive pay, rigid union work rules, an incomprehensible fare structure, and a bad economy. Those are facts I can back up from multiple, credible sources, not the airline industry lobby group alone.
Losses to "hassle factor" are way overblown. They can blame no one but themselves for their losses.
Arguably the most American thing our American government can do is protect American lives. We need security for that.