Well, our elected officials don't want to have to bail out the airlines again, either, but that will be necessary if people don't start flying again in larger numbers. I believe -- without evidence -- that people aren't staying away out of fear, but rather because they want to avoid the petty hassles associated with flying today, such as extremely long waits for ineffective screening by nitwits. If we could have consistent policies across the country, with published rules available for all to see, it would make a big difference.

People who fly constantly, as most of us do, shouldn't be at the mercy of these idiots who take advantage of their unique and unprecedented opportunity to push around the generally more successful population of air travelers. Oh, yeah, and they get to grope female passengers, too (see the New York Times of 11/21 on this subject); what a fringe benefit! At some point, people will demand that these abuses end.

Bruce