The media is, of course, coming down on the side of the new scanners and "pat-down" procedures

[KansDem]

Both USA Today and the Kansas City Star had front-page articles today essentially saying that a majority of Americans are okay with these scanners and "pat-downs"

What they didn't say was how many Americans fly each year:

Overall, Americans report that they have taken an average of 2.2 trips on a commercial airliner in the past 12 months. Only about half of Americans have flown at all in the last year, including 29% who have flown once or twice, 8% who have flown three or four times, and 11% who have flown five times or more. The average number of air trips made by those who have flown in the past year is 4.6.



Gallup has periodically asked this question since 1999, and over this time the average number of flights Americans report taking each year has shown only modest variation, ranging between 1.5 and 2.2 trips per year.

Young Americans report that they take more air trips, on average, than older Americans. Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 took an average of 3.8 air trips in the past year, compared with an average of less than two air trips for older Americans (1.9 trips for 35- to 54-year-olds and 1.5 trips for adults aged 55 and older).

Men also travel by plane more often than women, with an average of 2.9 air trips for men and an average of 1.6 air trips for women.

Americans residing in higher income households also travel more by air than those who live in lower income households. Americans who live in households earning $75,000 or more per year report an average of 4.0 air trip per year, higher than the average of 2.2 air trips for those earning between $30,000 and $75,000 per year and the average of less than one (0.3) for those earning less than $30,000 per year

Gallup

So a majority never flew, yet the media wants us to believe that Americans are okay with these new draconian measures. Why don't the media use statistics from those Americans who actually have to go through invasive body scans and sexual molestation?

Oh, and the No. 1 criticism about air travel?

Air Travelers' Dislikes About Air Travel
Dec. 11-14, 2006

%

Hassles/Inconveniences of security measures
23

Early arrival requirement/too much waiting around
13

Seats are cramped, uncomfortable
10

Planes are overcrowded, lack of space
10

Problems with delays, cancellations
8

Fearful of flying/possible dangers involved (crash, terrorism)
4

Cost of flying
3

Dislike flying in general
3

Poor service
2

Problems with connecting flights
1

Food -- quality poor or not offered at all
1

Lost luggage
1

Air quality
1

Other
10

Nothing
19

No opinion
1

So, 23% say "Hassles/Inconveniences of security measures"

F*CK the corporate media!

[Lint Head]

1. Chertoff is a powerful and ruthless person.

He has a vested interest in these scanners. He was also a member of the Bush crime family.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. American born citizens fly three hundred trillion times a year, meanwhile

terrorist type behavior by these travellers prolly equals .000000000000000000000000000000000001 %. I saw some cue tips being harassed by screeners at the airport here last year, real life blue hairs, they were made to take off their shoes and they were patted down as well. They must've been in their 50's or 60's... but a real perceived threat nonetheless. Imagine how safe I felt knowing these grandmas were not going to assault the plane with knitting needles or pumpkin pie. Amaaaaaaaaaazing what passes for appropriate treatment in these here Newnited States.

[customerserviceguy]

3. Fight back. It's 'gropedown' not patdown

Or, if they prefer, 'feel-up'.

[Subdivisions]

4. Do you know if the KC Star article is available online at their website?

I'm looking but don't see it...

http://www.kansascity.com/