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.

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  • http://magyartruth.blogspot.com/ Chief RZ

    No sparkie, obnoxious people who use their favored minority status to do whatever they want. I am still awaiting your reply. You have taken this completely out of context. The story is true. Had other people been doing the same thing, they would have followed the request of the waitresses. In this case, their protected status is the cause of continuing their obnoxious behavior.

  • kbiel

    If they want to pass a law concerning this, then make annoying, rude behavior justification for minor assault (say, slapping someone)*. I agree with those who are annoyed by people talking on their phone in a plane, in an elevator, while standing at the counter of a store or fast food restaurant, et cetera. It shouldn’t be illegal though any more than picking your nose in public should be illegal. Both are rude, but neither is worthy of anything more than a rebuke from those who have to witness such crude behavior.

    *I kid, of course.

  • 2Hotel9

    What you want to bet that members of Congress are the most rude and obnoxious people on any given flight, cellphone or not?

  • Kansasgirl

    The arrogance of these people takes my breath away.

  • http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml Angry Vertebrate

    But Congress wasn’t vested with lawmaking power to banish their pet peeves. — Rob

    You’re among a minority on this Rob. Most of your right-wing, nanny-state loving, nutjob buddies will happily accept any method of government social engineering that prevents same-sex marriages.

  • Pilgrim

    Lawmakers turning pet peeves into law because they can is something I’ve harped on often.

    They want to ban cell phones because they’re obnoxious? Hmmmm. How about banning shrieking children on planes? How about the woman who doused herself in some sort of perfume that hangs around her like a fog? How about the guy who sits next to you and wants to tell you his life story complete with pictures if wife and brats – and wants to know all about you as well.

    Start with those before you shut off cell phones. They’re WAY higher on the obnoxious scale than someone calling home.

  • http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

    How about the woman who doused herself in some sort of perfume that hangs around her like a fog?

    Or people to whom “hygiene” is a foreign concept?

  • 2Hotel9

    The socialist moron telling everyone else they are socialist morons. Too funny.

  • http://magyartruth.blogspot.com/ Chief RZ

    I think they should ban playing loud music from your phone while in a restaurant should be banned also. Just last week, two of our obnoxious minorities insisted on playing their favorite songs for the patrons at a local waffle house. They were asked twice to turn it off. I almost said something. I did give then a “what are you doing” look, but they don’t take hints.

  • Wing Chun Geologist

    As far as I’m concerned, second hand cigarette smoke is far less bothersome than second hand cell phone conversation.

    When I’m peacefully riding in an airplane (or shopping at a market) I shouldn’t have to hear the inanae details of some morons existence.

    Decent humans beings don’t inflict their stupid ass conversations on others.

  • http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/sparkiearbuckle sayanything-81

    A reference to this?

  • WOOFX

    An effective method of eliminating rude cell phone users intruding on your space is to loudly say

    You got put on your clothes and get out of here.

  • http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/sparkiearbuckle sayanything-81

    two of our obnoxious minorities

    heh. congess is annoyed with cellphones on planes, chiefRZ is annoyed with minorities.

  • http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/sparkiearbuckle sayanything-81

    Let armed aircrew or sky marshals shoot them.
    Divide their possessions among the passengers.

    WOOF.
    I’ll buy you a drink for that one! A+.

  • WOOFX

    Let armed aircrew or sky marshals shoot them.
    Divide their possessions among the passengers.

    OOH an iPhone.

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