I plan to Opt-Out for life

Like the days of drive-in movies, there’s something romantic and comforting about the days of passenger trains.

Remember the dining car scene in North by Northwest where Cary Grant meets Eva Marie Saint for the first time? Linen table cloths and a flower vase on the table. . .

But there’s no money to be made in passenger trains anymore or Burlington Northern would be running them right now. That’s the reason Governor-elect John Kasich is right to refuse the building of a commuter rail in Ohio. If the private sector sees no profit in running passenger trains again, why does the government think it’s a good idea? Just look at what AmTrack costs us every day for proof that this is a losing proposition.

On the other hand, if passenger trains were available to me, and I don’t mean AmTrack, I’d never fly again. I’d take a train, run by the private sector, almost anywhere rather than fly. I wonder how many people feel the same way I do. Flying has become such a major hassle, that I don’t plan to ever fly again unless in the event of a family emergency. I can get back to Wyoming in less than 24 hours, by car, with a lot less government intrusion.

I’m in favor of the opt-on day that is being promoted online. Opt-out of naked body scans and cause a slow down in the procedures.   Go for it! Our security is reactive not proactive. We create another layer of security after another threat is thwarted. We have to take off our shoes because some IslamoFacist boarded a plane with explosives in his shoes. Body scans now because another tried to blow up a plane with explosives in his shorts.  And in that case, it was an alert passenger who risked his life to thwart that attack – not an air marshal.

The headline at Drudge today is “The Terrorists Have Won.” That is absolutely correct. The airlines are nickle and dime-ing us for an extra suitcase, a blanket or a glass of Coke. We’ve given up the right to a comfortable and quick way to travel and our privacy to fear.

I am quite frankly tired of it all and I’m just not going to fly anymore.