[Superman]

John, I'd hate gubmint too if I thought folks were paying 50% of their income in taxes. I don't think the federal income tax rates go that high, and some of us claim certain exemptions and deductions. Must be some interesting math someone over there is using.

I work at an airport. The Airport is built and owned and maintained by a local public agency. The agency gets much of its revenue from the airlines. The agency has nothing to do with TSA security activities however. One of Steve's points is that the funding coming to TSA from a First Class passenger is the same number of dollars as the funding coming from a Coach passenger. The First Class passenger has purchased a higher level of service from the airline, but has purchased the same level of service from TSA. But the thing Steve needs to come to grips with is that, just like the airlines view some passengers as more "equal" than others, so does the federal government. first class passengers get quicker service from TSA. And it just has to be acceptable to us that a government agency plays favorites like this, even if there is no basis other than the multi-class "democracy" we live in.

You're a big guy, Drago. No doubt. And if you save your pennies, you certainly earn a first class ticket. Then there is the problem mentioned above, which is not a service provided by the airline but rather by a so-called "public" agency. Maybe first class passengers should get to break the posted speed limit leading up to the terminal also? That's another service that the airlines also do not provide. And maybe there is more basis for that. We know that TSA funding from both classes of passenger is identical. But if wealthier (first class) passengers also probably pay more property taxes, then maybe they should get special treatment from police, and not just from TSA.