Well, I warned you about that whole "airport Nazi/airline mistreatment of passengers" thing, didn't I? Recently during some bad weather, airline passengers were held prisoner on airliners on the ground for over 8 hours, because the airplanes couldn't take off and the airlines wouldn't allow the passengers to get off. They ran out of food and water. The toilets backed up. It was a complete mess. If any other kind of private organization had treated its customers like that, the perpetrators would be facing serious prison time. But the airlines are allowed to treat their customers like that. And if the customers try to liberate themselves from their captivity, they can be prosecuted for interfering with the air crew.
That's what airline travel has become. When you go to an air passenger terminal, you are treated first like a criminal suspect: subject to warrantless search, and arrest if you complain about it. You can be treated like a Federal prisoner, with none of the civil rights you otherwise take for granted. And you can be held prisoner on the airliner as soon as you get on board.
I don't understand why you people allow yourselves to be treated like that. You pay good money for passage on an airline, and you agree to be treated like a criminal suspect and a Federal prisoner. Why? Oh, I know: air travel is fast and safe. Okay, if you really need to go, and the distance is more than a thousand miles or so, I understand. But do you really need to go? Or is your trip just a vacation? Are you willing to be treated like a criminal suspect and a Federal prisoner, and possibly be held against your will on an airplane parked on the ground, merely for convenience?
I know what some of you are thinking: What can I do about it? I'm just one person. Nobody cares what I think about it. Well, that's all true. You can't make them stop. But you can at least make them stop doing it to you. Don't give them your money. Don't get on their airplanes. Don't put yourselves into the role of criminal suspects and Federal prisoners. Just say, "No!"
If only a few of you do that, no, they won't pay any attention at all to you. But at least you won't be among those mistreated customers. That's worth something, isn't it? So you won't get to New York City this year. So what? A lot of people don't get to New York City, ever, and they still do okay. And if, by some miracle, a lot of you stop allowing yourselves to be mistreated, they will change. They'll have to. Or go out of business. Not even George Bush II "The Decider" will force you to buy airline tickets and fly commercially.
Back to my home place.