We're (Not) Flyin' Now!

Charles Krauthammer is good today.  He's good every day but today's piece really hits the mark.  If I was one of those guys who do a "quote of the day" thing then this would certainly be in the running:

Don't touch my junk is the anthem of the modern man, the Tea Party patriot, the late-life libertarian, the midterm election voter. Don't touch my junk, Obamacare - get out of my doctor's examining room, I'm wearing a paper-thin gown slit down the back. Don't touch my junk, Google - Street View is cool, but get off my street. Don't touch my junk, you airport security goon - my package belongs to no one but me, and do you really think I'm a Nigerian nut job preparing for my 72-virgin orgy by blowing my johnson to kingdom come?

There's much more at the link, of course.  As a s'matter of fact, the whole TSA scanner/feel-you-up thing is garnering more press than just about anything else these days, with good reason.  Everyone and their Mom is weighing in on the subject, and Red Eye is having a field day with it.  Yesterday Megan McCardle wrote a public Dear John letter to United, Delta, and American Airlines advising the companies she was "leaving them."  And in so doing she mentioned the fact she had already left.

That would make two (or more) of us.  You Gentle Readers know that I opted to drive out to South Carolina and Pennsylvania this past summer rather than fly.  I believe I mentioned at the time my primary reason for doing so was my complete and total hatred for the TSA and the hassle our benevolent gub'mint has brought down on our heads just because we're presumptuous enough to want to fly somewhere.  

This latest brouhaha only strengthens my resolve to never frickin' fly again.  Ever.  I have the luxury of choosing my mode of travel these days as I have much more time than money in retirement.  I'm thankful I'm no longer part of the bid'niz travel community and my heart gives thanks for that happy circumstance, too.  I'd be a member of the perpetually aggrieved class were I still in frequent flier mode and the resulting stress would NOT be good for my poor aged heart.

We'll close by quoting Dr. Krauthammer once again.

This time you have gone too far, Big Bro'. The sleeping giant awakes. Take my shoes, remove my belt, waste my time and try my patience. But don't touch my junk. 

What he said.