The poster explained his reason for picking the specific two options he chose. It is a thought experiment. It is designed to distinguish between an 'anything for security' versus an 'anything for liberty' attitude, and there is no middle ground. Or course the vast majority of Americans would take the middle ground if given a choice...

Although I have a different bone to pick:

If the option of 'no security' means that there is exactly one flight (per month, per year, ever) with no security, then, I'll take today's security.

If the option of 'no security' means a sizable proportion of flights between these cities (or indeed, throughout the US) will have no security, then I will take no security.

It's the difference between being a needle in a haystack and a needle on a bare concrete floor.

But since I would never fly from NY to DC, who cares? ;)

Indeed. a.k.a. False Dilemma.

Sigh. Don't want the security, but I do want the boots and miniskirts back.