[jojonomo55]

I agree, i think that this was a big mistake. The GOP is going to once again look like they are sucking up to big business, the people arent going to become more confident with the security at airports and i believe that this is going to hurt the airline industry and the economy in the long run.

speaking for myself, i would feel safer knowing that the screener works for the government than for a company who may be hiring unqualified underpaid people to keep from going bankrupt themselves.

[jwalsh07]

speaking for myself, i would feel safer knowing that the screener works for the government than for a company who may be hiring unqualified underpaid people to keep from going bankrupt themselves.

Jojo, these are the people that gave us 1000 dollar crescent wrenches. Knock, knock....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We have more than two hundred years of experience; in virtually every circumstance, private industry is more effective and more efficient when running simple jobs.
How'd you like FEDERALIZED trash collection ? Its important...health and safty considerations are certainly involved. If baggage inspectors are signed up, I think Wellstone would like it if we all had a dandy government job and a union to protect us while we catch a nap at our desks.

[VA Advogado]

I agree, i think that this was a big mistake. The GOP is going to once again look like they are sucking up to big business, the people arent going to become more confident with the security at airports and i believe that this is going to hurt the airline industry and the economy in the long run.

Wake up! Its the Democrat version that sucks up to big business. By federalizing the screeners they relieve the airlines of paying the bill. This amounts to a single mom in Idaho subsidizing some rich fat California businessman's airline ticket.

[goodnesswins]

Obviously, since you've only been here since Oct. 20, 2001, you haven't had the opportunity of being educated. Please do a little research into the Medicare, Social Security, Welfare etc. systems (run by federal workers) and consider how well they have worked over the last 50 years.

[Jodi]

How is the GOP going to look like they are sucking up to "big business" when THEY are the ones who want to privatize????!!!!! Aren't middle to lower income people hired for these jobs?

Sounds to me like democrats are against the working man.

[cricket]

". . .speaking for myself, i would feel safer knowing that the screener works for the government than for a company who may be hiring unqualified underpaid people to keep from going bankrupt themselves.

Just cannot understand this reasoning; other than so many post Sept 11 just imagine that 'Federal' 'feels' like a better security blanket.

Have you ever gone to a VA hospital? Dealt with Social Security Administration? Happy with your tax forms? Public schools? How about the FAA; what HAVE they been doing for the past ten years, improving safety for passengers; despite all the warnings? And for that matter, the FBI, who just chose to not believe the handwriting on the wall. . .

How about those 'social services'. . .Welfare, no problems; Federal contracts. . .same. . .protecting children. . .yes, our Government has been there. . .too late smart in most cases.

As for hiring, underqualified, underpaid. . .what does the Government usually do? You want people motivated to work or those motivated by knowledge that it is hell to get them fired - a 'government job' . . .and it will be hell, despite what Gephardt says. More carrots will be offered with every election. . .

Do we not have enough to do, without attempting to arrogantly reinvent the wheel; why cannot we take take advantage of what our European 'neighbors' and the best teacher, Israel. . .has to offer; they have been 'here' and done this' for sure and know what of they speak. They tried and learned. . .and they are warning us, that Federalizing security is a mistake...

Then there is the actual 'security of 'Security'. . .Imagine, spies infiltrating. . .or a 'home grown' spy. . .as a 'bag checker'; piece of cake compared to what they have done in the past operating in our Government. Let's see, how long did it take the FBI to discover Hanson. . .twelve years?

Truth of the matter, our biggest fear should not be privatizing; it should be having any Liberal working in 'security'.

Federal oversight is sufficient; a good balance of Government/Private; with neither holding all the reins; a kind of checks and balances built in. . .

Security being 'secure' in our Government is just plain scary. . .

Come on folks. . .

[DLfromthedesert]

Gee, thank God for the well paid employees in the CIA and the INS; if it wasn't for them, we might have had some planes hijacked and crashed into buildings!!!