[The KG9 Kid]

Pelt me with rocks if I'm wrong, but doesn't the US Constitution state that the business of the Federal Government is responsible for protecting the American people?

I don't like Federalism as much as the next Freeper, but replacing the single-parent mothers from the projects who work at airport security checkpoints with a genuine Federal agent seems to me to be a fine idea.

So, to those of you who don't like this idea, answer me this: Why is it a good thing to have a Federal agent acting as a 'Sky Marshal' on the plane, but not as a first line security agent at the gate?

Now, if they're just going to lay a sword on the shoulder of the current crop of hobos that we see at airport checkpoints and proclaim them Federal agents, then yes, I see a problem.

Am I missing something here in this discussion?

[BlackbirdSST]

So, to those of you who don't like this idea, answer me this: Why is it a good thing to have a Federal agent acting as a 'Sky Marshal' on the plane, but not as a first line security agent at the gate?

Who say's it's a good thing to have Air Marshall's? The best thing going is an armed Citizen. Freedom beckons, but it's waining faster than ever. Blackbird.

[GregoryFul]

Am I missing something here in this discussion?

As I see it, the problem is that government relieves the private sector of the responsibility of its actions in this case. If airlines were hit with the financial consequences of hiring $6/hr security guards, that situation would not persist for long. But instead, the congressmen steal from the taxpayer to reimburse the airlines for their failure of securing the planes from hijacking.

True capitalism would have the airliner pay for the WTC damages - security of planes would become a serious concern of the airlines CEO's.

But instead, our ridiculous, and seemingly corrupt, congresmen relieve the airlines of responsiblity, which will predictably lead to a worsening of the situation.

[liberallarry]

Post #55. I agree with you completely. My experience is that better paid people generally do a better job. If the administration is bad - public or private - you're going to have problems. But with better quality employees you are always better off.

Competition is not applicable to this situation so private enterprise does not get a chance to work its magic.