Politicians Want To Ban Already Banned Mobile Phone Use While Flying
from the department-of-redundant-redundancies dept
Politicians just love to grandstand in the hopes of getting some publicity for their next election campaign -- and that includes passing laws against things that are already illegal. The latest is that some politicians are looking to pass a law banning the use of mobile phones while flying in an airplane. As you probably know, such things are already banned by rules from both the FAA and the FCC. And, while there's some effort underway to lift such bans, the two government agencies have suggested they have no plans to modify theirs. But, that won't stop Congress from stepping up to tell people it's protecting them from chatty flightmates. It even came up with a cute name for the law: the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace (HANG UP) Act. Honestly, if politicians spent a little less time coming up with catchy acronyms for unnecessary laws, they might actually do something useful.But, more to the point, even without the FCC/FAA ban, it's not at all clear why this is needed. Yes, there are many, many people who have made it clear that they don't want to sit next to a chatty person on a mobile phone while stuck in a tin can hurtling through the skies. But can't people vote with their wallets on that? If it's something that really upsets people, then that's an opportunity for an airline to declare mobile phones off-limits, or to create "quiet sections" where mobile phones can't be used. There's no reason for the government to get involved at all. Besides, it's still unclear how they're going to ban "voice" calls once they allow internet data to flow on-board. After all, on the internet, voice is just another form of data.
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Filed Under: bans, congress, politics, talking while flying
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Roaming charges
Also, the system can be turned off at any time. So if people are distrupting other passengers and refuse to willingly end the call, the flight crew can take action.
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Politicians are lazy
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If they do allow Internet usage and don't want people to use phones on the plane, then they are going to have to pass a ban on voice calls of ANY kind, be they IP or cellular.
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I'm really tired of the government's involvment in the airline industry. For FSM's sake, why doesn't the US Gov't just buy every airline company and run it themselves? I mean, they basically already do anyway. To me, if they want to be so involved with the industry as they are then they should buy it. Otherwise they need to stay the hell out of it.
I am so sick of these security screenings, the getting half undressed in line to they can check your shoes/belt/coat/whateverotherpieceofclothingtheywant. I'm tired of being treated like a criminal for just walking into an airport. I'm tired of what the industry has become post 9/11. I'm tired of 9/11 still influencing policy. I'm tired of the government having such control over one of the biggest and most important forms of travel in this country.
I'm tired of this McCarthy-istic, scare-mongering society of fear that we live in. I'm tired of one of our major transportation industries being puppeted by the government. If they want that much control, then they should buy it. Otherwise, they need to stay the hell out of everyone's business and let me board a damned plane without having to take off half my clothes first.
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You can justify anything in sake of National Security. Just like we justified anything in sake of WMDs.
I call farse.
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Or better yet, farce.
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Politicians don't
Uh, policticians don't come up with these. Their staff members do. Remember, our lawmakers don't even read the bills they vote on. They just vote the way their staff instructs them to.
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At least they're not doing too much damage
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Typical Uselessness
We are involved in a treasury bilking conflict that a good share of us believe will be all for not as the people seem more adapt to following the twistedly religious crackpots to the end of the earth.
Kids these days, to some degree, have the mental capacity of a gnat. And the ones willing to put forth the effort have to be turned away because they can't afford the mortgaged sized bill to attend.
Health care is atrocious! $20 co-pay to see a doctor for 10 minutes for him/her to tell you they THINK they know what is wrong, after they made you wait an hour past your appointment to see them. And much, much worse for those with no insurance at all!
Cost of energy is going through the roof. We are bombarded every day to "think green" when I for one cannot afford to buy new energy saving items. And with the way things are going at present, I might have a hard time affording energy, PERIOD.
There is so much more that requires attention. We still deal with racism, poverty, abuse, and pollution. People are still suffering from Katrina, going on 3 years later. But someway, somehow, someone has come up with the idea that cell phones on an airplane are a problem that really needs to be dealt with. They can't solve a REAL problem. So let's invent one!
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Politicians Want To Ban Already Banned Mobile Phone Use While Flying
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could
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Still, making it a criminal offence -presumably with hefty fines involved- strikes me as overkill; the justice system's resources are finite, and could probably be put to better uses than the admittedly not unattractive task of deterring people from being a pain in the arse.
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This is the biggest load of crap being fueled to the public because the FCC (et al) know just how ignorant the public is to radio frequencies (and why would they care?).
In fact, there is absolutely no reason to have a ban on cell phone use in planes.
This is just another attempt at airlines (et al) to force consumers to use their modes of communication (racked up fees for revenue) instead of giving what the consumer wants.
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spend more time on things that need doing
healthcare
telcos
doing away with the dmca
revising all of the patent/copyright laws so they actually do what they are intended to do
sustainable energy
getting us out of Iraq
doing away with special interest groups never happen
do away with pork belly funding never happen again
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cell phones on planes
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Filthy Euros
Second, I wonder if the bill's sponsors consulted the American Productivity Institute, who have a well-publicized study showing that the present laws cost our economy $893 Billion annually in lost productivity. Furthermore, do you know how many conference calls you can accomplish in your run of the mill San Antonio-LaGuardia flight?
No wonder the dollar is so weak against European currencies.
Why in the hell are these morons preoccupied with such drivel? don't they realize there's a war going on?
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It's a good start
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Sometime Govt. Regulation is Needed
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Be responsible...
When was the last time you were brave enough to ask some one to hang up in a check-out line, or call some one out when they bring a shopping cart full of groceries to the 10 items or less lane. You would be surprised by the reaction you will get from others around you thinking the same thing but not acting. try it, it feels good and you will help remind some one to think about others and not just themselves.
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Re: Be responsible...
There's a complete difference between caring about other people and doing a charitable and helpful thing for others and meddling and butting in where you have no right to be.
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I'm not saying you have to listen/acknowledge/pay attention to other people, but that does NOT mean that other people do not have the right to mention something to you.
If someone next to me on a flight was being annoyingly loud and disruptive on their cell phone, I would most definitely ask them to be quiet(er). I wouldn't yell/scream/be rude, but I would ask them nicely to tone down the volume a bit, and guess what, That is MY RIGHT! I just can't assume that they will listen.
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sho u do but i can beats u down 4 it 2.
If someone next to me on a flight was being annoyingly loud and disruptive on their cell phone, I would most definitely ask them to be quiet(er). I wouldn't yell/scream/be rude, but I would ask them nicely to tone down the volume a bit, and guess what, That is MY RIGHT! I just can't assume that they will listen.
shut up bitch. can't u see i'm on da phone?
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That's a Tazin
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