"It's safe to fly!" Uh-huh... right....

Uncle Sam sez:

"Don't worry, it's still safe to fly! Okay, so you will have to give up all fluids whatsoever, and the key remotes to your car, and take off your sneakers, and you'll be searched more times than if you were in a Turkish prison, and we may eventually have you wear nothing but those stupid hospital gowns that don't close in the back, but it's still safe to fly! So PLEASE fly with us! PLEASE! Pretty please? With sugar on top?"

This message is brought to you by...

* the federal government, who is tired of having to bail out the airlines because of religious fanatics and their own misguided sense of fiscal responsibility.

* by big oil, because air travel brings in more money than all the cars stuck on the highway.

* airline unions, because it's the only way to keep their pension plans going.

* and, of course, the airlines themselves, because they gotta keep the money coming in, even as the lunatic fringe continues to make life miserable for everyone.