FAA aviation-aversion therapy: how federal gov't is curing Walter Williams of his need to fly

Aversion therapy is sometimes used when there are associated behavior patterns that are pleasant but might be regarded by a third party as undesirable.

For example, alcoholics love consuming large amounts of alcohol. Aversion therapy involves associating alcohol consumption with a very unpleasant stimulus. One method is to require the alcoholic to take a sip of whiskey having first taken a nausea-inducing drug. Sipping the whiskey is followed immediately by violent vomiting. In future, just the smell of alcohol produces the unpleasant memory of vomiting – and hopefully the patient will stop drinking.

Aversion therapy is used in the treatment of compulsive gambling, sexual perversions and various phobias. The Federal Aviation Administration has come up with its form of aversion therapy. Flying to one destination or another to deliver lectures on a range of economic topics used to be pleasant, but not any more. The FAA has successfully treated me with aviation aversion therapy. Occasionally, I must fly somewhere. I don't vomit in anticipation, but I succumb to an almost uncontrollable rage on route to the airport that's intensified by the question, "May I see your ticket and photo I.D.?"

Being asked for a ticket and photo I.D. is reasonable, but it's a precursor of what follows. My carry-on luggage is tossed on the conveyor belt for x-ray. I walk through the metal detector. Suspenders, watches, wallet, cigarettes, tiepin, belt and ring can set off the alarm. I've learned that, so those items are removed and placed in my brief case, and so are my eyeglasses.

Despite de-metalizing myself, it's no guarantee that the alarm won't go off. When it does, a guard escorts me to a chair to wand my legs and crotch. He orders me to take off my shoes, and they're x-rayed. Finally, there's the order for me to stand, arms outstretched, for more wanding. Guards sometimes attempt to exchange pleasantries. I just look at them saying not one word, for fear of saying what I felt would lead to arrest. Instead of pleasantries, they might apologize for the delay, inconvenience and sheer stupidity of a procedure that imposes high costs on millions upon millions of Americans who are no air safety threat whatsoever.

The FAA's aversion therapy has worked well with me. My rule is if the travel distance is 300 miles or less, I drive instead of fly. Flying is safer than driving 300 miles, but considering the two hour pre-flight arrival time, driving might get me to my destination just as quickly as flying, not to mention having been spared the psychological costs of airport hassle. If there are other Americans like me, FAA's aviation aversion therapy has been costly to the airlines.

There must be a better way. After all, if one's looking for a needle in a haystack, he need not examine every straw. Or, if one is trying to find out which hand grenades are duds, he needn't explode every hand grenade. Robert Poole, a senior researcher at the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation, suggests the issuance of a "trusted traveler" I.D. To get one, you'd fill out an application – much like an application for a concealed weapon carry permit. Upon completion of an investigation, you'd be issued a tamper-proof "trusted traveler" I.D. that'd permit you to move through a line where there's less intense passenger screening.

The FAA will receive an apology the very day I hear a news story that an 80-year-old woman, a wheelchair-bound amputee and a 6-month old baby, led by an instantly recognizable famous former U.S. congressman such as Newt Gingrich, have hijacked an airliner and flown it to Cuba.

"(T)rusted traveler" I.D. To get one, you'd fill out an application – much like an application for a concealed weapon carry permit. Upon completion of an investigation, you'd be issued a tamper-proof "trusted traveler" I.D.

The gooberment does not do this sort of thing well. Once such a program is in place, it would immediately be subject to the whims of beauracracy and political correctness. You just know some judge would take only minutes to decide that it is grossly unfair and unConstitutional that little old ladies can get at Trusted Traveler ID, but twenty-year-old Saudi males new to the country and smelling vaguely of cordite can not.

Think Visa Express.

Visas are supposed to be issued through a rigorous screening process, are they not?

The greatest problem with any government-run investigation process is that it is only as effective as the government employee is diligent and honest. Do you really want some rubber-stamping government lifer making these decisions?

As expected, WW is right on the money. Since 9-11, I have made at least 20 round trips to Atlanta, all by car, to avoid the air hassle. Security has rifled through my wallet, spilling my credit cards all over the floor one time, along with snide and rude remarks from some arrogant guards. In Pittsburgh, one nasty female guard, after I had said Good Morning, and it was 12:15 PM, sneered at me, It's afternoon dodo. How is that for nice government service for the air traveler?

As a former military pilot, I was forced by principle to join the ranks of the ground travelers, when the "safety proceedures" post 9-11 were seen by me to be anything but involving safety, mine or the airlines. Ability to post and comment on FR prohibits further explanations or solutions, other than to say the willing disarmament of airline workers and travelers is seen by me as a major disgrace, and sure sign that the takeover of the country by those whose vision is obscured by a plethora of trees, states the obvious.

In Pittsburgh, one nasty female guard, after I had said Good Morning, and it was 12:15 PM, sneered at me, It's afternoon dodo. How is that for nice government service for the air traveler?

The Nazi SA and SS weren't necessarily known for their intellectual ability either, they were known for their ability to terrorize and intimidate. My fear has always been that their ideological descendents are manning the checkpoints. Looks like you have helped to prove my case.

I will again trust the air-travel industry with my life when they trust me with my gun. Until then I cannot imagine circumstances that would make me fly.

My family is all in the West and Pacific Northwest, about 3500 miles away. My car gets about 50 mpg at highway speed. You do the maths.

>>Upon completion of an investigation, you'd be issued a tamper-proof "trusted traveler" I.D.

If anyone believes in "tamper-proof", I suspect they also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Achmed will have a "trusted traveler" I.D. faster than you can say "fake Green Card".

As expected, WW is right on the money. Since 9-11, I have made at least 20 round trips to Atlanta, all by car, to avoid the air hassle.

Well, be careful. The usual procedure in situations like that is to remove any inequities in misery production. The government won't make air travel easier, it will make road travel tougher! Common sense would tell us to remove the impediments to air-travel and thus restore confidence but rest assured someone will declare those who travel by car or truck in lieu of an airplane to be suspected terrorists (Remember the list put out on how to spot a suspected drug courier? Easy! They either drive too fast, too slow, or scrupulously follow all traffic laws. ??? They are serious.

So clearly the answer is to make road travel so oppressive and difficult that flying seems hassle-free. Problem solved!

My family is all in the West and Pacific Northwest, about 3500 miles away. My car gets about 50 mpg at highway speed. You do the math.

I've taken the train from Boston to Denver two times, sitting (and trying to sleep) in coach. For one person, it's not that bad, although it is actually more expensive than flying. Personally, I don't mind it, there are a few breaks along the way, and you can get up, get a snack, walk around, see some nice scenery.

The farce that gets me is that GWB and his administration say AMTRAK has to make a profit. Like the airlines are making a profit on their giveaway prices, and all of the extra expense for security?

I've got over 2MM air miles under my belt and used to tae a plane as though it were a taxi. The idiotic security procedures invoked after 911, under the aegis of that leftist Demonrat Mineta (Sp?), finally drove me to start driving again. This is where I started in business 28 years ago. Last fall, I mad 6 segments in two days and got an extra bit of attention each security check. The final straw was at SeaTac where I had a real face down with the personnel there. Guess who lost?

That was it for me. I have now made a three week long, cross country trip. I find it to be a far more enjoyable experience and with some planning and ingenuity find that productivity isn't too badly impaired.

A side note: I spoke with a colleague yesterday who is attending a series of heavy equipment auctions in Florida. The buzz is how many people in our industry are buying motor homes/RV's for business travel. Same story - won't put up with the hassel of air travel.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.