The "government issued ID" requirement was bad enough, but it has gotten worse and worse - pat downs and strip searches, checked luggage searches, etc. I simply refuse to submit myself to their nonsense.
When an airline decides to treat me like a responsible adult and a paying customer, I will consider flying again. When an airline allows the pilots and qualified passengers to be armed (as the current laws and FAA regs allow), I will be ready to fly. Until then - FORGET IT!
The searches are conducted by government employees at the request of the Transportation Department.
The airlines have nothing to do with them, and, in fact, would like to eliminate them.