It’s no secret that the angst about national security is a red herring wafted to cover up a multitude of sins. It’s as old as the Republic itself. Perhaps the coinage should bear the motto “Republic of Fear.”
It’s reasonable to expect fear-mongering from the President, the Vice President, the ruling party. But is it really a legitimate reason for limiting access to toilets on a commercial jetliner? I’m not talking about the 40-mile no-pee-on-the-plane zone around Washington, D.C. That might be reasonable, too.
I heard this yesterday on a Northwest flight from Detroit to Toronto. Once the plane reached cruising altitude and passengers were free to unfasten seatbelts and use facilities, the flight attendant announced diplomatically, “To assure security by limiting movement in the forward cabin, passengers are reminded that the lavatory at the front of the plane is reserved for first-class passengers.”
It’s one more example of what Bruce Schneier calls security theater. But hey, what’s wrong with a little class privilege when it comes to keeping America safe?
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