It all makes perfect sense if you look at it the way that the powers that be do.........
What is the # priority in an elected official's mind?
To get RE elected.
How does one get re elected?
By giving the appearance of DOING something beneficial for his/her constituents.
What better way to male it look like you are doing something about terrorism than by putting on a huge show for the public?
By giving the supporting roles in the Greatest Security Show on Earth to pilots and flight attendants, you are reinforcing the illusion to the public by having an authority figure submitting to the same intrusive procedures that they get.
It is pretty surreal when not 15 minutes after standing at the checkpoint in my socks, (watching the mensa folks at security trying to determine the lethality of my comm headset), I see the cleaning woman (who doesn't speak a lick of english) cutting up cardboard boxes in the crew lounge, with (you guessed it!) a BOX CUTTER!
At least I can't hijack my OWN plane!
