Well said, Bouncer, SFJoe, DerekAZ, Punki and Pointman.
AS Flyer and Mountain Trader: The only thing worse than having safe, legal, everyday household implements (even my kids' rounded-end kindergarten scissors have been confiscated) stolen by the screeners (with the help of weekend warriors and idiot cops) is NOT KNOWING WHAT THE NEXT SCREENER WILL ADD TO THE LIST (since the FAA won't show us the list).
Today, Congress began the loud criticism of Mineta and Garvey for not telling of the impossibility of meeting the standards in the new law, so FF's criticism of these bureaucrats is not alone. And trust me, the criticism of these maroons is going to get louder in the coming weeks.
These same bureacrats have yet to officially publish the new regulations that allegedly authorize the siezure of legal items. Wonder why? FAA claims that they're secret because of NATIONAL SECURITY. B@**%#!t. Ban lots of safe items but don't show us the FARs that specify this garbage? I've been patient for several weeks now, but this isn't going to last forever.
I'm not a federal judge, but just wait until this lawlessness is tried on a member of the bench. Getting these unlawful regs overturned will be child's play once a judge loses his cigar cutter and his grandkids are searched like they "could be terrorists" and relieved of their kindergarten scissors. If I had more time, it sounds like an easy victory.
Even our President has taken to repeating words to the effect of "making travelers FEEL safer."
(Did Daschle, Gephardt and Clinton convince him to station National Guard troops at airports? Note to GWB: those folks don't like you, never will like you, and would do anything to help cause your unemployment in Jan 2005. Don't listen to them and don't trust them.)
And stop doing things for the sake of doing things and focus on real risks. Let those who are nervous about flying with my safe pocketknife ride Greyhound instead of causing multi-hour security checkpoint lines (which WILL cause me to reduce my high-yield traveling).
Mountain Trader: I know that "Patience is the new form of Patriotism" (N. Mineta, various speeches post-9/11). Even if it is, I'm pretty sure that Criticism of Incompetent Bureaucrats is not the new form of Treason. I'm not willing to give an inch in the hopes of "maybe, a little safer one day." I hold government bureaucrats to a higher standard than that. I only wish more people were willing to demand excellence of those who may still kill air travel "as we knew it." Still, you've got to admire a person willing to impugn my patriotism because I'm not willing to act like the mindless sheep he takes us for.
And don't get me started about the ridiculous rules applicable only to DCA (forget the secret password that changes hourly and you get diverted to Dulles, no discussion, no exceptions). Unbelievable, but true. Happened again several days ago.
The glee on the faces of the checkpoint personnel as they finally discover a sewing kit is priceless. As a very frequent business traveler, I don't check bags unless it's a long trip (too many bad experiences with a checked bag that seems to have ridden the bus and not my plane, delaying its arrival until I'm on my way home). That leaves me arguing with screeners, cops, armed soldiers and FAA overseers over items that aren't mentioned in the FAA's short Oct. 8 list. And not knowing exactly what's allowed and what's not.
We trust the pilots with an axe, but not with a razor (for the first three weeks). We don't trust the pax with pocketknives but wine bottles and laptops are ok. Huh?? As has been repeated before, prison officials can't keep weapons (or drugs, or other prohibited items) out of their facilities, yet airport screening personnel are supposed to try to search for and confiscate every conceivable sharp and pointy object. Amazing what some people will quietly endure in the name of "Patriotism." Count me out.