Congress Going To Ban Something Simply Because It Annoys Them
Not because it’s dangerous. Or because it serves some sort of public interest. But because they don’t like it, and they have the power.
WASHINGTON – Cell phone calls on airplanes in flight are not only unsafe, they’re obnoxious and they should be permanently banned, according to some members of Congress.
House members, most of whom board airplanes almost every week, traded horror stories Thursday about their worst experiences with annoying fellow passengers who talk loudly on cell phones before takeoff and after landing. One lawmaker said his wife sat next to a woman who loudly discussed her sex life on the phone.
Another House member topped that with the passenger sitting him behind on one flight who got a “dear John” phone call from either his wife or sweetheart just before takeoff. The begging and pleading was just terrible to listen to, he said. Finally, with the plane ready to take off, a flight attendant had to threaten to have U.S. Marshals drag the man off the plane before he finally put his phone away.
Seems to me that, barring concerns over things like radio interference, the decision about whether or not cell phones should be used on airplanes should be left up to the airlines.
Is it annoying? Sure. But Congress wasn’t vested with lawmaking power to banish their pet peeves.
The next thing you know, these dim bulbs will be forming a House subcommittee on in-flight meals and movies so that they get the sort of refined entertainment and travel fare they like.
