[dpa5923]

"Has anyone handled your bags but you."

This is a stupid question totally unlikely to elicit useful information.

This question was asked well before September 11th or the Patriot Act.

Take off your shoes, please."

Cut me a break--if you don't have adequate technology to figure out what is in my shoes without hassling me then go back to the drawing board until you do.

If you have not metal in your shoes you can walk right through and I have a number of times. The problem is often shoes that you would never think have metal do indeed have metal in them. The intent of having you take your shoes off and place them in the x-ray machine is so they do not have to hassle with a complete search.

"Empty your pockets into this tray."

Same as above.

Same as above as well.

"Cigarette lighters are prohibited in checked bags or carry on bags or your pockets."

This is an incredibly stupid and useless policy. I suppose if someone brought a few thousand on board it might be relevant.

Most lighters have always been prohibitted but if dening you the opportunity to bring a cigarette lighter on an aircraft is fascism to you, you obviously have no idea what hell was really released by such awful regimes. It sounds to me that you have been babied and protected so long by this great nation that you have no idea how evil the world can be and that there really are people who want to kill you and me. I suppose it would be okay to try and stop them as long as we don't inconvince you or prevent you from holding on to your Bic lighter.

[dpa5923]

dening = denying

prohibitted = prohibited

inconvince = inconvenience

This is why you should type slowly.

[cgbg]

My view is very simple--I believe the government serves at my convenience and they are my employees.

It is their responsibility to take care to limit infringements on my freedom. Therefore I expect, no, demand, rigorous cost-benefit analysis of any act that limits my freedom.

I just don't see that analysis happening, and I am deeply concerned that our government is getting into some very nasty habits of hassling law-abiding citizens without just cause.

Yes I am a coddled American, thanks to Founding Fathers that got it right. I just want to take care that our children and grandchildren can be coddled as well. That is my responsibility and my duty as an American. :-)

It is the European way to bow to authority. I hope it never becomes the American way.

[Conservative Infidel]

Most lighters have always been prohibitted but if dening you the opportunity to bring a cigarette lighter on an aircraft is fascism to you, you obviously have no idea what hell was really released by such awful regimes. It sounds to me that you have been babied and protected so long by this great nation that you have no idea how evil the world can be and that there really are people who want to kill you and me. I suppose it would be okay to try and stop them as long as we don't inconvince you or prevent you from holding on to your Bic lighter.

I concur. Believe it, or not, most of the hassle the general public goes through at the airport is designed to make you "feel" secure. Look at the outrage spewed over the fact that 19 terrorists could commandeer 4 planes using box cutters they carried on with them. Everyone was screaming, "How could you let these people on with box cutters?!?" So now it is the FAA's fault that this happened. In typical knee-jerk fashion, the pendulum has swung and you can carry next to nothing on a flight with you. Why is this idiot surprised?

[Adder]

"Most lighters have always been prohibitted"

Since when? I have never had one taken or told it was prohibited.
The shoe thing is just dumb. So WHAT if there is metal in the shank of your shoe. IF it sets off the detector, check it then.
You are defending having old people and OBVIOUSLY innocent people submit to this ridiculous screening as a show that "We are doing something to keep you safe."
Its a farce and its just stupid.
I don't plan on flying until this crap is stopped.

[Mr Rogers]

I travel a lot - most airports require you to either take off your shoes or go thru a full search. I've tried wearing rubber flip-flops - no luck - either take them off or go thru a full search.

Frankly, since I'm a US military officer who almost always is traveling on orders with a government purchased ticket, I THINK I'm fairly low risk...