Scan this...

There seems to be quite a bit of press lately about the full-body scanners at airports and the "legality" of such devices. Many people feel that our rights are being taken away from us - our right to privacy, etc., well what would you rather have - your privacy or your safety?

Seriously, if we ever expect to see airline travel that is safe from someone blowing the plane up.. if we ever want to be able to board an airplane without that fear, we will need to allow infringements upon our rights and let the scanners see whatever they need to, to be sure that no one will be exploding anything while the plane is in the air.

Until an entirely different approach to air travel is implemented world-wide (my proposal is outlined below...), we all will need to eagerly comply with whatever "screening methods" the powers that be choose. Just shut the h*ll up and drop your trousers, cough, turn around then pick 'em back up and get on the friggin' plane.

I have a much simpler solution to this problem. Upon check-in for any flight, each passenger will be informed of the fact that "this flight will be a napping flight" and if you do not wish to follow the rules for the flight, you will forfeit your seat on the flight and will need to make other travel arrangements.

Of course this proposed solution will never be possible as it infringes upon your personal rights in almost every way imaginable, but.. it could work.

ALL flights will be "napping" flights in that each passenger will be given a pill prior to boarding that, once the flight is taxiing for take-off, will lull the passenger to sleep for the duration of the flight (different pills for different durations of flights..). Once the aircraft has landed safely at the destination the passengers will start waking up, refreshed and ready for their connecting flights or exiting the airport.

None of the usual annoyances of flying will be felt by any passenger - loud children, crowded aisles/bathrooms. No flight attendant will ever have to worry about handing out drinks or pretzels. Nor will they be required to "deal with" unruly passengers. It's a win-win situation for all parties involved! And, nobody will have an opportunity to detonate anything because everyone will be asleep.

Special situations will require special solutions - at risk travelers with health problems, medication interactions, etc. but I'm sure all potential problem areas can be solved. Or, do away with the pill idea and just gas the lot of the passengers right before take-off. Then pump in fresh oxygen and wake everyone up when the plane has landed.

Of course we'll still need to be scanned and screened and poked and prodded before every flight.. but that's just the way it will have to be.