So, the leftist News & Record editorial staff cheers the federalization of airport security. The leftists think that big government is the answer to all our problems, when in fact, government is the source of most of our problems. If recent events in the name of increased security are examples of what we can expect in the future, I cringe.
Consider the Air Tran bomb threat at Piedmont Triad International Airport. I am not a federal employee, but if someone suggested a bomb on the plane my immediate reaction would be to get the plane emptied as quickly as possible. But that's me. Apparently the government agencies involved thought it best to let the passengers sit on the plane with the potential bomb for 30 minutes. When questioned, all agencies insisted that they had acted properly. Sadly, they actually believe that they did.
A passenger makes the mistake of having to go to the lavatory at the wrong time. Before the federal government got involved, a flight attendant would merely have asked the person to return to his seat. I've seen it dozens of times.
Now, with the federales involved, the person gets a gun pulled on him and gets put on the floor. The other passengers are told to put their hands behind their heads as if they were federal prisoners rather than paying customers, and the plane is diverted to another airport.
Boy, I feel safer now.
Tony Moschetti
High Point
News & Record
November 26, 2001
