Going out in today's mail.
November 23, 2010
To: William S. Ayer, CEO, Alaska Airlines
Gary Kelly, CEO, Southwest Airlines
Re: Why you have lost me as a customer
Dear Mr. Ayer and Mr. Kelly,
I have been flying on your airlines for the past twenty years or so. I’m not what anyone would consider a frequent flyer, but I would guess I’ve gotten on planes an average of three or four times a year. I mostly flew Alaska, but occasionally would fly Southwest.
I use the past tense because I have decided not to fly anymore. I refuse to have my civil rights violated by an out-of-control, Bill-of-Rights-ignoring federal agency. I’ve gritted my teeth and tolerated the metal detectors and the luggage searches and the removing of shoes and the inability to pack a bottle of shampoo or to bring a bottle of water with me to the airport. But last spring, I was subjected to a patdown because a TSA employee didn’t like the loose-fitting sundress that I was wearing. That patdown was the next-to-last straw for me. These new “security” procedures are the last straw.
As long as the TSA is allowed to use their porno scanners and to physically and intrusively grope passengers who cannot or will not subject themselves to said scanners, I’m not flying. It’s not okay for me to be told that the act of purchasing a plane ticket constitutes an agreement on my part to waive my civil rights, or makes me a suspected criminal. It’s not okay for me to be subjected to unconstitutional searches of my person for no reason except that I am traveling from point A to point B on an airplane.
It’s not okay, and so I’m not going to fly anymore. You have lost my business. That may not count for much, but I suspect you’re losing the business of a lot of other people as well, people who for the most part probably won’t bother to write to you and tell you why.
Ben Franklin said it best: Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. I will not give up my liberty in order to purchase the illusion of safety – and an illusion is all we’re getting. I know it, and I think that you know it. Apparently, the TSA either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.
There is, of course, something that you as representatives of the airline industry can do about this; you can put pressure on Congress and the Obama Administration to put a stop to these Fourth Amendment abuses. And I hope you do it.
Sincerely,
Mehitabel9
cc: Senator Barbara Boxer; Senator Dianne Feinstein; Congressman Darrell Issa