In September 2001, I was at a conference in Dallas, which was the beginning of our newspaper group’s embrace of the internet and what it could mean for the news industry.
On the second day of the conference, as I was walking to the opening seminar, a buzz started around the lobby of the Hilton DFW about a plane crash. I initially dismissed it, since I couldn’t conceive something like that happening.
Then I looked around, and saw quite a few of my colleagues, frightened, some crying, talking about a second plane crashing into the Twin Towers.
The next two days were a strange mix of living in front of the TV and trying to find a way home. It took two extra days to finally find a plane that would fly from Dallas to Lubbock (which almost didn’t go as they couldn’t find a flight assistant).
I can tell you that DFW Airport completely empty is a spooky sight to behold.
In October of 2001, our vaunted legislative overlords came together to overwhelmingly pass the Patriot Act in an oxymoronic attempt to deter terrorist acts. The House voted 357-66 and the Senate voted 98-1, sending the measure to President Bush; the effect of which put the TSA forever in our travel-by-air lives, with extended security measures that required us to get to the airport 2 hours early and say goodbye to our families out in the street.
Five years later, the family and I were in Chicago for a business/vacation trip, seeing the sights of the Magnificent Mile, the Navy Pier, and at least one of the Great Lakes. That’s when an idjit terrorist attempted to blow up a plane using liquid explosives disguised as sodas.
Since my wife had to stay a few extra days for her conference, it fell to me to get my two daughters — a teen and a toddler — home to New Mexico through O’Hare, after our overlords ramped up security measures to ban liquids. (There is a story, for another time, about the discussion I had with the person at the gate who said it was my problem to find a replacement flight. Umm, no.)
Before I could even get near a gate, I had to surrender diaper rash cream and that most dangerous and volatile liquid ever — strawberry milk — cause the TSA feller didn’t recognize it because it was in a bottle for my infink.
Under the banner of being safe, deterring terrorists, stopping explosions caused by noxious substances, the powers that be then stepped up safety. Who doesn’t carry things in clear bags, in the permitted amounts, and wear Crocs or flippies cause some other idjit tried to blow planes up with their shoes?
These things, among others, are what happens when the Washington congresscritters come together in their version of kumbaya moments: to stop terrorists, all U.S. citizens get to suffer (if this sounds familiar, think gun control).
So, imagine my surprise to read the other day that TSA is now asking travelers to show up at airports at least 4 hours early because TSA is overwhelmed. Seems that “Kumbaya” has been replaced by Ugly Kid Joe’s “I Hate Everything About You” and Congress has decided to throw a tantrum about DHS funding.
Without funding, TSA workers, who are working without pay, are woefully understaffed, and attempting to fulfill the required security measures has caused extremely long wait times for fliers. (This happened around spring break in the country, which has caused countless issues for college students.)
The rift is because one side of the aisle is not wanting to fund DHS without “guardrails” in the wake of ICE-involved shootings.
When Congress works together, we the people get the bill, and when they build their couch-cushion forts and refuse to negotiate, we the people again get the bill. This begs a couple of questions: Why does the government get to dictate the terms for our travel while using private businesses? Why do the actions of terrorists mean that all U.S. citizens bear the consequences?
At some point, we have to come to the realization that Congress’ meddling is like the old adage: it’s the hammer, and everything in the country is a nail.
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
