I wish to second the opinions expressed by Joan Crosby in her October 2 Over the Hill
column regarding the ordeal of airline passenger security procedures.
My wife and I have family including two young granddaughters living in Grand Marais whom we visit. Until 2009 we traveled by motor home, staying in Grand Marais’ excellent public campground. However, we’ve sold the motor home and now have to either fly or drive three days (1800 miles from New Mexico).
Given the hassles of airport security, running from a gate at one end of Minneapolis and Denver airports to another usually at the furthest extent of these sprawling facilities, flight delays, etc., if we can afford the time, we’re increasingly inclined to drive.
I especially agree with your views that there must be better ways to deal with the overall homeland security/anti-terrorism problem than to fall into a police state, with its historically-shown tendency to go from bad to worse. Your suggestion that behind much of the prevailing programs are organizations and firms receiving lots of money from fear-inducing tactics, regardless whether most of their efforts would actually deter a smart threat is also insightful.
Robert Wells
Los Alamos, NM
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