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I've flown hundreds of times since 9/11 and have been hassled by TSA exactly once.
Most of the nasty, do-what-I-say-because-I-said-so behavior I've been subjected to came from flight attendants and gate agents.
A couple months ago, I flew Alaska Airlines from LAX to National. The pilot informed us that we'd have to remain seated for the last 90 minutes of the flight because of security regs specific to National. I told my seatmate, offhandedly, "Huh. I can't believe he's doing that; That rule was rescinded, I dunno, five years ago."
A flight attendant overheard me, whirled around, and explained to me that the pilot has absolute authority on the plane to enforce whatever rule he chooses IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. Well, yeah. That makes sense in an emergency. But this wasn't an emergency. It wasn't even a bumpy flight. The pilot just decided, arbitrarily, to lock us all in our seats for the last 90 minutes.
I'm sure the TSA autocrats all believe they are acting in the interest of safety, too.
